GAPA Engages Global Partners at the 4th Global NCD Alliance Forum in
Kigali, Rwanda 13 th – 15 th February 2025
The 4th Global NCD Alliance Forum was held from 13 th to 15 th February 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda, under the theme "Leadership on NCDs Towards 2025 & Beyond." The forum brought
together civil society, academia, government officials and development partners to strengthen global action on non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The event was officially opened by Hon. Dr. Yvan Butera, Rwanda’s Minister of Health, with key dignitaries such as Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health
Organization (WHO) and Dr. Monika Arora, President of the NCD Alliance among others delivering statements at the opening ceremony.
The Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA) was represented by its Vice Chairman, Mr. Issah Ali, alongside Dr. Beatriz Champagne, an Advisory Council member of GAPA and Director of
the Coalition for the Americas' Health (CLAS).
As part of the forum, Mr. Issah Ali and the Head of Secretariat of the West African Alcohol Policy Alliance (WAAPA) met with Dr. Beatriz Champagne to discuss key issues affecting regional and global alcohol policy advocacy. Discussions centered on strengthening alcohol control measures within global NCD frameworks, countering industry interference in public
health policies, and ensuring sustainable financing for NCD prevention. The meeting also explored collaborative efforts ahead of the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs to reinforce alcohol control as a critical component in reducing the global NCD burden.
Key Agenda of Interest:
- Civil Society advocacy planning for the 2025 United Nations High-Level Meeting
(HLM) on NCDs
- NCDs in the African Region
- Sustainable Financing for NCDs
- Empowering Communities Against NCDs
The forum emphasized the need for strong health taxes as a sustainable financing mechanism,
recognizing them as a triple-win strategy that generates revenue, reduces the consumption of
harmful products, and lowers long-term health costs.
The forum concluded with a call to action urging governments and stakeholders to prioritize
health financing, strengthen policy implementation and involve communities and young people
in shaping global health policies.
