Sample Proposal on “Healthy Futures: Addressing Non-Communicable Diseases in the Middle East”

Executive Summary

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)—such as cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, cancers, and chronic respiratory illnesses—have emerged as a major public health crisis in the Middle East. These diseases now account for the majority of deaths and disability in the region, placing immense strain on healthcare systems and national economies. The growing prevalence of NCDs is driven by several interconnected factors, including rapid urbanization, increasingly sedentary lifestyles, tobacco consumption, unhealthy diets, and rising levels of stress. Compounding the problem is the limited availability of affordable, preventive health services and early detection mechanisms, particularly in low-income, rural, and conflict-affected communities.

This proposal presents a regional, community-based initiative designed to combat the escalating NCD crisis through a combination of prevention, early diagnosis, health education, and integrated care. The project will prioritize high-risk groups—such as women, youth, refugees, and low-income households—who often face systemic barriers to accessing timely and quality healthcare. Activities will include awareness campaigns, mobile screening services, capacity-building for healthcare workers, and the integration of NCD services into primary care settings. By addressing both the behavioral and structural drivers of NCDs, the initiative aims to improve individual and community health outcomes while reinforcing the resilience of local health systems in a sustainable and inclusive manner.

Problem Statement

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are now responsible for over 70% of all deaths across the Middle East, marking a dramatic shift in the region’s health burden. These chronic conditions—such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases—are taking a disproportionate toll on low-income, marginalized, and conflict-affected populations. The rising prevalence of NCDs is fueled by a complex mix of factors, including demographic changes, urbanization, lifestyle shifts, and socioeconomic inequities. However, despite this growing burden, many health systems in the region remain ill-equipped to respond effectively. Public health priorities still heavily favor communicable disease control and emergency responses, leaving little room or resources for long-term NCD prevention and management.

This imbalance has created dangerous gaps in care. In many countries, structured NCD prevention programs and routine screening services are either underdeveloped or absent altogether. Public health campaigns aimed at behavior change are often sporadic and lack cultural relevance. Consequently, many individuals living with conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and obesity remain undiagnosed or receive treatment only at advanced stages, when intervention is more costly and less effective. This not only increases mortality and morbidity but also contributes to escalating healthcare expenditures and the overburdening of already fragile health systems. There is now an urgent need for integrated, culturally sensitive, and community-level strategies that emphasize prevention, raise awareness, and improve equitable access to services—especially among the most vulnerable populations.

Project Goal and Objectives

Target Population

• Low-income and underserved rural and urban populations:

  • These communities often face multiple barriers to healthcare, including financial hardship, geographic isolation, limited transportation, and inadequate health infrastructure. As a result, they are less likely to access preventive care, screenings, or timely treatment for non-communicable diseases. This project will prioritize service delivery in these areas to ensure that economic or logistical constraints do not prevent individuals from receiving essential NCD care and health education.

• Refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs):

  • Displacement due to conflict or natural disasters often disrupts healthcare access, making refugees and IDPs especially vulnerable to unmanaged chronic conditions. Living in overcrowded camps or informal settlements with limited access to nutritious food, safe environments for physical activity, and healthcare services further increases their risk of NCDs. This project aims to integrate NCD prevention and management into humanitarian responses, ensuring that displaced populations receive equitable care and support.

• Women and youth at risk for lifestyle-related NCDs:

  • Women and adolescents are increasingly exposed to risk factors such as poor diet, inactivity, and stress, yet often lack access to gender- and age-sensitive health services. Societal norms, caregiving roles, or limited autonomy can further inhibit their ability to seek care. By targeting women and youth through tailored outreach, education, and community engagement activities, the project seeks to instill healthy habits early and empower them to make informed health decisions.

• Patients with limited access to healthcare and chronic disease management:

  • Many individuals living with NCDs face obstacles to continuous care, including the high cost of medications, lack of local treatment facilities, and inadequate follow-up. For some, initial diagnosis never leads to effective management. This project will work to close these gaps by improving service delivery in primary care settings, establishing referral systems, and training health workers to offer consistent, culturally appropriate, and patient-centered care for chronic diseases.

Key Activities

Implementation Timeline (Months 1–12)

Partnerships

• Ministries of Health and national NCD programs

  • Ministries of Health (MoH) will be vital strategic partners, providing policy guidance, facilitating access to primary healthcare infrastructure, and supporting the integration of NCD services into national health systems. Their involvement will ensure alignment with national NCD strategies, strengthen sustainability through public sector buy-in, and potentially lead to longer-term funding and program scale-up. Collaboration with national NCD control programs will allow the project to contribute directly to official targets and reporting frameworks.

