Beyond Clinic Walls: The 11th GACD Call for Multisectoral Approaches to NCDs

The Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) has launched its 11th call for proposals, and it signals a major shift in how we fund the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Rather than asking researchers to design yet another clinic-based intervention, the call demands something bolder: implementation research that works across sectors-housing, education, agriculture, urban planning, and beyond-to address NCDs in the populations that need it most.

If your research team is ready to think beyond the health system and collaborate with partners you’ve never worked with before, this opportunity is for you. Applications are open until June 17, 2026, and the first submission window opens on May 20, 2026.

What Makes This Call Unique?

The 11th GACD call is built on a simple but powerful premise: most of the drivers of NCDs lie outside the health sector. Poor diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and harmful alcohol use are shaped by policies on food production, urban design, education, and trade. To make a real dent in the NCD epidemic, research must engage those sectors directly.

That is exactly what this call funds. It supports implementation research-not just discovering what works, but figuring out how to make it work in the real world, across multiple sectors, for underserved populations.

The focus is on multisectoral approaches. That could mean a project that partners health researchers with the Ministry of Agriculture to improve diets, or one that works with city planners to create walkable neighbourhoods that reduce physical inactivity. The common thread is collaboration beyond the health ministry or hospital walls.

Who Can Apply?

GACD has designed this call to be genuinely inclusive:

• Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs): Researchers and institutions based in LMICs are primary targets.
• High-income countries (HICs): Applicants from HICs are eligible only if the proposal focuses on vulnerable populations, including Indigenous populations and other marginalised groups.
• Consortia: The call encourages multi-country, multi-sectoral teams. If you don’t have a partner from a non-health sector, start looking now.

Eligibility summary: Researchers and institutions in LMICs, and those working with vulnerable populations (including Indigenous populations) in HICs.

Note: The exact funding amounts are not specified in the brief. Check the official call page for budget limits and currency details before you begin drafting.

Why Now? The Global Context

NCDs-heart disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and mental health conditions-account for 74% of all deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Yet the global response remains heavily centred on clinical treatment rather than prevention and cross-sectoral action.

The GACD has been a pioneer in implementation research for NCDs since its founding in 2009. Its 11th call reflects a growing consensus that no single ministry, no single sector, and no single intervention can turn the tide. The COVID-19 pandemic showed us how quickly health systems can be overwhelmed, and how deeply social and environmental determinants affect health outcomes. Now is the time to build on those lessons.

How to Decide Whether to Apply

Before you invest weeks in a proposal, run through this quick self-assessment:

• Do you already have relationships outside the health sector? If you have a track record of working with education, agriculture, housing, urban planning, or finance ministries-or with NGOs and private-sector players in those fields-you are ahead of the curve.
• Is your research question about implementation, not discovery? This call funds how to deliver and scale known effective interventions, not basic science or clinical trials of new drugs.
• Are you targeting underserved populations? The call is explicit about equity. Proposals that centre the most marginalised communities-whether in LMICs or in vulnerable groups within HICs-will be competitive.
• Can you commit to co-design? Multisectoral work means non-health partners aren’t just consultants; they are co-investigators. Your budget and timeline must reflect genuine partnership.

If you answered yes to all four, this call is likely a strong fit.

Preparing a Strong Proposal

Based on the structure of GACD’s previous calls, here is what you can expect to need:

1. A clear problem statement rooted in local data. Why is a multisectoral approach essential for this specific NCD challenge in this specific population?
2. Description of the multisectoral partnership. Who are the non-health partners? What roles will they play? How will decisions be made?
3. Implementation research framework. Use a recognised framework (e.g., RE-AIM, PRISM, CFIR) to structure your approach.
4. Evaluation plan. How will you measure not only health outcomes but also process outcomes, such as partnership effectiveness and policy change?
5. Ethics and equity considerations. Pay special attention to how Indigenous data sovereignty and community consent will be handled.
6. Budget justification. Be realistic about the costs of cross-sectoral coordination-travel, workshops, translation, and capacity building.

Missing details warning: The brief does not specify a minimum or maximum funding amount, nor the total budget for the call. Plan to check the official GACD call page for precise figures.

Timeline at a Glance

Given the short window (just under a month between opening and deadline), start preparing now. Identify partners, draft your concept note, and gather letters of support from non-health sector collaborators well before May 20.

How GrantGunner Can Help

GrantGunner makes it easy to discover, track, and apply for global funding opportunities like this one. With the 11th GACD call on Multisectoral Approaches for NCDs listed on our platform, you can:

• Access the official details and apply URL directly.
• Set reminders for the May 20 opening date and June 17 deadline.
• Explore related calls for implementation research and NCD funding.

Don’t let a short window catch you unprepared. Get started on GrantGunner today.

Final Thoughts

The 11th GACD call is not for everyone. It is for teams that have the courage to work across sectors, the humility to share power with non-health partners, and the rigour to study implementation as carefully as outcomes. But for those teams, the opportunity is extraordinary: to generate evidence that could reshape how the world tackles NCDs for generations to come.

If you are working on a multisectoral NCD project, start assembling your consortium now. The deadline is June 17, 2026-and the best proposals will be built on relationships that are already strong.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on the research brief provided. Always confirm details on the official GACD website before applying.