Lived Experience Agency
The Lived Experience Hub advocates for establishing a Global Lived Experience Agency as a centralised hub for the organisation, coordination, and development of the lived experience movement at local, national, and global levels. This agency will play a pivotal role in unifying and strengthening the movement by supporting the Lived Experience Congress, international networks, and national bodies. Functioning as a global centre for technical assistance, the agency will provide comprehensive resources, expertise, and operational support to lived experience organisations and initiatives worldwide. It will work to standardise best practices, policies, and procedures, ensuring alignment with global objectives while adapting to regional and cultural contexts.
The Global Lived Experience Agency will also serve as a membership hub, fostering global engagement across lived experience organisations. It will monitor outcomes, challenges, and successes through data-driven insights and regular reporting, informing policy recommendations and developing consumer-driven models prioritising lived experience leadership.
Coordination of Global Networks
The agency will facilitate the development, expansion, and sustainability of global lived experience networks. This will include technical assistance, training, and capacity-building resources tailored to diverse regional needs. By ensuring effective collaboration between national and international networks, the agency will help integrate lived experience perspectives into broader global discussions on mental health, disability, and human rights.Coordination of Global Networks: The agency will facilitate the development, expansion, and sustainability of global lived experience networks. This will include technical assistance, training, and capacity-building resources tailored to diverse regional needs. By ensuring effective collaboration between national and international networks, the agency will help integrate lived experience perspectives into broader global discussions on mental health, disability, and human rights.
Establishing Operational Guidelines
To ensure consistency, accountability, and efficiency, the agency will develop and maintain operational guidelines for national and regional bodies. These guidelines will provide clear protocols for governance, strategic planning, and program implementation, ensuring that organisations within the lived experience sector operate under a shared vision and ethical framework.
Developing Best Practices and Standardized Policies
The agency will lead the development of best practice frameworks, standard policies, and procedures applicable to the lived experience sector. Collaborating with key stakeholders will create adaptable models that accommodate diverse socio-political landscapes while maintaining the core principles of lived experience leadership, advocacy, and inclusion. These frameworks will support organisations in implementing effective, ethical, and impactful initiatives.
Managing a Global Platform for Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
The agency will oversee an international digital platform designed as a central repository for knowledge, resources, and communication. This platform will:
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Host databases of organisations, research, and lived experience-led initiatives.
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Provide access to training materials, toolkits, and policy documents.
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Facilitate global networking opportunities through forums, events, and working groups.
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Serve as a reporting and data collection hub, tracking progress, successes, and emerging challenges within the movement.
Driving Innovation and Policy Development
By leveraging research, lived experience insights, and global data trends, the agency will advocate for progressive policy development at national and international levels. It will publish regular reports and white papers, offering evidence-based recommendations that inform government policies, institutional frameworks, and funding decisions. Additionally, it will encourage the co-creation of new service models, ensuring that mental health and disability support systems are built by and for those with lived experience.
The Global Lived Experience Agency is designed to be the backbone of the lived experience movement, ensuring a structured, impactful, and sustainable approach to advocacy and systemic change. By fostering global collaboration, standardising policies, and championing lived experience leadership, the agency will help drive a paradigm shift—one in which lived experience is not just included but centred on shaping the future of mental health care, social policy, and human rights advocacy worldwide.
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