More than 40 participants from around the globe joined the GPIC workshop ahead of the African Palliative Care Conference in Botswana last month.
Building on the momentum that began in Dublin with the Collaborating for Global Impact workshop earlier this year, Global Partners in Care (GPIC), in partnership with Elea Institute, brought the initiative to Botswana through a dynamic pre-conference workshop at the 8th International African Palliative Care and Allied Health Services Conference.
More than 40 participants — including GPIC partners, regional representatives and palliative care leaders from across Africa and around the world came together to refine, test and advance the project concepts that emerged from the May 2025 . The workshop represented a key milestone in GPIC’s ongoing efforts to foster collaboration, test ideas in diverse contexts and strengthen a global network united by a shared vision for advancing palliative care.
Participants enthusiastic about embracing the process of human-centered design.
GPIC partners from Island Hospice and Healthcare in Zimbabwe receive certificate of appreciation from GPIC in honor of our 25th anniversary.
GPIC Advisory Council member, Dan Maison, and Elea Institute COO, Candyce Mayer, speak with conference attendees at the GPIC booth.
Designing with, not for
The half-day workshop opened with an orientation to Human-Centered Design (HCD).. This approach promotes innovation through empathy, iteration and co-creation. Introduced during the Dublin meeting, the HCD framework guided activities and reflections in Botswana, helping participants refine and test the project concepts while gaining tools they could take back to their own settings.
Facilitated small-group sessions encouraged participants to engage directly with each concept, explore feasibility, test assumptions and identify next steps.
“The process of designing with, not for — seeking feedback and leaning on curiosity — was very palliative in nature,” one participant reflected.
Throughout the week, the GPIC exhibit booth was a lively meeting place, fostering meaningful conversations, networking and cross-regional connections. GPIC staff and Dublin participants, including Elea Institute COO Candyce Mayer, joined in discussions with attendees — listening, learning and gathering valuable feedback to inform the next steps of the work.
GPIC CEO, John Mastrojohn III, addressing the Ministers of Health delegations during a meeting ahead of the conference.
APCA recognized GPIC for 20 years of outstanding partnership and support.
Connection, learning and gratitude
Beyond the workshop, GPIC organized and participated in several key engagements throughout the APCA conference. The GPIC Partner Breakfast brought together more than 20 partner programs from 10 countries to celebrate collaboration and highlight impact. This included representation from US partner, Hospice of Michigan, providing the opportunity to further develop the relationship with their partner, Palliative Care Association of Malawi, who was also in attendance.
Another partner noted the value of this engagement, “Attending the 8th African Palliative Care Conference has been such a valuable opportunity. I was able to build new networks, meet like-minded friends from across the globe and take away insights that I’ll bring directly into our partnership work.”
GPIC also co-hosted a Roundtable for National Association Leaders with APCA – a session that included national palliative care association leaders from across Africa to discuss shared challenges, successes and opportunities for continued collaboration. Participants agreed on the value of establishing a regular platform for national leaders to connect, learn from one another and support each other’s advocacy and leadership efforts. GPIC and APCA are now formalizing this network.
As a long-standing APCA partner, GPIC was invited to represent development partners at the Ministers of Health meeting preceding the conference. CEO John Mastrojohn and Executive Director Lacey Ahern delivered remarks highlighting the importance of partnership, innovation and the integration of palliative care into national health agendas.
APCA has been a driving force for palliative care progress in Africa, with GPIC as a core collaborator since APCA’s founding 20 years ago. GPIC has worked in partnership to help advance many key aspects of their work, including our joint effort to train nurses, social workers and other health professionals in palliative care through the African Palliative Care Education Scholarship Fund.
Hosted by GPIC and APCA, the National Association Roundtable gathered leaders of national palliative care associations from across the continent.
GPIC leadership celebrate 20 years of APCA with Dr. Eve Namisango, the newly appointed executive director of APCA.
Extending the momentum
The Botswana workshop reaffirmed GPIC’s role as a global convener and catalyst for collaboration. The experience strengthened partnerships with Elea Institute, regional organizations and new collaborators. It also refined project concepts for the next phase of development.
In addition, GPIC supported participation from regional leaders outside Africa — representatives from Latin America, Europe, Asia and the United States were in attendance – to foster cross-regional learning and engagement. “In many ways, it was both an eye-opening and inspiring professional and personal experience,” one participant shared. “The friendships we built in Gaborone will be the kindling for a much deeper level of engagement between us as the regional association executives.”
In Mastrojohn’s words, “GPIC extends its sincere gratitude to APCA for hosting a transformative and inspiring conference in Botswana. The spirit of collaboration that emerged in Gaborone fostered meaningful engagement and renewed our collective commitment to advancing palliative care globally. We are eager to build upon this momentum and continue working to create lasting impact for patients and families around the world.”
A shared future
For GPIC, the Botswana experience captured the essence of Collaborating for Global Impact: connection, creativity and collective purpose. The deepened relationships and ideas refined in Gaborone are shaping a new era of collaboration, one where regional and global leaders work together to build a more connected, innovative and equitable future for palliative care worldwide.