Entebbe, Uganda

This seven-day workshop is the first step in a two-year programme being launched in 2008 by Medicines Transparency Alliance (MeTA), an organisation that aims to use a multi-stakeholder approach towards increasing transparency around the regulation, selection, procurement, sale, distribution and use of medicines in developing countries to strengthen governance, encourage responsible business practices and improve access to medicines, especially for the economically poor. The programme is designed to build capacity of civil society in Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania.

According to the organisers, the participation of civil society in the programme activities is important to the success of the process. The workshop is designed to help participants to:

• feel more prepared and comfortable to engage with national policy processes, including the multi-stakeholder working groups envisaged by MeTA;
•  acquire specific knowledge on issues related to access to medicines, in particular transparency, accountability and efficiency issues;
• acquire skills to promote greater transparency and accountability at national, district and community levels;
• strengthen networking in their own country, and across countries; and
• develop ideas on campaigns and advocacy on medicines issues for use in their own MeTA pilot countries.

The workshop will include knowledge sharing, skills development, experience sharing and country planning sessions each day. A mid-week field visit will provide participants with an opportunity for direct learning about the issues of transparency in the Ugandan pharmaceutical sector.

Topics to be covered will include: 

•  an introduction to MeTA;
• availability, accessibility and affordability of medicines;
• medicine financing;
• procurement and supply chain for medicines;
• governance, transparency and accountability – the role of civil society; and
• ethical practice and the rational use of medicines.

Skills that are likely to be covered include:

• monitoring prices;
• interpreting data
• networking and collaboration;
• negotiating policies;
• working with media;
• advocacy;
• understanding policy processes;
• interview techniques; 
• computer and knowledge management skills; and 
• documentation and effective communication.

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There are a limited number of places available (7 from each of the three countries) for participation in the workshop. Accordingly, an application process will be used.

Participants who are:

• active in a reliable, active CSO or network ;
• interested in MeTA issues (medicines, health, transparency, governance, accountability);
• willing to write half page motivation letter, which should state how the participant intends to use the knowledge and skills acquired;
• if invited to participate, willing to write one page about a project or campaign that they have personally been involved in, highlighting the significant change that occurred and why they think it was significant OR one page analysing something that you think needs attention in your country, and why it is important to work on this in your context.

Participants  are invited to follow the following application procedure:

• Consider whether they qualify (using the participant criteria above).
• Notify the organisers of their interest to participate by 15 January 2008 by email to metacso@healthlink.org.uk , attach a participant form (see below) and motivation letter.
• The organisers will study their application, consider the participants mix and take a decision.
• They may also ask them more questions by email or phone.
• If the organiers invite them, which will be done by 22 January 2008, they should write one page story, attach your CV, sign a conflict of information form, and submit by email or fax (details for this will be sent out to them with the invitation).

To register for this workshop,  please use the contact details below: