A group of people posing for a photo on the steps of a red-brick building with white railings. The building has large windows and a balcony above the entrance. Trees and greenery are visible in the background.
We are proud to collaborate with Philips Foundation and We Share Forward Foundation, whose role in impact investing continues to push boundaries and open doors.
A group of people seated around a wooden conference table in a well-lit room with large windows. The table has water bottles, glasses, coffee cups, and papers. Colourful abstract artwork hangs on the walls.
Attracting more financing for NCDs is urgently needed to address the financing gap. Just USD 0.90 per person could help prevent or delay up to 80% of NCDs. With ImpactBridge, we enxpand our grant-making efforts, accelerating affordable and scalable healthcare.
Several individuals gathered around a round meeting table in a modern room. A large screen displays the text “Launch of the Impact Bridge Partnership.” The table holds laptops, notebooks, and drinks, and a contemporary chandelier hangs overhead.
Together with Philips Foundation and We Share Forward Foundation (Switzerland), we have established ImpactBridge—a co‑funding alliance using catalytic capital to back early‑stage social enterprises improving diabetes and related NCD care in low‑ and middle‑income countries.
Bravo pour cette mobilisation à Ouagadougou ! Une belle démonstration d’engagement collectif pour la prévention et la sensibilisation au diabète.
Photo of Christine speaking at a conference. Text reads: “In Uganda, Christine used her personal experience of overcoming isolation and stigma after her diagnosis and the loss of her job to become an advocate and a leader. Christine’s advocacy highlights how education, community support, and leadership from those with lived experience are fundamental to strengthening T1D care in LMICs. This World Diabetes Day. we honour the resilience of people navigating informal work, chronic illness, and unpaid care. Let's recognise their labour. Let's amplify their voices. Let's build systems that work for them.”
In preparation of this year's #WorldDiabetesDay, we honour the resilience of women like Sandra, Dieumbe, and Christine—and call for systems that recognise their labour, amplify their voices, and ensure access to care for all. 📢
Photo of Sandra on the left. Text reads: “In Colombia, Sandra wakes before dawn to prepare meals for her modest lunch business. After her son Joshua was born, she learned she had gestational diabetes. Juggling this new responsibility alongside work and childcare, Sandra’s determination to provide for her family often means putting her own health needs last." Photo of Dieumbe on the right. Text reads: "In Senegal, Dieumbe once thrived as a merchant, supporting her family by selling goods in local markets. Diagnosed with diabetes, she continued working until a severe foot complication led to the amputation of her left leg. Though loss was profound, Dieumbe found relief from pain and strength in faith. With a prosthesis provided, she regained mobility and now supports others facing similar challenges.”
In many parts of the world, women carry a triple burden: managing their health, earning a living—often through informal or unpaid work—and caring for others. For women living with #diabetes, this can mean making impossible choices between income, caregiving and clinic visits.
Text on a red background reads: “How does diabetes affect work in low- and middle-income countries? Millions around the world face challenges managing their health while staying active in the workplace. Informal workers account for nearly 60% of the global workforce. In LMICs, it is up to 90%. These workers are often without protection, paid leave, or access to care. Women are overrepresented in informal and unpaid work. They often care for others while managing their own diabetes—making their employment more precarious. ” Source: OECD (2024)
How does #diabetes affect women in the workforce—especially in low- and middle-income countries?
Three stacks of health pamphlets on a table. The left stack is blue with the title “Dia-Beat-It #BeatDiabetes” and an illustration of a blood drop and DNA strand. The middle stack is yellow, showing a blood pressure monitor and text in isiZulu. The right sheet is white with colourful images of fruits, vegetables, and grains, promoting healthy eating for diabetes prevention.
Awareness is growing through radio and social media. Weekly NCD education programmes help communities learn about outreach events and healthy living. We’re proud to support Eswatini’s journey towards accessible, equitable health services. 🩺
Mobile health clinic truck parked outdoors with a group of people waiting in line for services, near trees and traditional huts in the background.
In Manzini, trained nurses now routinely screen for diabetes eye and foot complications. In Lubombo, mobile outreach truck brings services to remote areas. Integrated outreach models—developed with the University of Swaziland and MoH—mobilise communities offering screening.
Community health outreach event with people gathered under branded tents, receiving information and services in an open grassy area.
How do you scale up care in a country where majority lives in rural areas? In Eswatini, it's through community-driven innovation and strong partnerships. Led by Ministry of Health and supported by partners, a WDF-supported project is decentralising care to primary facilities and remote communities.
Integration was front and centre. In an era of tight global health funding, every resource must count. That means aligning efforts, avoiding duplication, and investing in foundations that make digital health solutions work for health systems.
We were proud to present the Diabetes Compass initiative, alongside country case studies that showcased national DHIS2 journeys across the region. Each case underscored the power of person-centred data to drive better health outcomes, highlighting that data must be used, not just collected. 📊
Digital health solutions can bridge healthcare gaps — but only when we work together. Last week, our colleague Martin Greiffenberg joined a vibrant community at the @dhis2.org Asia-Pacific Conference, uniting governments, HISPs, partners and experts. 🌏
A conference panel titled “Next Frontiers in Impact Measurement and Management (IMM)” with five speakers’ names and photos displayed on a large screen. The audience is seated, and a speaker is projected on a side screen.
