Our Views, Our Voices is an initiative of the NCD Alliance and people living with NCDs, which seeks to put people first in the NCD response. The initiative aspires to break down stigma and discrimination, equipping people living with NCDs with the skills, knowledge, and opportunities to be leaders and active players in the response to these diseases and in growing the NCD movement.
The first Our Views, Our Voices training on building a public narrative took place in May 2018 in Geneva with 19 people from 13 countries. The purpose of the training was to enable people living with NCDs to become effective spokespersons and build a public narrative on NCDs. In June 2019 NCDA organised a Train the Trainer workshop for 22 people living with NCDs and alliance representatives from 11 countries. The second part of the programme consisted of the participants running Our Views, Our Voices trainings in their country with more than 280 people living with NCDs trained. There have been two virtual Our Views, Our Voices trainings to date in 2021 and 2022 which were adapted from the in-person Our Views, Our Voices training.
The 2026 Our Views, Our Voices virtual training builds on the foundation of previous trainings and the renewed global commitments made at the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting (UNHLM) on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs). Its primary aim is to equip people living with NCDs with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to use their lived experiences to drive action and accountability in the post-UNHLM on NCDs (2025) period.
The Our Views, Our Voices virtual training objectives are as follows:
- Develop advanced communication skills, leveraging lived experiences and personal stories to craft a compelling public narrative and advocacy call to action.
- Increase knowledge on mechanisms of meaningful involvement of people living with NCDs and advocacy tools such as the Advocacy Agenda, the Global Charter, and the WHO Framework.
- Strengthen advocacy and leadership skills to mobilise communities, engage decision-makers, and catalyse systemic change.
- Gain confidence as advocates who can engage with media, policymakers, and digital audiences.
- Develop a personal advocacy and leadership action plan linked to opportunities to hold governments and stakeholders accountable to the outcomes of the 2025 UN HLM on NCDs and other key global health milestones.
The Our Views Our Voices virtual training programme will consist of:
- A pre-training evaluation (online survey)
- A 4-week online training combining 5 live sessions, 3 distance learning modules (self-paced) 3 course projects and a final quiz
- A post-training evaluation (online survey)
Participant Selection Criteria:
- Experience of living with (which includes caring for someone with) one or more non-communicable diseases or mental and neurological conditions
- Understanding of the civil society and the NCDs landscape in your country
- Involvement or experience in either advocacy, campaigning or other activity of your national/regional NCD alliance
- Some relevant experience which might include, for example, speaking in public or a group, facilitating an activity or organising something in your community
- A willingness to share your individual experience publicly
- Collaborative and motivated approach to contribute to advocacy and communications activities
- Enthusiasm to grow your advocacy and public speaking skills
Time commitment:
Following selection, participants will be involved with the Our Views, Our Voices training over a span of 4 weeks, which will include onboarding, training – including both live and distance modules followed by course projects and a final quiz to assess the participants’ progress throughout the training. Live sessions and distance learning modules will be spread over 4 weeks between February and March 2026. Live Modules will be up to 2 hours in duration allowing sufficient time for discussions and interactions. Distance learning Modules will be self-paced and can take up to 2 hours to complete, and will include a combination of videos, readings and short assignments.
We encourage the training participants to be committed for the entire duration of the Our Views, Our Voices virtual training. Distance learning modules must be completed by the date indicated as each module builds on knowledge and skills gained in previous modules.
Access and Support:
- This is an online training
- English will be the main language used for this training
- NCD Alliance will provide participants with training materials, access to the e-learning platform and technological support related to the Our Views, Our Voices training ahead of and during the training.
Process for expressing interest in this role:
If you are interested in pursuing this opportunity, please use this form to submit your expression of interest by January 7, 2026.
Selection Process:
This EoI process is being launched for people living with NCDs who are affiliated with NCD Alliance full or associate members. Eligible applicants will be required to describe why the training is meaningful to them and how it will contribute to their ongoing advocacy work in the post-UNHLM era. Applications will be assessed by a review committee consisting of members from the Our Views, Our Voices Global Advisory Committee, and an NCDA representative. Selection will be based on weighted criteria and overall representativeness, ensuring diversity across conditions, gender, age, region, and socio-economic background. The final list of participants will be endorsed by the Our Views, Our Voices Advisory Committee.
Please note that each applicant must seek endorsement from the NCDA member organisation with which they are affiliated. This will be confirmed by selecting a checkbox at the end of the application form and providing the details of a designated point of contact from the member organisation. The NCD Alliance may conduct a reference check, so applicants are encouraged to speak with their NCDA member organisation prior to submitting their application.
Important information if you are applying: Please note that at the end of this form, you will be required to provide details of the NCDA member organisation you are affiliated with to endorse your application. The NCD Alliance may conduct a reference check, so please ensure you speak with your point of contact before submitting this form. You will be asked to provide the following information: contact name, organisation, role within the organisation, and contact email and/or phone number. You will not be able to submit the form without these details.
The Our Views, Our Voices training is possible thanks to NCD Alliance’s partnership with Viatris and the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. Thank you for considering this opportunity to share your lived experience and call for action in the global, regional, and national NCD response. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the NCD Alliance at [email protected]
