Social, economic, and environmental determinants of health (SEEDS)

Social, economic, and environmental factors have a great and often under-acknowledged effect on people’s health. For example, one’s gender, education level or place of residence can impact levels of susceptibility to diseases. Effects can be mitigated by improving living standards, especially for the most disadvantaged groups. But these social, economic and environmental factors of health and health equity are rarely fully addressed in development policy and practice.

UNDP works to ensure these factors are taken into account in development projects, so that they can maximize benefits to people’s health and progress. We need a more conscious strategy to ensure a rights-based approach to health and human well-being. Our Report highlights the close linkages between health and development.

UNDP has developed and piloted a methodology and toolkit with a monitoring and evaluation approach to identifying SEEDs of health and health equity. We support the UN and national partners to more effectively respond to the increasing complexity and interconnectedness of health and development.

Non-communicable diseases

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) represent a major public health and broader societal problem, causing with just over 70 percent of all deaths globally. The relative burden is even higher in the Europe and Central Asia region, where NCDs caused 89 percent of deaths, a three percent increase since 2000.

NCDs – namely, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory disease – are the greatest cause of preventable illness, disability and mortality worldwide, with large impact on productive capacity. They share behavioural risk factors – tobacco, harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity and unhealthy diet - as well as social, economic and environmental determinants.

We take a comprehensive and integrated approach towards tackling NCDs, addressing relationships between NCDs, poverty, inequalities, sustainable cities, economic growth, health financing and climate action.

UNDP, with the World Health Organization, supports countries in the region to establish national responses to NCDs. We conduct investment cases – looking at how much money a country will save or have to spend based on how much they invest now. We also strengthen implementation of global, regional and national legislative frameworks including the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

• UNDP has completed or is finalizing NCD, FCTC and/or mental health investment cases for Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan,  Serbia Turkey and Uzbekistan. They contribute not only to increasing political commitment but also developing country-tailored cost-benefit analysis of actions to address NCDs and key behavioral risk factors.
• The first ever country specific framework convention on tobacco control investment case was conducted in Georgia (English, Georgian), which became a strong contributor for legislative and regulatory changes in the national tobacco control law, completely banning public indoor smoking, advertising, sponsorship and promotion.