Community Impact Programme: The First Group
The first CIP accelerator group began in April 2024. Participants from 15 different countries worked alongside one another to develop their expertise and empower one another through the learnings on the course.
The participants had a chance to meet in person for a day of training at the World Hepatitis Summit 2024 in Lisbon, where they reflected on their advocacy journeys so far and discussed how to develop more effective strategies going forward. The group concluded in June and was a large success for the learning, growth and development of advocates around the world.
“The training was very knowledgeable and informative. The advocacy toolkit provided during the training and practical tips participants shared have already begun to make a significant difference in my experience.”
“I have really increased my knowledge and have already organised a step-down orientation for my staff. The new knowledge learnt during the training was shared with them for improvement of our innovations.”
Learn more about their journey below:
Impact in action
Case study: Mohammed Mahabubur Rahman
Mohammed Mahabubur Rahman is the CEO of BARNALY – Social Change for Sustainable Development, a registered non-government voluntary organisation in Chattogram, the commercial capital of Bangladesh. Mahabubur started his career in 1985 as a grassroots activist with the commitment to bring about positive change among vulnerable people, especially youth groups, engaging with various national & international development organizations, forums and networks.
In March 2024 Mahabubur joined the first cohort of the Community Impact Accelerator Programme. The CIP accelerator programme, based on the learnings of the CIP e-learning course, aimed to improve participants ability to advocate at a city, state and national level for viral hepatitis services and funding, including five virtual sessions, and one in person. Mahabubur joined the accelerator programme stating “there is no substitute for skill and knowledge. Attending this course will help us contribute towards achieving the 2030 goal for hepatitis elimination.”
As a part of the programme, Mahabubur was supported to attend the World Hepatitis Summit 2024. At the summit, Mahabubur attended a variety of seminars and workshops, networked with the wider community, made connections with potential donors, and took part in a face-to-face advocacy bootcamp with his fellow CIP participants. In this session, the participants worked together to build upon their advocacy strategies and explored different methods of implementation. After the session, Mahabubur gained “A new commitment to elimination” and expressed a new understanding of the importance of “Multisectoral partnerships, political commitment, and the power of mobilizing the health system as a whole to improve our communities.”
Since completing the programme, Mahabubur has shared the learnings gained with his organisation “I have passed down the knowledge learnt on advocacy skills and collaboration – we have set up a group of 10 people who are trained on the key topics of CIP to help plan our advocacy going forward.” They have also reported seeing “a change in the community as a result”, witnessing the local community become more motivated in their attitude towards the testing and treatment of hepatitis. “We have used the skills learnt from CIP to organize group discussions and engage with hepatitis patients including people living in slums, fishermen and people who are living in the railway and bus station.”
Despite the course coming to its conclusion, Muhabubur has been in regular contact with his fellow participants and has already recommended the Accelerator Programme to others.
