Millions of people worldwide still suffer from preventable infectious diseases, despite the availability of treatments and preventive measures. Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) alone affect more than 1.6 billion people, leaving many of the most vulnerable underserved and at risk. But history shows us that when we come together globally, even the most challenging diseases can be eliminated.

The Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE), based in Abu Dhabi, is at the forefront of these efforts. As a think and do tank, GLIDE's mission is to advance knowledge and catalyze action to accelerate progress towards sustainable infectious disease elimination. Its current focus on eliminable diseases, like malaria, polio, and specific NTDs such as lymphatic filariasis (also known as elephantiasis, an NTD caused by a parasitic infection transmitted by mosquitoes) and river blindness (onchocerciasis, an NTD contracted from a parasitic worm and transmitted by black flies, which could lead to irreversible blindness).

Our teams in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Johannesburg recently joined forces with GLIDE to reshape its five-year strategy, helping them increase their impact. Over six weeks, we worked together to review their existing strategic positioning, identify areas for improvement, and develop a clearer mission and vision that align more closely with the communities they serve. We also set up tracking systems to measure progress and keep goals on track.

A major outcome of this project was a new fundraising strategy, designed to broaden GLIDE’s funding sources and build partnerships with diverse donors. These partnerships will provide steady support for their initiatives, allowing GLIDE to grow its reach and thereby support more people in need.

With this refreshed identity and strategy, GLIDE is ready to communicate its mission more effectively to potential donors and the global community. By connecting with committed partners and supporters, GLIDE hopes to turn its vision of disease elimination into a reality, ensuring that no one is left behind in the fight against preventable diseases.