ITPC: Mobilizing and Investing in a New Generation of Activists for HIV Treatment
“There are so many activists out there who need a little extra help in order to empower the work they’re doing in their communities. The ADP aims to provide that support so activists can do more of what they know works.” (ITPC annual report)
The International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC) is a global network of people living with HIV and community activists, which has been supported by the Robert Carr Fund since 2013. For the last 15 years, ITPC has focused on expanding access to HIV treatments and other life-saving medicines, making them a model of excellence in direct treatment education, informed and vocal advocacy, and national community monitoring of health care access.
© ITPC
As a global activist network, ITPC aims to continue investing in the energy, skills, and informed action of people living with HIV working together for equity in medicines and health. With the support of the Robert Carr Fund, ITPC launched a new initiative in June 2018 called the Activist Development Program (ADP), aimed at training and empowering activists around the world to fight for better health.
ADP Fellows participate in a carefully constructed program that provides instructional advocacy training, leadership opportunity, on-going mentorship, and hands-on networking. Over the course of the two-year program, ADP Fellows gain technical knowledge and leadership skills through in-person learning exchanges; connect with global influencers and gain access to late-breaking information through an exclusive networking platform; access the latest and up-to-date information on the most pressing HIV treatment access issues; and benefit from potential opportunities and collaborations with ITPC and partners. These may include conference support, board memberships, journal authorships, grant funding, and other engagements.
Since launching its first cohort in June 2018, the ADP has hosted two learning exchanges. The nine ADP Fellows – working in Fiji, Kenya, UK, Zimbabwe, Panama, Nepal, Nigeria, and Egypt – have spent weeks together on intense knowledge building, advocacy planning, team-building and networking. Sessions and group exercises focused on issues ranging from the science of HIV and treatment of NCDs, to the late-breaking issues around dolutegravir (DTG) and self-care in activism. Over the course of 2019 and 2020, ADP Fellows will continue to take part in instructional advocacy training, leadership opportunities, on-going mentorship, and hands-on networking. ITPC continues to look for ways to improve and encourage virtual communications so that the program can better grow and address challenges around working in resource-limited settings and finding opportunities for intersectionality.
The ADP fills an undeniable need among activists, providing a safe place and a platform to learn, grow, connect, and reflect; and ultimately helping to have increased influence and capacity to mobilize movements (QI4). It is because of Robert Carr Fund support and the reach of ITPC as a global network, that it has been possible to build this movement connecting activists across the globe. The core funding provided by the Robert Carr Fund has not only supported bringing the program to the current scale, but also enabled ITPC to continue to mobilize additional resources to accelerate momentum – assuring impact for many years to come.