Building advocacy capacity through the Advanced Advocacy Academy (Global Liver Institute)

 

What is it?

The Advanced Advocacy Academy is a US-based annual initiative launched by the Global Liver Institute to support patients, caregivers and other interested parties to develop their advocacy skills.

It is a four-day learning experience that provides training and advocacy opportunities for people with an interest in advocating for liver health issues.

In 2023, more than 50 people – members of the liver community who share a passion for improving liver health – took part.

The culmination of the experience is ‘Hill Day’, which allows participants to meet directly with US politicians on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC to share concerns about specific issues. The 2023 cohort was able to meet with almost 60 congressional offices to share concerns around liver care.
 

What can we learn from this case study?

The Advanced Advocacy Academy is a brilliant example of building advocacy expertise and facilitating meetings with policymakers to communicate the challenges around care.

It demonstrates that it is possible for people with little advocacy experience to advocate for change to policymakers who have the power to realise that.