IAS Person-Centred Care Advocacy Academy
Applicant criteria
- 13 - 99
- Both
Opportunity criteria
Opportunity description
The Person-Centred Care Advocacy Academy will award fellowships to 15 dedicated advocates, offering them the opportunity to engage in an extensive series of interactive workshops designed to hone their advocacy skills. This academy is a joint initiative organized by the International AIDS Society (IAS) and the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ), in partnership with Gilead Sciences.
It is specifically tailored for individuals working across central, eastern, southern, and western Africa who are deeply invested in enhancing their advocacy capabilities to drive person-centred service delivery initiatives. The academy aims to provide a comprehensive learning experience, combining theoretical knowledge with practical applications to ensure that participants are well-prepared to implement effective advocacy strategies in their communities.
Participants will benefit from the expertise of leading professionals in the field, as well as from networking opportunities that will connect them with like-minded advocates and potential collaborators. The program covers a broad range of topics essential for successful advocacy, including communication strategies, policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and grassroots mobilization.
By the end of the fellowship, these 15 advocates will be equipped with the tools and knowledge necessary to make a significant impact on person-centred care in their regions. They will have developed a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities within their advocacy work and will be empowered to create and sustain positive change. This fellowship not only aims to build individual capacity but also seeks to foster a community of advocates who can support and inspire one another in their ongoing efforts to improve health outcomes and service delivery in Africa.
Benefits
- Provide training and skills building on current person-centred care approaches to service delivery and existing barriers to their implementation.
- Develop tools to disseminate information on person-centred approaches and their importance to the wider community, including policy makers, the media and programme managers.
- Create opportunities to interact with leading researchers and advocates in the field.
- Guide participants to identify service delivery gaps in their communities and develop action plans to overcome these challenges.
Eligibility criteria
- Have sufficient proficiency in English.
- Demonstrate involvement as an advocate or healthcare provider (including peer educators) in the HIV field for at least two years.
- Be affiliated with HIV associations, groups or committees based in central, eastern, southern or western Africa.
- Be interested in person-centred care approaches.