2027 ACMHR-K Ambassador Training (Cohort-2)

• The ACMHR-K Ambassador Training Program is a capacity-building initiative designed to develop a new generation of young health professionals and emerging health leaders who can contribute to improving cardiometabolic health in Kenya and across Africa. Following the successful completion of Cohort 1 in 2026, the 2027 program will advance participants from foundational knowledge to practical skills in research, evidence communication, policy engagement, leadership, advocacy and community action. The program will combine expert-led interactive sessions, practical assignments, mentorship and a Cardiometabolic Health Action Project. Through the Action Project, participants will work individually or in teams to identify a real-world cardiometabolic-health challenge and develop a practical response that can be implemented within their communities or professional settings.
• Duration: 4 weeks
• Sessions: 8 interactive sessions
• Mode: Online - Zoom
• Practical Component: Cardiometabolic Health Action Project
• Graduation: Physical graduation and ambassador induction in Nairobi

Program Objectives

• Strengthen understanding of cardiometabolic health challenges in Kenya and Africa.
• Develop basic research literacy and evidence-interpretation skills.
• Strengthen scientific and public-health communication skills.
• Equip participants with policy engagement and advocacy skills.
• Develop leadership and community-engagement capacity.
• Enable participants to design practical responses to cardiometabolic-health challenges.
• Establish a growing national network of ACMHR-K cardiometabolic-health ambassadors.

Program Content

• Session 1: Africa's Cardiometabolic Health Challenge: Where Are We Heading? Focus: Understanding cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, hypertension and emerging cardiometabolic health trends across Kenya and Africa.
• Session 2: AI, Bioinformatics and the Future of Cardiometabolic Health. Focus: AI, omics, bioinformatics, and precision health
• Session 3: Food Systems, Nutrition and Cardiometabolic Health. Focus: Dietary fats, TFA, sugar, salt, UPFs and healthier food systems
• Session 4: From Research to Policy: How to Influence Health Decisions. Focus: Policy translation, advocacy and stakeholder engagement
• Session 5: Leadership for Cardiometabolic Health + Action Project Presentations. Focus: Leadership, project management, presentations and ambassador development
• Session 6: Community Engagement and Cardiometabolic Health Action. Focus: Community mobilization, behaviour change and intervention design

Expected Outcomes

• Explain major cardiometabolic-health challenges affecting Kenya and Africa.
• Identify important cardiometabolic risk factors and their determinants.
• Understand fundamental principles of health research.
• Interpret and communicate health evidence.
• Translate research findings into accessible public-health messages.
• Engage communities and stakeholders effectively.
• Develop basic advocacy and policy-engagement strategies.
• Demonstrate leadership in cardiometabolic-health initiatives.
• Develop practical responses to local health challenges.
• Design and present a Cardiometabolic Health Action Project.
• Contribute to ACMHR-K activities and initiatives as members of the Ambassador Network.

Requirements

• Hold at least a bachelor's degree in Health Sciences or a related field.
• Demonstrate an interest in cardiometabolic health, public health, nutrition, research or health advocacy.
• Have a basic understanding of health and research concepts.
• Commit to active participation throughout the program.
• Attend all eight core training sessions.
• Participate in the Cardiometabolic Health Action Project.
• Demonstrate willingness to engage in ACMHR-K activities following completion of the program.
• Commit to serving as an ACMHR-K Ambassador after completing the program.
• Be available and willing to attend the physical graduation and ambassador induction ceremony in Nairobi.