East Africa Global Health Leadership and Advocacy Accelerator 2024.
Medical Doctors For Choice Rwanda (MDFC) participated in the Global Health Leadership and Advocacy Accelerators training program hosted by The William H. Gates Sr. Institute for Population and Reproductive Health, the program was designed specifically for East African participants in May 2024 in Lilongwe, Malawi.
The GHLAA is a stimulating, intensive two-week leadership training, in the company of some of the brightest minds and most accomplished practitioners in public health. Organized by AYSRHR Global Roadmap for Action (GRA), a growing global coalition with 42+ youth-led organizations and collectives, and a robust platform for implementing a youth vision for sexual and reproductive health and rights, co-created and led by youth, acclaimed by The Bill & Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health – Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
The GHLAA 2024 program brought together GRA members from Tanzania, Rwanda, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Uganda, and USA-based partners.
Participants had exciting moments in Lilongwe Malawi. 20th-24th May 2024, during the Global Health Leadership and Advocacy Accelerator (GHLAA) for Africa 2024, we reflected on systems thinking and the essential leadership skills needed to navigate complex health sector challenges. Engaging group discussions centered around Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) landscape analysis, where participants showcased transformative SRHR interventions and explored smart advocacy strategies. Day 2 saw participants understand the SMART Advocacy framework, building evidence-based strategies and refining their advocacy objectives. Over the next two days, leaders honed their skills through role plays and feedback, mastering the art of approaching decision-makers with specific and refinned requests. participants focused on implementing and monitoring their advocacy strategies, solidifying their roles as effective advocates. The secret to successful advocacy? is a SMART Advocacy with impactful actions.
East Africa GHLAA Participants:
Amanda Banura, Uganda Youth Alliance for Family Planning and Adolescent Health (UYAFPAH)
Esenam Amuzu, Family Planning News Network (FPNN)
Goodness Ogeyi Odey, ICFP 2025 Power Shifting Subcommittee
Innocent Grant, Young and Alive Initiative
Linda Mbira, Youth Empowerment Towards Development (YETOD)
Dr. Serge NDAGIJIMANA, Medical Doctors For Choice (MDFC)
Tadiwanashe Burukai-Matutu, Womandla Foundation
Yotam Ngwira, Youth Empowerment Towards Development (YETOD)
The GHLAA is a William H. Gates Sr. Institute platform aimed at building the leadership capacity of mid-career professionals in global health, and the 2024 MALAWI GHLAA for East Africa had an impact that brought innovative approaches to leadership, program management, policy analysis, strategic planning, communications, advocacy, and organizational change. All of this was achieved through dynamic discussions and hands-on exercises, allowing participants to learn new skills, apply them to real-world examples, and reflect on what they’ve learned.
