The SUNI-SEA project is nearing its completion, we find ourselves on the last leg of our journey. As anticipation builds and the finish line draws near, the entire consortium came together in the bustling city of Bangkok from 4 to 6 May 2023 to engage in meaningful discussions about our ambitious endeavour. This gathering served as a valuable opportunity for all team members to align our efforts, exchange valuable insights, and collectively strategise to ensure a strong finish.

The meeting involved small group activities and in-depth plenary discussions focused on the research components across all countries, such as the ongoing data analysis of surveys conducted. Throughout the three-day meeting, participants engaged in intensive discussions and collaborative work, leading to the formulation of initial findings on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the interventions.

The scaling-up strategy has made significant progress over the past year, and this provided an opportunity for the European based research team to convene with country teams, delving deeper into specific details and refining key messages of best practices of scaling up community-based NCD interventions.

Throughout the project, the team has generated numerous valuable resources, including capacity building materials, guidelines, and standard operating procedures, which will be consolidated for public use once the project concludes. As the project nears its end, a variety of communication materials, including policy briefs and videos, are being developed and will soon be widely disseminated. Part of the materials is already available on our Resources section.

In conclusion the three-day meeting with 40 participants from 11 countries, was a success, fostering a vibrant atmosphere of collaboration, and generating remarkable progress across multiple fronts. It served as a platform for fruitful discussions, enabling team members to exchange ideas and insights freely.

Special thanks to Prof Adi Utarinin, Professor of Health Policy and Management, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia and Prof Nawi Ng, Professor of Global Health, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, SUNI-SEA advisory board members for their active participation, insights and valuable recommendations.

The team very much appreciated HelpAge International support for organising the final consortium meeting in Bangkok.