The Centre for IMPACT is proud to highlight a milestone in its Community Engagement and Involvement (CEI) work following a highly successful training workshop for Community Advisory Panel (CAP) Presidents and members.
Held at the Shelton Rezidor in Peshawar on 26th July 2025, the event established a clear foundation for effective collaboration with communities. Organised by the CEI theme, the workshop brought together key CAP representatives from multiple regions and was led by experts from Aga Khan University (AKU), Dr Romaina Iqbal and Mr Ali Hussaini, in collaboration with Khyber Medical University (KMU).
Needs Assessment
A key objective of the workshop was to identify expectations and explore barriers to effective functioning of CAPs. Participants quickly identified a significant issue: that of role confusion. Many members were unclear whether their duties were advisory or implementation-based.
CAP Presidents also voiced a strong need for support, and a group activity at the training identified several barriers to their work, including security concerns, cultural resistance, resource constraints, and language barriers. They also emphasised the necessity for enhanced training in key areas, including:
- Presentation skills and storytelling techniques
- Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) methodologies
- Physical health and lifestyle management
- Communication and leadership skills
- Advisory role techniques
- Community ethics and confidentiality
- Report and agenda writing
It was also suggested that official identification cards from the organisation might also facilitate their work in the community.
CAP Presidents from Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa gathered in Peshawar for a two-day training workshop focused on networking, learning, and community engagement
Communication and Community Wellbeing
Together, the group worked to identify a number of effective ways of engaging with the community, including:
- Role plays, theatre, tableau presentations
- Hospital visits and demonstrations
- Slogans, art installations, billboards, magazines, newspapers
- Videos, radio FM shows, TV programmes, success story documentation
- Lady Health Visitors/Workers (LHV/LHW), support groups
- Mosque announcements and religious leader involvement
- Health festivals and community gatherings
- Influencer engagement: Celebrity endorsements, local government partnerships
Mr Ali Kamran, co-Lead of the Knowledge Exchange, Dissemination, and Impact group at the Centre, and the CEI coordinator for mental health projects, presented a video on depression awareness, showcasing KMU’s ART of IMPACT initiative. Participants provided invaluable feedback on improving visual communication, expressing a strong preference for 3D animation and real human emotions to enhance community understanding and engagement in future awareness campaigns.
CAP representatives participate in group discussions (left); Mr Ali Kamran, KEDI co-Lead, delivers a presentation (right)
The event was a fantastic opportunity to bring CAP members from different cities together to foster networking and knowledge sharing.
Sustaining the IMPACT
Based on the outcomes of the workshop, the Centre for IMPACT will prioritise several key recommendations to strengthen CAP function:
- Conducting refresher training to clearly define roles and responsibilities.
- Implementing a comprehensive capacity building program covering the identified skill gaps.
- Providing enhanced organisational support, including official identification and necessary resources.
- Establishing regular feedback mechanisms to maintain CAP engagement and transparency regarding implementation results.
At the Centre for IMPACT, communities are at the heart of our research – and experiences like these continue to remind us that ethical work with these communities is about more than just consent forms.
Without the CAPs, the implementation loses its vital direction.
