A team of over 30, from diverse disciplines has convened in Douala, Cameroon for a 5-day write shop intended to develop and disseminate knowledge products from the Africa One Health University Network (AFROHUN) Transition Award (project).
Writeshops are institutionalized in AFROHUN, as an effective tool in turning out knowledge and communication products in a synchronized and strategic way. This is one of many that the organization has held over the years. It brings together faculty from participating academic institutions, practitioners in the OH and risk communication spaces, students, AFROHUN staff and leadership and partner institutions like Breakthrough Action. The writeshop, held at the swanky Krystal Palace Hotel will provide much-needed protected time for the team of 30 to reflect on the work done over the last one year, generate and share learnings and innovations with the wider network of stakeholders.
Opening the writeshop by Zoom link, Professor William Bazeyo, the AFROHUN Chief Executive Officer noted that the network has progressively grown bigger, stronger and more influential in One Health workforce development and Global Health Security programming. “AFROHUN is now old enough and is bringing on board larger institutions that are joining as members and is growing stronger and bigger as a result. There is also interest from different organizations and member institutions to establish training programs that benefit the countries’ workforce and contribute to the Global Health Security Agenda action packages”, he said.
Professor Jeanne Ngogang, an AFROHUN Board member and also the President of the Université des Montagnes, in Cameroon, noted that the network is a key partner in One Health workforce development in all the countries where it is present, and the knowledge management component is a key aspect of its work. “I see that you are all working hard in each country and now you are planning to share what you are doing and what you are learning and the impact of your work. I congratulate you. The success story of AFROHUN, the network, is to see these many countries working together to improve global health security and the quality of the workforce”, she noted.
The writeshop is facilitated by two experienced knowledge management specialists.
Participants working in their different country teams on their knowledge products that include manuscripts, success stories/impact stories, learning briefs, technical briefs, blogs and many others.