Background

The Nongovernmental Development Organizations (NGDOs) working to fight Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are joining forces to empower resource-poor countries to combat NTDs, improve health systems, and reduce poverty.

The NGDO Group for Onchocerciasis was established in 1992 to build capacity and facilitate interventions for onchocerciasis control. Following the formation of the Global Alliance to Eliminate LF, an NGDO Network for LF Elimination was established, and to address trachoma, the International Coalition for Trachoma Control (ICTC) was formed. These groups began meeting together in 2006 to work toward the integration of their respective health interventions and to facilitate collaboration. In September 2009, the three groups agreed to merge and the new NGDO NTD Network was established. This flexible alliance will allow the Network to remain dynamic and flexible in order to respond to the changing programmatic and funding landscapes.

This is an important move forward as it potentially allows a mechanism for a strong NGDO voice with organizations that are currently leading the NTD issues globally. It also allows the flexibility to invite other NTDs, such as soil transmitted helminths, to join while the technical working groups addressing individual disease issues remain intact.