Diabetes and ncds: Malikatou Djermakoye calls for a sustainable partnership with the private sector

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Extract from the article: Development economist and strategic advocacy expert on health policies in Africa, Malikatou Djermakoye, has put forward a series of recommendations aimed at strengthening private sector engagement in the sustainable financing of non-communicable dise

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Development economist and strategic advocacy expert on health policies in Africa, Malikatou Djermakoye, has put forward a series of recommendations aimed at strengthening private sector engagement in the sustainable financing of non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention programmes. The recommendations were presented on Friday, July 31, during a Zoom videoconference held as part of the third edition of the Month of Education on Diabetes and Its Complications.

The event was organized by the Youth Intellect Association for Food Security in Togo (JISA-Togo), with the support of its partners, and focused on mobilizing the private sector to ensure sustainable financing for NCD prevention programmes.

During her presentation, Ms. Djermakoye urged health stakeholders, civil society organizations, and technical and financial partners to adopt a more strategic approach to transform private sector support from occasional contributions into structured and sustainable investment in NCD prevention.

Better-structured, results-oriented projects

According to Malikatou Djermakoye, it is essential to redefine the way organizations engage with businesses. She recommended moving from advocacy based on intentions to communication supported by measurable data, highlighting the number of beneficiaries, the cost per beneficiary, and the results achieved. She also called for the systematic presentation of projects backed by clear performance indicators, transparent reporting, and proven governance, thereby meeting companies' expectations for visibility and measurable impact.

The expert further recommended structuring financing around four complementary mechanisms. These include the establishment of a national fund dedicated to non-communicable diseases, financed by various economic sectors such as banks, insurance companies, telecommunications operators, and agri-food industries.

She also advocated for the development of multi-year Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partnerships aligned with measurable objectives, rather than relying on one-off donations. In addition, she encouraged the implementation of workplace health programmes covering diabetes, hypertension and cancer screening, mental health promotion, and physical activity, with clearly demonstrated benefits for employers.

Ms. Djermakoye further recommended the establishment of co-financing mechanisms involving the government, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations, with each stakeholder playing a clearly defined role in regulation, financing, innovation, and the implementation of community-based interventions.

The development economist also encouraged stakeholders to build on successful initiatives, including the WANGARI project, the "Move for Your Life" initiative, and school-based programmes, by documenting these experiences and using them as credible references when engaging new financial partners.

To better convince economic decision-makers, she recommended using economic evaluation tools such as Return on Investment (ROI), Social Return on Investment (SROI), Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs), and the Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER), enabling health outcomes to be translated into financial terms that businesses can readily understand.

The expert also stressed five key conditions for successful partnerships with the private sector: building trust, ensuring transparency in resource management, defining clear performance indicators, communicating results regularly, and demonstrating the tangible impact of interventions.

She also warned against common mistakes, including seeking financial support without building long-term relationships with companies, failing to report results, multiplying small projects without an overall strategic vision, overlooking small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in favor of large corporations, and neglecting impact measurement.

Finally, Malikatou Djermakoye recommended expanding the pool of partners by reaching out to new sectors, including banking, insurance, mining, telecommunications, agri-food industries, petroleum companies, and fintech firms.

In the medium term, she advocated for a shift in the relationship with the private sector from financing isolated projects to making structured, long-term investments in public health where companies are recognized as strategic partners rather than occasional donors.

William O.