About Us
Santé Diabète is a non-governmental organisation founded in 2001 to address the lack of access to care for people living with diabetes in Africa and help make this health emergency an international priority.
Initially active in Mali, Santé Diabète subsequently expanded its work to Burkina Faso, Senegal (until 2018), the Union of the Comoros, Cabo Verde and France (where the association is headquartered), with permanent teams in each country.
Our mission
Strengthening and structuring health systems for better diabetes prevention and care
With a team of 45 people and more than 200 local and international partners, Santé Diabète works on the ground every day to save lives through better diabetes prevention and care, improving the quality of life of people living with this chronic condition.
Our NGO takes a comprehensive approach encompassing all the areas needed to deliver quality diabetes prevention and care.
THIS INNOVATIVE APPROACH IS PUT INTO PRACTICE
THROUGH SIX COMPONENTS :
1. Primary prevention
to reduce the human and economic burden of the growing epidemic
2. Decentralisation of care
to ensure that quality care is geographically accessible to communities
3. Secondary and tertiary prevention and therapeutic patient education
to reduce the burden of diabetes-related complications
4. Reducing the cost of care
to enable people to access diabetes care
5. An integrated approach
to ensure the active participation of patients and their families by supporting patient associations, self-management and advocacy mechanisms
6. Research
to develop innovative approaches through research
This approach is implemented on the ground with all institutional partners: national and local authorities, healthcare professionals, civil society, communities and people living with diabetes.
By providing technical assistance to support government policies on diabetes prevention and care, the NGO ensures that its interventions deliver long-term solutions.
Since 2001, Santé Diabète has developed highly specialised expertise in diabetes in Africa and in low- and middle-income countries, and more broadly in health and development. This expertise enables it to support numerous governments in developing policies to address noncommunicable diseases, particularly diabetes.
More broadly, it enables the NGO to develop further expertise in these areas for governments, international organisations and the United Nations.
Its results on the ground and the experts involved have gradually established Santé Diabète as a global reference organisation for many international organisations (World Health Organization, International Diabetes Federation, etc.), scientific societies (Société Francophone du Diabète, etc.), research centres (Transnut at the Université de Montréal, etc.) and universities (Grenoble, Montréal, Geneva, Harvard, etc.).
Santé Diabète since 2001
Strong values and a humanist approach
Our values are expressed first and foremost in our daily work on the ground, with the support of our partners. We prefer to describe our approach as humanist rather than humanitarian.
We have chosen measured growth, drawing on the strength of our networks to remain as close as possible to needs on the ground. This enables us to maintain effective oversight of our activities and ensure their relevance, quality and effectiveness.
Santé Diabète also draws its legitimacy and strength from its roots in local initiatives and processes. Through our interventions, we ensure that we never replace local actors and always seek to build the capacities of local partners and support them towards autonomy.
Our ethical principles
As an NGO, Santé Diabète upholds the fundamental principles that should guide humanitarian action: humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. We also undertake to uphold professional ethical principles and maintain complete independence from all authorities and all political, economic or religious forces.
Our work is also guided by the principles of care, with therapeutic patient education and psychosocial support considered just as important as clinical care.
Our gender strategy
Santé Diabète's gender strategy aims to give greater consideration to gender issues, both within Santé Diabète as an organisation and in its field activities. It is implemented by creating a gender-responsive environment and integrating these issues more fully into our programmes and the way we structure our response.
Our gender strategy draws on key guidance, including WHO and EU guidelines, on gender and health; gender issues in humanitarian settings, particularly violence; gender and work; and, of course, gender and diabetes. It considers the different gender-related socioeconomic factors that affect diabetes prevention and care. Certain comorbidities of diabetes, such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, are also taken into account.
This strategic document also reviews how gender is addressed in official documents in our countries of intervention and provides a bibliography of resources we consider particularly relevant to this field and to the development of our organisation’s strategy.
It is intended for our teams, partners and beneficiaries, and for anyone wishing to better understand Santé Diabète’s approach to gender and the implementation of this strategy internally and in our programmes.
Our history
25 years of action
2001 - Foundation of Santé Diabète
- Santé Diabète was founded in 2001 by a group of specialists in diabetes, health and development to improve diabetes prevention and care in Africa.
2003 - First activities in Mali
- Stéphane Besançon, the NGO’s current Chief Executive Officer, is one of the founding members of the organisation. It was originally named Santé Diabète Mali after the country where its first field activities began in 2003.
2001 to 2011 - Expertise and a network of partners
- Between the NGO’s establishment in 2001 and the 2011 High-level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) during the United Nations General Assembly, the international context evolved towards greater recognition of NCDs.
- In this context, the NGO’s expertise and network of partners made it an essential international partner in interventions to improve diabetes prevention and care in Africa.
