The twelfth meeting of the United Nations Interagency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) was hosted by UNDP in New York on 6-7 March 2019. The meeting chaired by WHO and UNDP was attended by 19 UN agencies, programmes, funds and intergovernmental organizations.
The meeting adopted the new Task Force’s Strategy 2019-2021 focusing on scaled up the country level operations, mobilising resources, developing partnerships and being an exemplar for UN reform. Task Force members welcomed progress on the work toward the development of the multi-donor catalytic trust fund and the advisory body to help countries in managing effective engagement with the private sector in response ECOSOC resolution E/RES/2018/13.
The Task Force received updates from joint programmes and thematic working groups, including the progress in developing NCD and FCTC investment cases and plans to develop methodology for mental health and air pollution investment cases. Task Force members also welcomed progress on SAFER, the new initiative to support governments in tackling harmful use of alcohol and its related harms.
Task Force members updated about their activities to integrate WHO FCTC into their broader SDG implementation plans. The tobacco thematic working group agreed to take forward the opportunity to develop a joint programme on alternative livelihoods.
The Task Force reviewed progress in its country level work, including joint follow-up support to countries in implementing recommendations of the UNIATF programming missions, and in particular welcoming plans for a broadened scope of work for further mission, to include communicable diseases and other health-related issues.
The next meeting of the Task Force will be hosted by World Food Programme in Rome in October 2019.