Meet the JA PreventNCD Stakeholder Group

<sup>Preventing non-communicable diseases, cardiovascular diseases and cancer requires collaboration across sectors, disciplines and levels of society. To support this, JA PreventNCD established a Stakeholder Group, bringing together 19 European and international organisations with expertise in public health, prevention and health promotion.

The Stakeholder Group is part of JA PreventNCD’s wider approach to stakeholder engagement. The group provides a structured way to bring external perspectives into the work of JA PreventNCD, while also creating opportunities to share project knowledge and results through established European and international networks.</sup>

<sup>The 19 organisations represented in the Stakeholder Group bring knowledge and experience from across the NCD prevention landscape. Members include organisations working on cancer prevention, cardiovascular health, nutrition, tobacco and alcohol policy, physical activity, public health, healthy environments and youth engagement.

Members include the Association of European Cancer Leagues, Convention Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, European Cancer Organisation, European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians, European Heart Network, European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention, European Network for the Promotion of Health-Enhancing Physical Activity, European Nutrition for Health Alliance, European Public Health Alliance, European Public Health Association, EUROPARC Federation, International Sport and Culture Association, Joint Research Centre, Movendi International, NCD Alliance, Safe Food Advocacy Europe, Smokefree Partnership and WHO Youth Council.</sup>

^{The group is designed to be flexible. Rather than expecting every organisation to contribute to every topic, stakeholders can be involved where their knowledge and experience are most relevant. This includes specific expertise related to JA PreventNCD’s cross-cutting themes of tobacco, alcohol, nutrition and physical activity.}

^{The Stakeholder Group is intended to create mutual value between JA PreventNCD and participating organisations.}

^{Members may contribute by reviewing policy briefs and other outputs, providing expert advice, participating in webinars and policy discussions, identifying emerging challenges and opportunities, and supporting dissemination through their own networks. At the same time, the project aims to create useful opportunities for stakeholders to connect with relevant JA PreventNCD work packages, activities and expertise.}

^{This is especially important in a large Joint Action involving 25 countries and more than 100 partner organisations. External stakeholder engagement can help connect the project’s work to wider European discussions and support the visibility, relevance and uptake of its results.}

^{The first Stakeholder Group meeting in January 2026 focused on introducing the Joint Action and exploring how the group could create value. Members highlighted interest in sharing expertise, strengthening communication and dissemination, finding synergies and creating joint momentum for change.}

^{At the second meeting in March, discussions became more practical. Stakeholders identified opportunities to contribute to specific thematic areas and work packages, participate in policy dialogues and webinars, support policy briefs, connect JA PreventNCD with other European initiatives and help make project outputs more accessible through their networks.}

^{A clear message from these discussions was that stakeholder engagement should be practical, well structured and mutually beneficial.}

^{Over the coming months, we will introduce the organisations and people behind the JA PreventNCD Stakeholder Group.}

^{Through a series of short interviews, members will share perspectives from their own fields, including key challenges in NCD prevention, current priorities, promising developments and opportunities for stronger collaboration across Europe. The series will also highlight how their expertise connects with the work and objectives of JA PreventNCD.}

^{The Stakeholder Group will stay active until the conclusion of JA PreventNCD in December 2027. As the Joint Action moves further from developing evidence and testing approaches towards communicating, disseminating and supporting the uptake of its results, these external perspectives will become increasingly important. We are very grateful to have these great members as a part of our stakeholder group and look forward to further collaboration.}

^{Follow the interview series to meet our Stakeholder Group members and hear their perspectives on strengthening NCD prevention across Europe.}