From 2010 - Strengthening activities in Mali and developing the first projects abroad
- Santé Diabète Mali undertook substantial work to strengthen its activities in Mali while preparing to develop projects in other countries. This expansion was requested by countries such as Burkina Faso, which wished to benefit from the methodologies developed over ten years in Mali, as well as the NGO’s legitimacy and partner network. It also responded to the need to strengthen global advocacy at a time when the international community was not yet giving sufficient attention to this health emergency.
2011 Santé Diabète Mali becomes Santé Diabète and broadens its mandate
This change of identity marked the beginning of a broader mandate, both geographically and in terms of its missions. It is based on four strategic priorities :
• Develop interventions in new countries beyond Mali (Burkina Faso, Union of the Comoros, Benin, Guinea, etc.).
• Provide specialised expertise in diabetes and, more broadly, in health and development, drawing on a network of internationally recognised experts.
• Make the skills acquired in West Africa available to French organisations working with migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.
• Strengthen advocacy among communities and authorities in countries of the Global North to improve understanding of diabetes and the challenges it poses in low- and middle-income countries.
From 2011 - New activities in France
- Launch of a programme on education for citizenship and international solidarity in France.
2012- Opening of a country office in Burkina Faso
- Création d’une délégation Santé Diabète au Burkina Faso.
2013 - Opening of a country office in Senegal
- Establishment of a Santé Diabète country office in Senegal, which operated for five years before closing in 2018.
2016 - Opening of a country office in the Union of the Comoros
- Establishment of a country office in the Union of the Comoros and launch of a programme to address diabetes across the archipelago.
- An “AFD diabetes prevention expertise” mission in French Polynesia.
2017 - A new stage in the development of our programmes
- Launch of the first three-year multi-country programme involving Mali, Burkina Faso and the Union of the Comoros, to strengthen diabetes prevention and care in all three countries, co-financed by the French Development Agency.
- Launch in Mali and Burkina Faso of an initial innovative project to better integrate the prevention and management of diabetes, HIV and tuberculosis, funded by L’Initiative / Expertise France.
2018 - Participation in the third United Nations High-level Meeting
- Santé Diabète fait partie des structures de la société civile sélectionnées pour participer au 3ème Sommet de Haut Niveau des Nations Unies consacré aux maladies non transmissibles (MNT) durant l'Assemblée Générale des Nations Unies à New York.
2019 - Organisation of the first inter-country scientific meetings
- The first inter-country scientific meeting (Mali, Burkina Faso, Union of the Comoros and France) was held in Bamako, Mali, to share and consolidate learning from activities and results across the countries of intervention.
- Organisation of a meeting at the National Assembly in Paris, France, on noncommunicable diseases in the Global North and South.
2020 - Implementation of a COVID-19 response plan
- Launch of a second three-year multi-country programme involving Mali, Burkina Faso and the Union of the Comoros, to strengthen diabetes prevention and care in all three countries, primarily co-financed by the French Development Agency, the World Diabetes Foundation, the Helmsley Charitable Trust and the City of Grenoble.
- Rollout of a COVID-19 and diabetes response plan in Mali and Burkina Faso.
2021 - Adoption of a historic WHO resolution on diabetes
- Adoption of a historic resolution on diabetes by WHO Member States, driven by Santé Diabète’s advocacy.
- Organisation of a meeting of French-speaking diabetes experts in Grenoble, France.
- Launch of a second project to strengthen the integration of diabetes, HIV and tuberculosis prevention and care, now extended to the Union of the Comoros alongside Mali and Burkina Faso.
2022 - Opening of Diabetes Prevention Houses
- Inauguration of the first Houses for the Prevention of Diabetes Risk Factors in Burkina Faso, Mali and the Union of the Comoros. They strengthen our prevention activities with partner civil society organisations.
2023 - Exploratory missions to Djibouti, Togo and Cabo Verde
- Launch of a third three-year multi-country programme involving Mali, Burkina Faso and the Union of the Comoros to strengthen diabetes prevention and care in all three countries, funded by different donors depending on the country to respond to geopolitical constraints.
- In parallel, Santé Diabète conducted exploratory missions in three new countries: Djibouti, Togo and Cabo Verde.
- The second inter-country scientific meeting (Mali, Burkina Faso, Union of the Comoros and France) was held in Moroni, Union of the Comoros, to share and consolidate learning from activities and results across the countries of intervention.
2025 - Inauguration of Prevention Houses in the regions of our countries of intervention
- Inauguration of new regional Diabetes Prevention Houses, bringing the number of operational houses in Mali, Burkina Faso and the Union of the Comoros to 13. These bring diabetes and risk-factor prevention and care closer to communities, particularly outside the capitals.