• Local NGOs and public health associations

  • Local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and health associations will play a key role in community engagement, service delivery, and outreach. Their deep connections to target populations will help in building trust, delivering culturally appropriate messaging, and ensuring that interventions are inclusive and equitable. These partners will also help identify community needs, mobilize local volunteers, and deliver peer education initiatives to reinforce prevention efforts at the grassroots level.

• WHO, UNDP, and regional NCD alliances

  • International organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and regional health alliances will serve as technical advisors, contributing global best practices, research tools, and implementation frameworks. These agencies may also assist in building monitoring systems, benchmarking health indicators, and advocating for policy change. Their endorsement and involvement can add credibility and enhance coordination with other NCD-related programs in the region.

• Faith-based and community leaders for local mobilization

  • Religious and community leaders wield significant influence in Middle Eastern societies and will be instrumental in promoting health-seeking behaviors, reducing stigma around illness, and endorsing lifestyle changes. By involving imams, pastors, tribal elders, and other respected figures, the project will tap into existing social networks and enhance the cultural relevance and acceptance of its activities. These leaders will also help dispel misinformation and encourage participation in health fairs and screenings.

• Universities and medical institutions for research and training

  • Academic institutions will support training, curriculum development, and research activities. Medical universities and schools of public health can co-develop training materials for community health workers, offer expertise in NCD detection and management, and conduct operational research to assess the effectiveness of interventions. These partnerships will contribute to building a skilled health workforce and generate local evidence that can inform national health policy and future program planning.

Monitoring & Evaluation

The project will use a mix of qualitative and quantitative indicators, including:

• Number of people screened, diagnosed, and referred

  • One of the primary quantitative indicators will be the number of individuals who undergo screening for NCDs such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. This includes data on how many are diagnosed with a condition and how many are successfully referred to follow-up care at health facilities. These figures will help assess the reach and effectiveness of the screening activities and the responsiveness of the referral system established through the project.

• Knowledge and behavior change among target groups

  • Through pre- and post-intervention surveys, the project will evaluate changes in awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward NCDs and their risk factors among community members. Indicators will include increased understanding of healthy lifestyles, reduced stigma around seeking care, and adoption of positive behaviors such as healthier diets, increased physical activity, and reduced tobacco use. Focus groups and interviews may supplement quantitative surveys to provide deeper insights into community behavior change.

• Improved patient management practices in partner facilities

  • The project will monitor improvements in the capacity of primary healthcare facilities to manage NCDs effectively. This includes tracking the availability and usage of diagnostic tools, adherence to NCD treatment protocols, follow-up mechanisms, and patient counseling services. Facility audits and supervision checklists will be used to assess progress in service delivery quality, supported by feedback from patients and healthcare providers.

• Community health worker performance and retention

  • The performance of trained community health workers (CHWs) will be regularly assessed through supervisory visits, community feedback, and activity logs. Key indicators will include the number of individuals reached, quality of counseling provided, and ability to identify and refer suspected NCD cases. Retention rates of CHWs will also be tracked to evaluate the sustainability and motivational aspects of the training and support systems in place.

• Final evaluation to measure impact and identify scalable models

  • At the end of the project period, a comprehensive final evaluation will be conducted to measure the overall impact in terms of disease awareness, early detection, improved access to care, and changes in community health outcomes. This evaluation will include quantitative data analysis, stakeholder consultations, and case studies to capture lessons learned. It will also aim to identify successful strategies and scalable models that can be replicated in other communities or integrated into national health frameworks.

Sustainability Strategy

• Integrate NCD services into existing public health systems
  • To effectively manage non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular illnesses, it is critical to embed NCD prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment services within the current public health infrastructure. This integration ensures that NCD care becomes a routine part of primary healthcare, allowing for early detection, continuous management, and better patient follow-up. Training healthcare providers in NCD protocols, updating clinical guidelines, and streamlining referral systems will enhance accessibility and quality of care for patients across all levels of the health system.

• Establish local partnerships to sustain mobile screening units
  • Developing strong collaborations with local health authorities, community organizations, NGOs, and private sector stakeholders is essential to maintain and expand mobile screening units. These partnerships can facilitate resource sharing, operational support, and community engagement to ensure that mobile clinics reach underserved and remote populations. By involving local actors, mobile screening initiatives become more culturally sensitive, trusted by communities, and financially sustainable, helping to extend the reach of early diagnosis and preventive care services.

