UK Coalition Against NTDs response to Andrew Mitchell MP statement of international development

15 May 2023

On 27th April 2023, International Development Minister Andrew Mitchell spoke at Chatham House on a new vision for UK development to improve global prosperity and reduce poverty.

The Right Honourable Andrew Mitchell asserted the UK Government's commitment to change the lives of the world’s poorest and drive forward shared prosperity and commited to persuading UK citizens that international development is core to our own national interest as well as the right thing to do.

Read the full speech here.

The remarks were well received by International Development stakeholders, including the UK Coalition Against Neglected Tropical Diseases, which issued a statement of support, which highlighted the contribution of NTDs to achieve cross-cutting Sustainable Development Goals. 

Read the full UK Coalition Against NTD statement here. 

In its statement, the UK Coalition Against NTDs suggested the UK government take the following actions:

  • Support research partnerships that prioritise the needs of neglected populations and harness the strengths of researchers in NTD-endemic regions. This includes ensuring innovations originating in LMICs are integrated into international responses and strengthening clinical research networks. -
  • Ensure coordination and collaboration between NTD programmes and existing investments in nutrition, education, WASH, disability inclusion, social protection, and maternal and child health to multiply the benefits of UK development and ensure the world’s poorest communities can reach their full potential. 
  • Publish a cross-government global health strategy covering all UK government health ODA spend. This should detail the investment in NTDs that will be made within that, and ensure it will deliver against SDG 3, towards achieving UHC, and the ‘leave no one behind’ pledge. It should work through the synergies between SDG 3 and all other SDGs, including ending poverty (SDG 1), zero hunger (SDG 2), gender equality (SDG 5), water and sanitation (SDG 6), and building strong and transparent institutions (SDG 16), amongst others.