- Santé Diabète participated in the fourth High-level Meeting on NCDs and mental health during the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
2026 - A new phase to consolidate achievements and launch a new country programme
- Following three successive three-year programmes in Mali, Burkina Faso and the Union of the Comoros, launch of a new three-year phase to consolidate achievements, capture and share lessons learned, and strengthen national partners’ autonomy to ensure the sustainability of activities. This new stage is supported by the longstanding funding partners that have worked alongside Santé Diabète in these three countries for many years.
- In parallel, launch of a first three-year programme in Cabo Verde, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, marking a new stage in Santé Diabète’s expansion. It aims to improve diabetes prevention and care at the primary healthcare level.
- The third inter-country scientific meeting (Mali, Burkina Faso, Union of the Comoros and the NGO’s international partners) was held in Moroni, Union of the Comoros, to share and consolidate learning from activities and results across the countries of intervention.
Our organization
Our staff team
Santé Diabète has a team of 45 people, organised as follows :
- An executive management team comprising a Chief Executive Officer, a Director of Administration and Finance, and a Technical Director.
- A support unit comprising a Communications Officer and an Officer responsible for strengthening the monitoring of prevention and care activities.
- A French headquarters with a Project Manager for Education for Citizenship and International Solidarity (ECSI) and an Administration and Finance Manager.
Three country offices in Mali, Burkina Faso and the Union of the Comoros, each comprising :
- A Country Coordinator
- An Administration and Finance Manager
- Project Managers responsible for the various areas of intervention (healthcare provision and prevention).
Watch the video introductions to our teams here
The Board of Directors
Following deliberation, the Board of Directors determines all of the association’s strategic directions. The Board meets with the Director at least every six months.
The Board has 18 members, including five Executive Committee members: the Chair, Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer.
- David Hacquin Chair
- Christophe Perrin Secretary
- David Beran Treasurer
- Laurent Goetz Deputy Treasurer
- Nathalie Le-Moullec Deputy Secretary
- Perrine Geniez Member
- Nathalie Chatillon Member
- Pauline Brailly-Vignal Technical focal point for patients
- François Samuel Lahaye Medical focal point
- Anne-Laure Coulon Medical focal point
- Christine Waterlot Medical focal point
- Cynthia Fleury Member
- Pauline Trébuchet Member
- Joël Grevost Member
- Grégoire Gailly Member
- Marion Medves Member
- Khalda Vescovacci Member
- Hugo Besançon Member
Organisation charts
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An international network of partners
Santé Diabète draws on a network of high-level partners who provide specialised expertise as needed, both to guide its interventions and to conduct joint activities on the ground.
- International Diabetes Federation (IDF)
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- West African Health Organization (WAHO)
- World Diabetes Foundation (WDF)
- Société Francophone du Diabète (SFD)
- • Université de Montréal — Faculty of Medicine — Department of Nutrition, WHO Collaborating Centre on Nutrition Changes and Development
- Grenoble University Hospital
- Réunion University Hospital
- Paris University Hospital (La Pitié-Salpêtrière)
- Necker–Enfants Malades University Hospital — Diabetology Department
- Geneva University Hospitals
- University of Geneva
- Harvard University
- University of Réunion — Education Sciences
- University of Sydney (Australia)
- French Diabetes Federation (FFD)
- Luxembourg Diabetes Association (ALD)
- Type 1 Diabetes SWEET initiative project
- Geneva Health Forum (GHF)
- Chair of Philosophy at the Hospital and Chair of Humanities and Health
- Life for a Child (LFAC)
- Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH)
- Health Action International (HAI)
- NCD Policy Lab
- T1International
- International Alliance for Diabetes Action (IADA)
- Direct Relief
- Sciences Po Grenoble
- Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (Cnam)
- Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)
Our publications
A comprehensive 28-page report on Santé Diabète’s activities, including a breakdown of expenditure and resources.
A 32-page presentation of Santé Diabète.
A concise 16-page presentation of Santé Diabète’s missions and programmes.
FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY
Strict external and internal financial controls enable Santé Diabète to account at all times for the proper use of the funds entrusted to it: annual external audits by accredited international audit firms, certification of the association’s financial statements by a statutory auditor, and external audits by our partners.
98.5% of our funds are used directly in the field
98,5% Programme activities
1,5% operating costs
Our supporters
FRENCH DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (AFD)
World Diabetes Foundation (WDF)
The Helmsley Charitable Trust
Swiss Development Cooperation
Ministry of Solidarity and Health (France)
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (France)
City of Grenoble (France)
Acciss
Maison du Diabète (Luxembourg)
Life For A Child (LFAC)
NCD Policy Lab
Find out more
Santé Diabète in action
Discover Santé Diabète’s programmes and activities on the ground
