Struga, Republic of North Macedonia – 24 September 2026
The SEEHN regional workshop on public health advocacy concluded in Struga after three days of intensive, practice-oriented work to strengthen the capacity of Regional Health Development Centres (RHDCs) to translate technical expertise and evidence into policy influence and action.
Participants worked through the full advocacy cycle — from defining objectives and analysing the policy environment, to mapping stakeholders and influence, identifying pathways to decision-making, developing targeted messages and advocacy asks, and translating strategies into concrete action.
🔎 A central lesson was clear: effective advocacy is not only about identifying what needs to change, but understanding who can make that change happen, who can influence the decision, and what message will resonate with each audience.
Through practical cases and peer exchange, participants also examined whether proposed advocacy solutions have the mandate, authority, credibility and influence needed to generate meaningful change, rather than treating formal structures or agreements as an end in themselves.
By the end of the workshop, participants had developed practical advocacy frameworks combining clear objectives, stakeholder and influence analysis, targeted asks, tailored communication and implementation steps.
“The most important result of these three days is not simply a new set of advocacy tools. It is a different way of approaching influence: starting from the change we want to achieve, identifying where the real decision-making power lies, and building the right pathway between evidence and action,” said Dr Tatiana Păduraru, Director of the SEEHN Secretariat.
🤝 The workshop also strengthened peer learning among SEEHN Member States, allowing participants to compare institutional realities, identify common barriers and explore opportunities for collective action.
The conclusion of the workshop marks the beginning of the next phase: putting these skills into practice and translating stronger advocacy capacity into institutional and public health impact.
🌍 Through continued cooperation among Member States, RHDCs and partners, SEEHN will continue working to turn evidence into influence, influence into action, and action into better public health outcomes across South-Eastern Europe.
