By Milliam Murigi
As the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) continues to rise across Africa, gaps in locally driven research and evidence-based service delivery remain a major barrier to effective care.
In an effort to strengthen regional responses, the Novo Nordisk Foundation has entered into a strategic partnership with Kenya’s Ministry of Health, the NCD Alliance of Kenya (NCDAK), and the Science for Africa Foundation to support a 12-month initiative focused on research agenda-setting and capacity mapping.
The initiative aims to identify and prioritise critical knowledge gaps in Cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) service delivery, while building a stronger foundation for implementation research that can translate policy commitments into practical, scalable solutions.
“Africa’s NCD burden is intensified by a persistent gap between research and implementation,” said Dr Evelyn Gitau, Chief Scientific Officer at SFA Foundation. “This initiative focuses on identifying service-delivery bottlenecks and strengthening regional research capacity so that African-led science can more effectively inform policy, practice, and investment.”
Cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs), including diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and kidney disease, continue to pose a growing public health challenge across East Africa. NCDs now account for an estimated 30–45 percent of all deaths in the region, with CMDs driving much of this burden.
This collaboration focuses on strengthening the evidence-to-action pathway for NCDs by supporting national research priority-setting, identifying key knowledge and practice gaps in CMD service delivery at the primary healthcare level, and mapping institutional and technical capacity for CMD implementation research across East Africa.
At the heart of the initiative is the development of a nationally endorsed NCD Research Agenda for Kenya, with a particular focus on cardiometabolic diseases. The process will be shaped through broad consultations with policymakers, researchers, civil society organisations, patient advocates, and persons with lived experience.
“Kenya’s response to non-communicable diseases must be guided by evidence that reflects our realities and priorities,” said Dr Gladwell Gathecha, acting Head of the Division of Non-Communicable Diseases at the MoH. “This initiative enables us to lead the development of a nationally endorsed NCD Research Agenda that aligns research investment with the needs of our health system, strengthening primary care and accelerating progress towards quality, equitable and sustainable NCD prevention and control.”
According to Dr Catherine Karekezi, Executive Director, NCDAK, inclusivity, accountability, and health equity are central to the research agenda-setting process. The alliance emphasises that effective NCD research must go beyond academic outputs to reflect lived realities, noting that it should be “inclusive, accountable, and grounded in lived experience while applying an equity lens” to ensure that evidence generated translates into meaningful and equitable health outcomes.
“We are proud to support a consultative process that brings together policymakers, researchers, civil society, and persons with lived experience to shape a research agenda that responds to real gaps in care, amplifies community voices, and drives action where it matters most,” said Karekezi.
The NCD research agenda is expected to constitute a coherent framework for coordinated investment in NCD and CMD research and strengthen the translation of evidence into policy and practice.
“We are excited for this project to be launched and looking forward to seeing the Ministry of Health formulating the NCD research agenda to identify key knowledge gaps, particularly within CMD research,” added Mette Ide Davidsen, Director of Global & Public Health, Novo Nordisk Foundation, when announcing the grant as she underscored the urgency of strengthening locally led, implementation-focused research.
