Announcements

AHPN STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT: FEEDBACK & UPDATE

Date: 12-03-2010

 
Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for your positive attendance and contributions at the community engagement event of 27^th January 2010. We recognise that by working with members and key stakeholders, AHPN becomes a stronger voice of Africans in the UK living with and affected by HIV. Over 60 people attended this event and we had deliberations on three future strategic options, which were:

Option 1: to remain the African HIV Policy Network and not change the current policy remit of the organisation.

Option 2: to remain the African HIV Policy Network, working in the area of HIV and developing a more robust policy remit in sexual health.

Option 3: to become the African Health Policy Network, with strategic focus and core competency in HIV and sexual health and also policy commentator on other health related issues.

Whilst there were excellent debates and deliberations to support the three options, majority voted for Option 3. The interim board have been having further deliberations and the decisions made are influenced and informed by the views and voices of the stakeholders plus the strategic insight provided by the professional consultant engaged.

The organisation is currently in the process of having the change of name and remit ratified by the Charity Commission. The organisation will then be renamed the African Health Policy Network,  with a mission to advance the health of Africans in the UK, a strategic focus on HIV and sexual health, whilst also influencing health policy and determinants that affect Africans in the UK.

To achieve this, we would be focussing and building the organisation structure around the following areas:

1.     POLICY:  become a stronger policy influence, initiator, commentator, developer and campaigner, in the field and practice of HIV, sexual health and determinants that affect Africans in the UK living with and affected by HIV

2.     RESEARCH: engage in evidenced-based researches that address topical issues, whilst contributing to the body of knowledge in the field of HIV, sexual health and determinants that affect Africans in the UK living with and affected by HIV

3.     MEMBERSHIP: re-establish as a network of community based organisations, increasing membership, and ensure continual dialogue with a clearly defined relationship.

4.     VOICE FUNCTION: develop Vital Positive Voices as a network of Africans in the UK living with and affected by HIV, informing our policy research and agendas.

5.     PROJECTS/PROGRAMMES: act as a strategic bridge and provide leadership to members and other stakeholders by coordinating and commissioning national and regional projects and programmes; current examples of these include NAHIP and Pan London programme.

Our aspiration is that, by December 2010, AHPN would have:

·         Developed key policy areas and establish a Policy Reference Group that will provide strategic oversight

·         Developed and implemented a membership strategy

·         Established Vital Positive  Voices with a clear operating framework

·         Commenced implementation of the communications strategy

·         A new Board of Trustees, a permanent CEO and any required associated arm of governance

·         Some research capacity and a functional Research Forum

·         An established staff structure with standardised contracts of employment and defined staff roles that support the organisation’s strategy

·         Regular input and recognition to major health, HIV and sexual health policy

·         An enhanced public profile through press interventions on key policy areas

·         A funding strategy that will ensure the future sustenance of the organisation.

Next steps:

We aim to organise another community engagement meeting by summer 2010, to update you on progress made and to further garner your views on the important agendas that we can focus on.

Times of change can be both exciting and challenging, especially as we are aiming to establish AHPN on its right path for the present and the future. We look forward to working with you as we establish AHPN as the independent and representative voice that positively influence the health and well being of the African communities in the UK.

Dr Ade Adeagbo

Interim CEO

12^th March 2010

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