Stop TB Partnership

Asia Workshop

ASIA REGIONAL ADVOCACY, COMMUNICATION AND SOCIAL MOBILIZATION (ACSM) PLANNING WORKSHOP FOR TUBERCULOSIS CONTROL

Bangkok, Thailand, 20-24 August 2007

The Stop TB Partnership Secretariat and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) organized the first Asian regional workshop on advocacy, communication and social mobilization for tuberculosis control. The workshop was conducted by the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH).

The 5-day workshop was attended by local, provincial and national officials as well as civil society representatives from 8 Asian countries: Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, the Philippines and Viet Nam.
Most participants are involved in the implementation of the ACSM component of Global Fund TB grants.

The purpose of the workshop was to provide participants with the tools and skills they need to plan, implement, and evaluate ACSM activities to support effective TB control and the implementation of their Global Fund grants. The workshop aimed to help participants:

Develop a shared understanding of the definitions of advocacy, communication, and social mobilization in the context of TB control;
Understand how ACSM activities contribute to reaching TB case detection and treatment completion targets;
Share their ACSM experience with colleagues from the region;
Prepare a specific plan of action for ACSM activities in their country; and
Prepare requests for ongoing ACSM technical assistance as needed.

The agenda for the 5-day workshop was intensive and highly participatory, with the near 40 participants engaging in small group work, plenary discussions, role-play, simulation and other activities which encouraged participants to share their knowledge and experiences with each other.

The contents and objectives of the workshop are outlined below.

Day 1 - Understanding ACSM: After introductions and sharing of workshop expectations, participants shared understanding of advocacy, communications and social mobilization through real-life examples from their respective countries.
Day 2 - ACSM in depth: Participants discussed the latest facts, figures, and developments on TB and TB/HIV. They also shared and compared country-level ACSM plans, as well as determined critical next steps.
Day 3 - Opportunities and barriers: Working in groups, participants identified factors that influence ACSM activities in-country and looked into opportunities for accelerating ACSM work. They also explored the meaning of community ownership as well as the importance of evidence-based ACSM programming.
Day 4 - ACSM planning: Sessions on day 4 allowed participants to develop and refine a practical list of next steps for integrating ACSM interventions into their national TB control plans. Participants also reviewed the tools and processes for developing a strategic advocacy plan.
Day 5 - Going forward: On the last day of the workshop, participants explored the importance of effective monitoring and evaluation of ACSM interventions. They also discussed ways to identify areas where technical assistance is needed, and to develop terms of reference to ask for such assistance. Participants also shared ideas for staying in touch as a regional network of ACSM practitioners.

Organizers hope this workshop will serve as a springboard for developing plans for follow-up technical assistance to individual countries as well as a model for future workshops in other regions.