For the fourth series of the NCD Diaries, we are seeking to support and promote NCD Diaries that highlight NCD prevention through the lived experience lens.

Despite being highly preventable, NCDs are the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 2/3 of all global deaths, with low and middle-income countries (LMICs) and the most vulnerable populations disproportionately impacted. The NCD burden can be reduced to a large extent by addressing five modifiable risk factors – tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and air pollution – and promoting healthy environments. The underlying determinants of health, including social and commercial determinants such as poverty, globalisation, demographic trends (for instance, ageing populations), industry interference, unemployment and gender discrimination, also have a significant impact on the burden of NCDs, increasing exposure to NCD risk factors and hindering access to timely diagnosis and care.

The global NCD epidemic can be significantly reduced if action on prevention is taken, including outside the health sector. There are tried-and-tested prevention strategies that are cost-effective tools to protect future generations against developing NCDs, as well as protect people living with NCDs from the onset of complications and co-morbidities. Gobal NCD prevention mechanisms in place include WHO's Global action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs and its Appendix 3, also known as the NCD Best Buys and other recommended interventions. However, implementation of these strategies at the national level must be advanced and improved. To achieve this, governments must understand how prevention strategies can support populations based on people’s lived experience with NCD risk factors and their wider determinants.

This theme will engage Diarists to shed light on their lived experience when it comes to NCD prevention, including how certain prevention strategies – or lack thereof – have shaped their NCD journey. Diarists will be encouraged to describe how NCD risk factors and social and commercial determinants of health characterize their local context, and to illustrate the importance of health-promoting environments. Through their lived experiences with NCDs and with prevention advocacy, Diarists will share their recommendations for how health promotion and prevention can be more inclusive and firmly embedded in the continuum of NCD care in their countries.

We encourage individuals from all backgrounds and global regions, with experience of living with and/or actively caring for those living with a range of NCDs and affiliation to the NCD Alliance membership to apply to this series. Amplifying the voices of and meaningfully involving people living with NCDs is the only way to truly drive significant and lasting change within our health systems.

Selection Criteria

Motivation for becoming an NCD Diarist

Statements of motivation which align well with the objectives of the NCD Diaries – compelling documentation of one’s lived experience; providing recommendations/calls to action to strengthen the NCD response and inspiring other people living with NCDs to share their stories.

Creativity of the NCD Diaries concept

The NCD Diaries uses in-depth, audio-visually rich and immersive approaches to share lived experiences to drive change. Applicants will be encouraged to share their two preferred Diary formats and their most creative ideas on creating their Diaries in compelling and engaging way. Prior experience of communications campaign and social media/media activities is a bonus. The NCD Diaries Practical Guide and published NCD Diaries are available as a reference.

Relevance to thematic focus of the NCD Diaries series

Applicants will be encouraged to demonstrate alignment of their NCD Diary concept with the thematic focus of the NCD Diaries series and a clear reflection of their local context.

NCD advocacy experience

Demonstrated experience in advocacy, campaigning on NCDs, and activities relevant to the ​Our Views, Our Voices​ initiative.

Representativeness

We would like Diarists to be as representative as possible of a broad range of factors, including age, gender, NCD condition, geographic location, etc.

Time commitment

Following selection, Diarists will be involved with the NCD Diaries project over a span of three months, which will include onboarding and training; content creation and publication; and promotion efforts aligned with advocacy and communications opportunities. We would encourage the Diarists to be committed for the entire duration of the NCD Diaries series.

Time Commitment for Diarists

Following selection​, the NCD Diarists’ commitment/involvement as part of Series Four will span three months (October – December 2022).

Diarist onboarding​ over two weeks, which involves introductory online training sessions by NCD Alliance and external trainers. These sessions will cover a range of information, including the NCD Diaries process itself, the theme for the series (prevention), guidance on each Diary format, how best to craft your stories and convey your advocacy messages in the most impactful way. As the NCD Diaries is a digital project, Diarists will receive personal login information for the NCD Diaries microsite, which will be used for communications with NCD Alliance, uploading and review of content and final submission of Diary entries.

Creating NCD Diaries​ over the course of three months (October – December 2022).

• Text format:​ three separate written entries of 300-400 words in length. Each entry will be published approximately one month apart (Entry 1: week commencing October 31^st; Entry 2: week commencing November 21^st; Entry 3: week commencing December 12^th).

• Visual format:​ capturing five images with accompanying captions of 50-70 words that will comprise a photo essay (5 entries total), over a span of four months. Through this format, you will publish all 5 entries (images) together in the week commencing December 12^th).
  *Note: kindly ensure that you are prepared to take your own photographs with a phone, camera, or other device during the course of the series.

• Audio format:​ three separate podcast entries (episodes) of 10-15 minutes in length. Each entry will be published approximately one month apart (Entry 1: week commencing October 31^st; Entry 2: week commencing November 21^st; Entry 3: week commencing December 12^th).
  *Note: time commitment for this format includes the creation of a script to finalise content for each episode prior to recording.

Promotion of NCD Diaries​ (January 2023 onwards for visual, audio and text formats).

Attend a wrap-up reflection session​ and participate in an evaluation process (mid-January 2023 (Date TBC).

Expressing your interest in becoming a Diarist

If you are interested in pursuing this opportunity, please use the form below to ​submit your expression of interest by 5 October 2022 - 12:00 GMT​.

Selection Process

Expressions of interest will be evaluated by a review panel. All individuals who express interest in the NCD Diaries will be contacted directly regarding the outcome of the process.