From learnings into action – MS leadership training in MENA

Since 2012, MSIF has been working with MS organisations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). To support the MS community in the region, MSIF recently co-designed a training course with the American University in Cairo (AUC).  The Leadership and Strategic Project Management Training course brought MS leaders from the region together to strengthen skills in developing, managing, and evaluating impactful projects focused on access to treatment. It also prepared them to apply for project grants to sustain vital MS work. In the following article, Douna Haj Ahmed MSIF’s Organisational Development and Movement Building (ODMB) Officer, shares her reflections on the course and its wider impact.

Between October 2024 and February 2025, I had the privilege of co-leading something that, for many of us, was more than just a training course. It was a journey of learning, connection, and rediscovery. The Leadership and Strategic Project Management Training, developed in partnership with the American University in Cairo and the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF), brought together 17 participants from eight countries across the Arab region. The course was designed to equip them with the tools to design, manage, and evaluate impactful projects focused on access to MS treatment.

The 13-week course included weekly interactive online sessions, individual assignments, and the development of national project proposals aligned with participants’ organisational goals. But what unfolded went far beyond the syllabus.

Participants joined us from Syria, Yemen, Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan, Iraq, Algeria, and Egypt. Some were presidents of national MS organisations; others were project officers, volunteer coordinators, or healthcare professionals. Many were living with MS themselves. And while their roles and realities differed, their motivation was strikingly similar: they wanted to do better for their communities.

We knew from the outset that this training needed to be practical, flexible, and deeply relevant. Most of the participants were volunteers. They were juggling jobs, families, and health challenges. We designed the programme in Arabic, with bilingual materials, and opted for short, weekly online sessions spread across three months. The content ranged from leadership styles and stakeholder analysis to proposal writing, budgeting, monitoring, and evaluation. Every participant developed a full project plan by the end of the course.

But what I will remember most is not the templates or tools. It’s the shift I witnessed in people.

One participant from Syria told us: ‘This training helped me turn my ideas into a fundable proposal.’ Another from Algeria shared: ‘Now I feel I can lead a project confidently.’ Many echoed this sense of readiness, clarity, and renewed purpose. For some, it was the first time they had ever written a proposal or spoken about their work in structured terms. For others, it was a chance to strengthen their organisations, pass on new skills to peers, or even start building cross-border collaborations.

The course ended with all participants submitting their project proposals. The plans were thoughtful, community-driven, and clearly rooted in the needs of people affected by MS. Some participants co-wrote proposals as part of the same organisation. Others have already started shaping joint regional initiatives—one focused on psychosocial support for women with MS.

Now many of these participants are applying for small grants to fund future projects in the region. The confidence they built from attending the course is now translating into real-world action. And that, for me, is incredibly moving.

It’s easy in the Charity sector to talk about ‘capacity-building’ as a technical task. But I’ve learned that capacity is also about belief—believing that your voice matters, that your experience counts, and that you can shape the future of MS care in your country. That’s the shift I saw in this group. And it’s why I feel so proud, and hopeful, about what’s coming next.

Post-training evaluations completed by participants confirmed that the course significantly improved their knowledge, confidence, and readiness to implement projects that enhance access to MS treatment and support services. Participants cited the training’s relevance and practicality, with many highlighting their intention to apply the tools learned within six to twelve months. Several collaborative ideas emerged among the cohort, and all submitted complete project proposals by the course’s conclusion.

There were also key learnings made to improve the course. Some participants asked for printed workbooks to help with learning. Others suggested a slightly slower pace or more local case studies.

I’m excited to see how the learning from this course will be applied. And more than anything, I’m reminded that the impact we hope for doesn’t always come in sweeping gestures. Sometimes, it comes in the quiet confidence of someone saying, ‘I can do this now.’

By Douna Haj Ahmed, MSIF’s Organisational Development and Movement Building (ODMB) Officer