GARD provides a network through which collaborating parties can combine their strenghts and knowledge, thereby achieving results that no single partner could attain alone. The Global Alliance also improves coordination between existing governmental and nongovernmental programmes, which avoids duplication of efforts and wasting of resources. Within this framework, GARD focuses on the following areas:

• Surveillance of chronic respiratory diseases and their risk factors
• Advocacy for action
• Health promotion and prevention
• Diagnosis of chronic respiratory disease
• Control of chronic respiratory diseases and drug accessibility
• Pediatric asthma