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Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are now the first cause of morbidity and mortality in most countries. In September 2011, the UN Assembly dedicated to NCDs resulted in a Political Declaration urging the necessary inclusion of NCDs on the political agenda of all countries globally. However, capacity within Ministries of Health of low and middle-income countries (LMIC) to address non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as well as health promotion strategies to address the growing burden of NCDs lags far behind that of infectious disease.

For many years, the IUHPE has been and continues to be dedicated to building capacity for health promotion, addressing NCDs and the social determinants of health (SDH) towards health equity and social justice. In 2011, IUHPE prioritised its focus on NCDs, SDH, health promotion systems and sustainable development as priority areas of action through 2016.

As such, through a number of long-term multi-partner efforts and with its vast expert network as key asset, the IUHPE has contributed to and facilitated a number of actions to build capacity globally for NCD prevention in LMIC and integrate health promotion approaches in order to build a home-grown, sustainable, and well-trained workforce for addressing today's major public health challenge.