A small group discussion with six people seated in a semi-circle indoors, flip charts and windows in the background providing natural light.
On the sidelines, the Philips Foundation Entrepreneur Summit brought together a tight-knit group of funders, foundations and entrepreneurs. The message was clear: collaboration, working capital, and knowledge-sharing are key to scaling impact.
We’re ready to help shape what comes next.
Five people standing together indoors at a professional event, smiling for a group photo.
A wide-angle view of the IMM conference showing two large screens with close-ups of speakers and an audience seated at tables facing the stage.
How can impact investment accelerate access to healthcare in low-resource settings? 🩺
At #GIIN2025, our Diabetes Investment Accelerator team joined 1,200+ changemakers to explore how capital can drive better health, equity and climate outcomes. ♻️
#ImpactInvesting #GlobalHealth
Join the conversation and the Global Diabetes Walk at globaldiabeteswalk.org 👣
Waterside village with stilt houses, floating vegetation, and a small motorboat docked nearby.
Two people paddling a long wooden canoe through a village with stilt houses and moored boats.
The infrastructure is as resilient as the health professionals who power it. Together with Diabète Benin and the Ministry of Health, we are decentralising diabetes & hypertension care through the WHO PEN strategy — training frontline workers & strengthening primary care systems.
Two female healthcare providers standing atop wide steps leading to flat-roofed buildings with columns, under a partly cloudy blue sky.
View across the water of a health clinic constructed on stilts, part of a waterside community.
Group of people wearing orange life jackets seated on a boat under a canopy, enjoying a ride on calm water.
In Benin’s Atlantique region, where communities live on water, a WDF-supported project is transforming access to care. Last week, our Programme Managers, Yves Kesse and Mads Mundt traveled to assess progress in three remote lake health centres — serving over 53,000 people.
With diabetes set to affect 850 million people in the coming decades, more funding is desperately needed. Leading grantmaker, the World Diabetes Foundation, hopes its Diabetes Investment Accelerator will help plug the gap.
What role can health literacy and self-care play in improving diabetes outcomes globally?
As the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health approaches, the op-ed calls for health literacy and self-care to be recognised as essential components of national and global strategies.💡
NEWS: HISP Centre and World Diabetes Foundation Partner to Strengthen Digital Tools for NCDs
“We see the value of digital health solutions helping to scale our impact (...) It just makes sense to invest in digital health solutions.” Jackie Ogutu, WDF head of Digital Health
🔗 Read: buff.ly/BpYJD4d
Nepal is facing a healthcare crisis with the majority of annually registered doctors leaving.
Dr Bharat Pokhrel chose a different path. Working with Nepal Development Society, he trains female community health volunteers to tackle the rising burden of NCDs ➡️ shorturl.at/RBSvb
That’s why we are now members of the Outcomes Finance Alliance and are endorsing the Cali Declaration. This declaration promotes outcomes-based financing as a complementary tool to traditional funding. 🔗 outcomesaccelerator.org/endorse-the-...
Our current strategy calls for scaling up our operating model and unlocking new financing mechanisms to address the diabetes burden in LMICs. We are actively exploring blended and innovative financing structures that can supplement traditional grants and attract social investment.
Despite NCDs causing 15 million premature deaths annually, 85% of which occur in LMICs, funding remains critically insufficient. Achieving SDG target 3.4 would require an additional $18 billion per year, yet this investment could save 39 million lives and generate $2.7 trillion in economic benefits.
True change comes from the people, like Chief Nurse Magaye Gueye and the dedicated Community Health Workers. At WDF, we are dedicated to supporting them to promote better health outcomes for all. 🌍
Healthcare provider measuring blood sugar of one of our partners. Both the doctor and the patient look happy and relaxed.
Our visit to the Health Posts in Dagana left us inspired by Chief Nurse Magaye Gueye. His compassionate approach has earned the trust of patients, who return consistently for screenings. Having seen the severe impacts of diabetes, he is dedicated to raising awareness about diabetes.
Healthcare provider (HCP) in a conversation with a partner representative at the HCP's office.
They met with @hi-federation.bsky.social, who are rolling out comprehensive integrated diabetes care at community levels. During discussions, the Chief Medical Officer of Dagana district highlighted the vital role of Community Health Workers.
Elsa Morandat and Sanne Frost Helt with partners from Humanity and Inclusion in front of a clinic.
While in Senegal, Elsa Morandat and Sanne Frost Helt witnessed the example set by the NCD division as they decentralise diabetes and hypertension care and prevention. With clear roles laid out for every primary care facility they are leading the way in ensuring effective healthcare delivery.
Andrea Beratarrechea, a programme manager at WDF, posing for a group picture with the National Federation of Diabetes Associations and Entities employees.
A WDF-backed project in São Paulo, led by FENAD, empowers associations in low-income areas through training and peer support, helping to establish and empower associations. Strong diabetes associations help people manage their health, make informed choices, and connect with a supportive community. 💙
