by HCC
COMMONWEALTH SECRETARIAT

The Commonwealth Secretariat, established in 1965, supports Commonwealth member countries to achieve development, democracy and peace.

Their mission is ‘To support member governments, and partner with the broader Commonwealth family and others, to improve the well-being of all Commonwealth citizens and to advance their shared interests globally’

The NCD Commissions Strengthening Project (NCDCSP)The NCD Commissions Strengthening Project (NCDCSP) ran from 2014-2017 and was a collaborative effort of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) and the Commonwealth Secretariat, working to strengthen the multisectoral response to NCDs in the Caribbean. The goal of the NCD Commissions Strengthening Project (NCDCSP) is to enhance multi-sectoral coordination and action in the Caribbean through National NCD Commissions or similar mechanisms. The strategic aim of the Health Section work of the Commonwealth Secretariat is the strengthening of National Health Frameworks and Policies in the Commonwealth.Policies and frameworks for the prevention of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) was one of two major areas of focus for the duration of the three year project. National NCD Commissions (NNCDCs) have been identified as the national health structures around which NCD health policies in the Caribbean will be implemented. The Commonwealth Secretariat through this funding, aimed to strengthen National Health Frameworks with a view to making them more affective and “fit for purpose”. Read more

Key Outputs:

1 Strengthening The Multi-Sectoral Response to NCDs in the CaribbeanHosting of a Regional Meeting for National NCD Commissions: Strengthening The Multi-Sectoral Response to NCDs in the Caribbean. Friday June 5th, 2015 at the Courtyard by Marriott Bridgetown in Barbados, key stakeholders came together to discuss strengthening of the multisectoral approach to NCDs through CARICOM’s National NCD Commissions (NNCDC). Fifty-two members of the public sector including NNCDC ‘Chairs’, civil society and the private sector participated in the 1-day meeting ‘Strengthening The Multi-Sectoral Response to NCDs in the Caribbean: NATIONAL NCD COMMISSIONS’ aimed at discussing the experiences, challenges and successes of NNCDCs to date and mechanisms for operationalising and strengthening NNCDCs as key instruments of a whole of society approach to NCD prevention, treatment and control. Opening remarks were provided by The Hon. Minister of Health Mr. John Boyce, Dr. Magna Aidoo (Commonwealth Secretariat), and Sir Trevor Hassell. Read more
2 Getting National NCD Commissions Up and RunningDevelopment of the report: Getting National NCD Commissions Up and Running – a Framework for the Establishment and Strengthening of National NCD Commissions in the Caribbean. This is a publication, developed in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat, is the second of a two-part series on NNCDCs. Part I: ‘A Civil Society Report on National NCD Commissions in the Caribbean: Towards a More Effective Multisectoral Response to NCDs‘, provides a detailed assessment of the status of National NCD Commissions in CARICOM Member States (MS). Part II provides practical guidance for the establishment and strengthening of NNCDCs (or their equivalents) based on the experiences of past and existing Commissions in the region, as presented in Part I. The two part series of reports has been prepared by, and viewed through the lens of, civil society. It has been produced for the Caribbean – Small Island Developing States ranging from low- to high-income but has wider applicability. This included piloting of the draft report in 3 countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Read more about the Getting National NCD Commissions Up and Running here.

3 The establishment of an National NCD Commissions web portal.

This web portal contains all the relevant information from the National NCD Commissions across the region.

Including their profile, which is split into several sections: Status; General Information; Establishment; Governance and Management; Membership and Personnel; Functions, Operations and Interventions; Funding; Sustainability
Additional Information/Comments and Case Study.

There is also information about the work that went into the National NCD Commissions project, reports and links to additional information.