WHO WE ARE

The Action Group for Health, Human Rights and HIV/AIDS (AGHA) is a health rights advocacy organization in Uganda dedicated to raising awareness of the human rights aspects of health, and the quality of health and healthcare for all Ugandans. Grounded in a rights-based approach, AGHA mobilizes health professionals, in collaboration with communities, to be health rights advocates promoting equity and social justice for all Ugandans, with a particular focus on marginalized and vulnerable populations. AGHA has a proven track record of addressing health rights violations in Uganda through advocacy-oriented research, education and training.

Founded in 2003 by a group of concerned Ugandan health professionals, AGHA has mobilized hundreds of members, fostered coalitions and local and national networks, conducted numerous health, human rights and advocacy trainings, and brought human rights awareness to key health and policy making bodies. Building upon its expertise and knowledge, AGHA has started a nationwide movement of doctors, nurses, other health professionals, public health practitioners, lawyers, social workers, policymakers, government officials, and community members, who are committed to addressing the convergence between health and human rights in Uganda and throughout the world. AGHA is on the forefront of advancing the right to health in Uganda, and continues to forge the link between health and human rights through trainings, public education campaigns, coalition-building, research and policy advocacy.

VISION

A just and inclusive health care system in Uganda.

MISSON

To promote good health and justice for all, through evidence-Based advocacy, health financing research and policy advocacy, community and accountability and inclusive health service delivery

CORE COMPETENCIES

AGHA’s core competencies include:

  1. Health policy and budget advocacy.
  2. Community engagement and empowerment.
  3. Research and Budget Analysis.
  4. Social monitoring and accountability.
  5. Strategic partnerships and networking

AGHA’S THEMATIC FOCUS AREAS

  1. Knowledge Management and Advocacy (KMA) Program

This program area will focus on generation, documentation, and dissemination of information to support evidence-based advocacy on identified areas of health and human rights. Information is expected to influence decision-making, policy development and budgeting at national and sub-national level. It should also influence programming among CSOs and development funding. Results from this program area will be utilized in the SECB and CESA program areas described below.

  1. Community Empowerment & Social Accountability (CESA) Program

The CESA Program’s focus will be to build community agency and voice for better and equitable health service delivery at national and sub-national level. The information collected in this program will inform the KMA program described above and the SECB program area described below.

  1. Stakeholder Engagement & Capacity Building (SECB) Program

The SECB Program will endeavor to build and maintain relationships with stakeholders. The Program will also build institutional capacities of key stakeholders as a means of engagement in a bid to contribute to the growth of a national movement on health and rights.

  1. Institutional Capacity Enhancement (ICE) Program

This Program area is inward focused to ensure that AGHA has the institutional capacity to deliver on its mandate and this Strategic Plan. Information from all the above program areas will drive AGHA’s institutional focus and capacity enhancement decisions.

CORE VALUES

The following core values underpin all our work and relationships as an organization:

  1. Inclusion and Non-discrimination

We welcome and support people of all backgrounds and identities. We build diverse teams to generate better ideas and reach more balanced decisions. We share the responsibility to create a positive culture and to safeguard inclusion, dignity, and respect for all.

  1. Equity and Justice

Equity and justice are grounded in the realization of fundamental freedoms and human rights. AGHA’s policies, practices and programmes and grounded in the principles of fairness and equality.

  1. Transparency and accountability

We are accountable to our stakeholders and the public, and have an obligation to report and explain the decisions we take. We also believe in demanding for accountability from the duty bearers who serve the public.

  1. Professionalism and Excellence

We believe that excellence is about challenging the status quo, striving for improvement, and effecting change by continuous learning. We challenge ourselves to stay ahead by bringing strategic insight and the highest degree of skill to our work.

  1. Wellness and Humanness

We care about the well being and success of every person. As an organization promoting health and well being, we recognize the importance of health to the enjoyment of all human rights and development. We bring compassion and humanity to all our work spaces and into our programming.

STAKEHOLDERS

It was critical to map AGHA’s stakeholders at various levels in order to understand their needs and/or expectations because of their potential to influence AGHA’s strategy. It was imperative to also identify the value that these stakeholders could add.

Key Stakeholders

  • Local government leaders
  • Community structures (VHTs, HUMCS etc)
  • Health service providers
  • Young people in and out of school
  • Community Based Organizations (CBOs)
  • Civil society organizations (CSOs)
  • Policy and decision makers
  • Religious and cultural institutions
  • Government Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs)
  • Development partners
140

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

2490

CREATIVE MATERIALS

250

EXPERIENCED MASTERS

410

PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS