Society For Family Health Namibia

EU Legislative Interests

(HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-09 and HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-STAYHLTH-02) The proposed programme focused on multisectoral implementation research to tackle chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), alongside a youth-centred behavioural prevention model in collaboration with IUM aligns with and operationalises several core European Union legislative frameworks and strategic policy instruments. These policies collectively shift the European health agenda from treatment-centric models toward prevention, cross-sectoral governance, equity, and systems transformation. The action contributes directly to EU commitments under Horizon Europe, EU4Health, Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, the European Health Data Space, and the broader Global Health Strategy, while reflecting the objectives of the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) on implementation research in LMICs and underserved populations. 1. Horizon Europe Horizon Europe constitutes the EU’s primary research and innovation framework (2021–2027), with Cluster 1 (Health) prioritising disease prevention, reduction of health inequalities, and strengthening health systems resilience. The call HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-09 explicitly promotes multisectoral approaches to NCDs, recognising that chronic diseases are driven by determinants located outside clinical settings urban design, food systems, education, employment conditions, and social inequities. The proposed implementation research aligns with Horizon Europe’s: • Mission-oriented innovation framework. • Emphasis on real-world piloting and scalability. • Cross-border and cross-sectoral collaboration. • Policy uptake and societal impact orientation. By integrating community-based programming, educational institutions, digital tools, and family engagement mechanisms, the project demonstrates systemic innovation beyond healthcare delivery. It addresses the Horizon Europe expectation that funded actions produce measurable population-level impact, not merely academic outputs. 2. EU4Health Programme The EU4Health Programme (2021–2027) prioritises: • Disease prevention and health promotion. • Reduction of health inequalities. • Strengthening health systems resilience. • Addressing NCD risk factors (tobacco, alcohol, nutrition, sedentary behaviour). The proposed multisectoral NCD intervention operationalises EU4Health priorities by embedding prevention activities within non-clinical settings—schools, communities, workplaces, and digital ecosystems. Importantly, the project addresses structural inequities affecting underserved populations in LMIC contexts (Namibia) and aligns with EU commitments to global health solidarity. By testing scalable, cost-effective behavioural and environmental interventions, the programme contributes to sustainable prevention models consistent with EU4Health’s investment logic. 3. Europe's Beating Cancer Plan Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan identifies prevention as the most cost-effective long-term cancer control strategy. Approximately 40% of cancers are preventable through behavioural modification (diet, physical activity, tobacco cessation, alcohol reduction). The proposed youth behavioural intervention under HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-STAYHLTH-02 directly addresses upstream risk factors before disease onset. The model: • Promotes healthy dietary patterns. • Encourages physical activity through school and community engagement. • Addresses substance behaviours early in adolescence. • Utilises digital nudging strategies for sustained behaviour change. This prevention-first approach supports the Cancer Plan’s long-term objective of reducing avoidable cancers and decreasing healthcare expenditure associated with advanced disease management. 4. Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases (GACD) The GACD framework emphasises implementation research targeting NCD prevention and management in low-resource settings through multisectoral coordination.

Communication Activities

Communication Activities Related to Targeted EU Policies (HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-STAYHLTH-02 – Behavioural Interventions for NCD Prevention among Young People, in collaboration with IUM) The communication strategy will be structured to ensure alignment with the EU prevention, youth, cancer, and digital health policy frameworks referenced above. Activities will promote visibility, policy uptake, stakeholder engagement, and behavioural impact. 1. Policy-Aligned Launch and Stakeholder Events a) High-Level Policy Roundtable (Hybrid Event) • Target audience: EU policy stakeholders, public health authorities, academic partners, youth representatives. • Focus: Translating behavioural science into scalable NCD prevention interventions aligned with Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and EU4Health priorities. • Output: Policy brief summarising actionable recommendations. b) Youth Co-Creation Workshops (Campus-Based at IUM) • Participatory design sessions with students to co-develop behavioural interventions. • Outputs: Youth-led campaign concepts, digital prototypes, and behavioural toolkits. • Policy linkage: EU Youth Strategy (youth participation and empowerment). c) Annual Dissemination Conference • Presentation of interim and final results. • Dedicated session on digital health data governance aligned with the European Health Data Space. • Publication of proceedings and executive summary. 2. Public Awareness Campaigns a) “Stay Healthy Young” Digital Campaign • Social media engagement across platforms (Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn). • Behavioural nudges addressing diet, physical activity, tobacco avoidance, alcohol moderation, and mental well-being. • Short-form videos integrating behavioural insights (COM-B model framing). • Alignment: Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and EU4Health prevention pillar. b) Campus-Based Behavioural Activation Campaign • On-site screening days, physical activity challenges, nutrition literacy pop-ups. Use of QR-based digital tracking tools. Branded messaging linking to EU prevention goals. c) Health Literacy Interactive seminars on digital health literacy, misinformation, and data protection. Alignment with Digital Education Action Plan 2021–2027. 3. Scientific and Policy Publications a) Peer-Reviewed Publications Behavioural intervention outcomes. Implementation science findings. Digital data governance models. Open-access publishing to ensure broad dissemination. b) Policy Brief Series (3–5 briefs) Behavioural prevention strategies for youth. Cost-effectiveness modelling of primary prevention. Digital health integration in NCD prevention. Distributed to EU policymakers and health networks. c) White Paper on Youth-Centred NCD Prevention Consolidated recommendations for replication across EU Member States and partner countries. 4. Digital Communication and Knowledge Platforms a) Project Website & Knowledge Hub Open repository of toolkits, datasets (ethically governed), and training materials. Interactive dashboards aligned with European Health Data Space principles. b) Quarterly E-Newsletter Policy updates, research insights, youth testimonials, and behavioural tips. c) Webinars and Online Masterclasses Topics: Behavioural science in public health, implementation research, digital prevention strategies. Target audience: Health professionals, researchers, students. 5. Community and Youth Engagement Activities a) Peer Educator Programme Training youth ambassadors to promote healthy behaviours on campus. Focus on sustainability beyond the project lifecycle. b) NCD Prevention Innovation Challenge Student-led solutions addressing behavioural risk factors. Awards and public showcase event. 6. Media Engagement Press releases at key milestones. Radio and television interviews focused on youth prevention. Opinion editorials in public health platforms linking findings to EU policy goals. 7. Monitoring and Impact Evaluation of Communication Social media analytics

Interests Represented

Does not represent commercial interests

Member Of

The Society for Family Health (SFH) Namibia is an independent NGO and member of the Population Services International (PSI) global network (https://www.psi.org). SFH maintains strategic partnerships with international and national institutions, including the U.S. CDC Namibia (https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/countries/namibia/), UNHCR Namibia (https://www.unhcr.org/na/), UNFPA Namibia (https://namibia.unfpa.org/), and Amref Health Africa (https://amref.org/). SFH is an implementing partner under the Global Fund Namibia portfolio (https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/portfolio/country/?loc=NAM) and works closely with the Ministry of Health and Social Services (https://mhss.gov.na/) in national programme implementation and technical working groups. The organisation also collaborates with academic institutions such as the International University of Management (https://ium.edu.na/) and engages civil society and community-based networks to support service delivery and public health interventions.

Organisation Members

SFH Namibia is a registered NGO and does not have a formal membership base. It operates as an independent entity and is a member of the PSI global network. SFH collaborates with government, multilateral, and civil society partners on a programmatic basis. https://www.sfh.org.na/