Empowering Communities: Insights from the Joint Regional Dialogue on Community-Led Monitoring for Asia and the Pacific and Eastern Europe and Central Asia

As part of Youth LEAD’s commitment to empowering young leaders in health advocacy, we recently hosted an impactful two-day workshop on Community-Led Monitoring (CLM). This event brought together youth advocates from the Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) and Asia-Pacific (AP) regions, focusing on the achievements, challenges, and innovative solutions within community health initiatives.

CLM in EECA and AP: Achievements, Challenges, and Success Stories
The first session highlighted the transformative impact of CLM across various countries. Participants shared inspiring success stories from the Philippines, Myanmar, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

• Integration into National Health Systems: The Philippines showcased how integrating CLM can significantly enhance program implementation.
• Valuing Community Feedback: Myanmar's approach emphasized that prioritizing participant feedback fosters accountability and strengthens community trust.
• Digital Innovations: Kazakhstan introduced a digital CLM tool that provides real-time data to empower advocacy efforts and inform policy changes.

These discussions underscored the importance of collaboration among donors, partners, and communities despite existing challenges.

Community Leadership and Activism in CLM
A panel discussion emphasized the crucial role of community leadership in CLM. Youth advocates from India, Indonesia, Tajikistan, and Nepal shared insights on ensuring sustainability within CLM initiatives. They highlighted:

• The need for capacity building to transition CLM tools to digital formats.
• Aligning CLM efforts with national service packages to enhance effectiveness.

Group Work: CLM Advocacy Leading to Change
Participants engaged in group work focused on how CLM advocacy can drive policy changes. They identified challenges such as lack of coordination and trust in data while proposing innovative solutions like community-led national policy dialogues. Key highlights included:

• Policy Change: Addressing coordination challenges through community-led dialogues.
• Service Access: Building evidence-based data to engage stakeholders effectively.
• Quality Care: Utilizing technology for transparent reporting.

Integrating CLM into National Health Systems
This session featured insights from experts discussing how countries like Nepal, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Thailand are successfully integrating CLM into national health strategies. Key points included:

• The importance of gender-specific indicators in CLM to address unique health challenges faced by different populations.
• Real-time data collection capabilities that enhance adaptability during crises.

CLM in Humanitarian Settings & Pandemic Preparedness:
Focusing on the impacts of crises, the panel discussed the role of CLM in supporting health interventions during emergencies, with case studies from Ukraine and Sri Lanka. The adaptability of CLM was underscored, demonstrating its capacity to respond effectively during times of uncertainty.

A crucial panel discussion examined how CLM supports health interventions during crises. Speakers from Ukraine and Sri Lanka shared their experiences:

• Real-Time Data Collection: Essential for adapting health services during emergencies.
• Community Involvement: Engaging communities is vital for effective data gathering and advocacy efforts.

Conclusion: A Call to Action for Young Leaders
The insights gained from this workshop are invaluable as we continue our mission to empower young leaders in health advocacy. By integrating community-led approaches into national strategies, we can ensure that young voices are not only heard but also lead the charge in creating sustainable health solutions.

Youth LEAD is dedicated to fostering community ownership of these programs by providing ongoing technical support and resources. Together, we can build a future where every young person has access to the resources they need to thrive—because when youth lead, communities flourish!

Let’s continue advocating for sustainable practices in health monitoring and ensure that young voices are at the forefront of creating impactful change!
 

This post is written by Shriyashi Khatri