Non-Communicable Disease Interagency Coordinating Committee (NCD ICC) 

Background 

The National NCD Strategy, 2015-2020 provides a framework upon which both the National and County Governments can draw action plans for the prevention and control of NCDs. Although the primary role and responsibility for preventing and controlling non-communicable diseases (NCDs) lie with the state, engagement of all sectors of society is essential for success. The strategy sets out 10 objectives, each of which has a list of key actions: 

    i. Establish mechanisms to raise the priority accorded to NCDs at national and county levels and to integrate their prevention and control into policies across all government sectors;

    ii. Formulate and strengthen legislations, policies and plans for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases at both county and national governments; 

    iii. Promote healthy lifestyles and implement interventions to reduce the modifiable risk factors for non-communicable diseases: unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol; 

    iv. Promote and implement evidence-based strategies and interventions for prevention and control of violence and injuries;

    v. Strengthen health systems for NCD prevention and control across all levels of the health sector; 

    vi. Promote interventions to reduce exposure to environmental, occupational, genetic and biological risk factors;

    vii. Establish and strengthen effective monitoring and evaluation systems of non-communicable disease and their determinants; 

    viii. Promote and conduct research and surveillance for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases;

    ix. Promote local and international partnerships for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases; and 

    x. Promote and strengthen advocacy, communication, and social mobilization for NCD prevention and control. 

It is clear that the achievement of these objectives will require the engagement of all key stakeholders on NCDs and at high levels of policy making in the country. In recognition of the need to bring these stakeholders together, the Strategy proposes the formation of an Intersectoral Coordination Committee (ICC). The role of the interagency coordinating committee (ICC) is to coordinate the activities of relevant stakeholders to support the realization of the commitments made by Heads of State and Government in the Political Declaration of the High-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases. In addition, the NCD ICC will play a critical role in supporting the implementation of the Kenya National Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases 2015-2020. 

The objectives of the NCD ICC are outlined below: 

    • To support country efforts to prevent and control non-communicable diseases and 

    • mitigate their impacts. 

    • To facilitate systematic and timely information exchange among stakeholders about 

    • existing and planned strategies, programs, and activities. 

    • To facilitate information sharing on available resources and to undertake resource 

    • mobilization for the implementation of agreed activities. 

    • To strengthen advocacy in order to raise the priority accorded to the prevention and 

    • control of non-communicable diseases. 

    • To strengthen international collaboration in support of national plans for the prevention 

    • and control of non-communicable diseases 

    • To coordinate research on prevention and control of NCDs 

The NCD ICC will comprise TWG which will be both disease-specific and cross cutting. This document outlines the terms of reference for the various TWGs. 

Technical Working Groups 

The Technical Working Group (TWG) is an independent committee whose primary role is policy formulation and coordination of activities within a specific area of focus. The areas of focus identified are disease-specific and cross-cutting. The proposed TWGs are as outlined below. 

Cross-Cutting TWGs

    1. Research and M&E 

    2. Advocacy and communication (to include palliative care) 

    3. Resource mobilization 

    4. Policy and legislation 

    5. Supply Chain

Technical TWGs

    6. Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs 

    7. Diet and physical activity 

    8. Cancer 

    9. Cardiovascular diseases 

    10. Violence and Injury Prevention (including sexual gender-based violence) 

    11. Diabetes 

    12. Mental health 

    13. Chronic respiratory diseases 

    14. Ageing 

Additional (ad hoc) TWGs can be established by the chair of the ICC in consultation with NCD ICC members. 

Membership and governance of TWGs 

The TWGs will comprise multi-sectoral stakeholders supporting the specific area of focus for the respective TWG. Membership will be voluntary and will comprise organizations and not individuals. The TWGs may include member organizations who are not members of the NCD ICC. Members may also be co-opted to the TWG on an ad hoc basis as the need arises. The respective TWG will appoint a chair and a co-chair. The Chair will be from the MOH and the co-chair from other non-governmental agencies on a rotation basis annually among members of the TWG. The secretary will be designated by the TWG. The minimum number for a TWG to be fully functional is 5 members who should be from different sectors and not from one sector. 

    • Public sector -  MOH, MOF, MOE, MOA, Office of the president, Ministry of ICT, COG ( chair of CEC &county directors, chair  of the health secretariat at COG), AG office, Parliamentary & Senate Health Committee  12 

    • Private sector – Kenya health federation, 1

    • Civil society – KENCO, KETCA, NCD Alliance( chairperson) -  5  

    • Patient groups rep  - 3 

    • Development partner/ intergovernmental organizations – WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, FAO, REDCROSS, AMREF, MSF, WORLD BANK  8

    • Research organizations – KEMRI/APHRC   1

    • Academia –Schools of Public Health, social scientist, school of economics,   3

    • Faith-based -  inter-religious council  3

    • Co-opted members based on expertise  ad hoc  1

    • Ex- Officio  Members e.g. TWG chairs, unit heads

ICC Governance

    • Chair  - MOH  (Director-General for Health)

    • Co-chair  - other non-governmental agency on a rotational basis (all members to apply,  CS appoints)  

Conflict of interest

    • Public health policies for prevention and control of NCDs must be protected from undue influence by any form of vested interest. 

    • Should a conflict of interest arise from a situation involving members of the ICC or external parties, the secretariat will be required to act as a repository with a view to compiling incidents of conflicts of interest and provide a platform to discuss such issues.