• Build local government capacity for policy advocacy and funding
  • Empowering local government officials with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed for effective advocacy can lead to stronger policy frameworks supporting NCD prevention and control. Capacity building should focus on data-driven decision-making, resource mobilization, and strategic planning to secure sustainable funding from national budgets and external donors. Enhanced advocacy capacity will enable local governments to prioritize NCDs within health agendas, enact relevant policies, and allocate adequate resources for programs targeting chronic disease management and health promotion.

• Promote community ownership through training and volunteerism
  • Engaging communities directly by offering training programs and opportunities for volunteer participation fosters a sense of ownership over NCD initiatives. Community health workers, peer educators, and local volunteers can be trained to raise awareness, conduct basic screenings, support patients with chronic conditions, and promote healthy lifestyle practices. This grassroots involvement enhances program reach, ensures culturally appropriate interventions, and builds long-term sustainability by empowering community members to actively participate in their own health management.

• Digitize tools for education and data collection for long-term use
  • Implementing digital solutions for health education and data management can significantly improve the effectiveness and sustainability of NCD programs. Mobile applications, online platforms, and electronic health records enable timely dissemination of educational content, reminders for medication adherence, and lifestyle coaching. Digitized data collection facilitates real-time monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, allowing health managers to track progress, identify gaps, and make informed decisions. Investing in user-friendly, scalable digital tools ensures that NCD interventions remain adaptive and impactful over time.

Budget Overview (USD)

• Staffing and Training: XXXXX

  • This category covers the recruitment and remuneration of project staff, including program coordinators, field officers, data managers, and trainers. It also includes the costs of conducting training workshops for community health workers and primary healthcare personnel. The training component will focus on NCD prevention, early detection, patient counseling, and referral systems. Funds will also support the development of training curricula and materials.

• Community Awareness and Outreach: XXXXX

  • This budget line supports the design and implementation of culturally tailored awareness campaigns targeting NCD risk factors and promoting healthy behaviors. It includes expenses for producing and disseminating informational, education, and communication (IEC) materials such as brochures, posters, and videos. Additionally, the funds will cover outreach activities like community health fairs, radio programs, and engagement of local leaders and influencers.

• Screening Equipment and Supplies: XXXXX

  • This allocation will fund the procurement and distribution of essential screening equipment and supplies, including blood pressure monitors, glucometers, cholesterol test kits, and anthropometric tools. These will be used at both fixed health centers and mobile outreach units. This category also includes consumables such as test strips, lancets, gloves, and sanitization products necessary for the screenings.

• Facility Support and Integration: XXXXX

  • This component includes technical support for integrating NCD services into 25 primary healthcare centers. It covers costs related to minor facility upgrades, the introduction of patient management systems, training of in-facility staff, and the provision of job aids and clinical protocols. Funds will also support supervisory visits to ensure quality assurance and coordination between facilities and community-level interventions.

• Monitoring and Evaluation: XXXXX

  • Funds under this line will support a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework, including baseline and endline surveys, regular data collection, analysis, and reporting. The budget will cover tools for data management, field travel for supervision, and consultant fees for conducting the final project evaluation. This ensures the project remains adaptive, effective, and accountable to both donors and beneficiaries.

• Administration and Logistics: XXXXX

  • This includes the operational and overhead costs required to manage the project efficiently. It covers office supplies, transport and fuel for field teams, communication expenses, and equipment maintenance. It also includes administrative staff salaries and costs related to financial management, audits, and reporting.

• Total Estimated Budget: XXXXX

  • The combined allocations across all components represent the total estimated cost of implementing the project over the proposed timeframe. The budget is designed to ensure comprehensive, community-based action to combat NCDs, with strong emphasis on sustainability, local ownership, and measurable health outcomes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, addressing the rising burden of non-communicable diseases in the Middle East requires a comprehensive, integrated approach that strengthens existing health systems, empowers communities, and fosters sustainable partnerships. By embedding NCD services within primary healthcare, expanding access through mobile screening units, and enhancing local government capacity for policy advocacy and funding, this proposal aims to build resilient and responsive health infrastructure. Additionally, promoting community ownership and leveraging digital tools for education and data collection will ensure that interventions are culturally relevant, scalable, and sustainable over the long term.

This initiative represents a critical investment in the region’s health and economic future, with the potential to reduce premature mortality, improve quality of life, and alleviate the growing pressure on healthcare resources. By working collaboratively with governments, civil society, and local communities, “Healthy Futures” envisions a healthier Middle East where non-communicable diseases are effectively prevented and managed, ultimately contributing to stronger, more equitable health systems and vibrant societies.