1The PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) "Promoting voices from the field: African scientists as malaria advocates"

Originally developed as a training program that helped scientists communicate the results of their research beyond technical circles, the Malaria Vaccine Science & Society Fellowship Program was adopted by the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MV) and has evolved into an effort to develop malaria research and development (R&D) "champions" across Africa. Through this media and advocacy training program, African fellows learn to better engage the media and policy makers about the drive for a malaria vaccine, the need for increased and sustained funding for malaria R&D, the implications for developing countries where malaria is endemic, and other critical issues in the malaria field. To date, two pilot programs have been conducted. Individual coaching opportunities with select fellows that have demonstrated their commitment to furthering the advocacy goals of their respective institutions are underway. It is envisioned that through the initial program and the additional coaching, malaria "champions" will go on to serve their organizations and the field by being bridges between and among the worlds of science, policy, and the interested public, thereby creating a positive enabling environment for the support of malaria R&D which includes vaccines. This presentation will discuss the project's design and key theoretical assumptions; qualitative data to-date, including the feedback received from program fellows and information on their efforts to implement key learnings to reach out to key stakeholders; expected long-term outcomes; and implications of pilot results for the launch of a full scale program in 2008.