From 3-5 December, the Advocacy Accelerator Fellowship – offered to SM Shaikat, Executive Director of SERAC-Bangladesh, and Shahina Yasmin, Program Lead; was represented at the regional workshop in Nairobi, Kenya. In lieu of Shahina, Project Manager Lutfa Pathan joined the workshop, ensuring SERAC’s continued engagement.
Together, the three will jointly lead the Capstone Project, which will focus on mental health-related budget advocacy in Bangladesh with technical support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI).
Organized by GHAI in partnership with Hennet, the workshop convened 24 exceptional advocates selected from 618 applicants across Asia and Africa as part of GHAI’s 2nd Advocacy Accelerator Cohort, creating a vibrant platform for cross-country learning and collaboration.
Across three intensive days, participants explored critical global health themes including health system strengthening, budget advocacy, food and nutrition policy, NCDs, injury prevention, sustainable financing, domestic resource mobilization, and government engagement. The workshop emphasized civil society capacity building and introduced innovative digital advocacy tools such as health tokens. A central component was the Budget Advocacy Cycle- focusing on planning, implementation, accountability, and sustainability in health financing.
A key session on Domestic Financing for Health Security and NCDs underscored the economic burden of preventable diseases, the importance of early detection, digital data tools, and meaningful engagement of Ministries of Finance. The powerful role of victim voices- especially within tobacco control efforts in Bangladesh and India, was also highlighted.
Participants strengthened practical skills in landscape analysis, public finance management, SMART policy development, budget monitoring, and tools like the Cost Performance Index (CPI), equipping them for evidence-based and transparent advocacy.
The workshop concluded with Capstone Project presentations outlining country-specific advocacy strategies, followed by a vibrant cultural night celebrating the diversity and unity of the cohort.
This fellowship experience further reinforces SERAC-Bangladesh’s commitment to advancing health advocacy- with a renewed focus on adolescent mental health and budget reforms, to drive meaningful policy change in Bangladesh.