Partner engagement

Global Leaders Network

Partner engagement is a key driver of PMNCH’s advocacy goals. Partner engagement tools, mechanisms and processes aim to increase the knowledge, networks, skills and capacities of PMNCH partners to follow-up on the implementation of WCAH commitments. In 2022, this included supporting civil society and youth-led coalitions, as well as conducting ministerial and parliamentarian dialogues.

At the suggestion of PMNCH, H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, agreed to create a network of heads of state and government dedicated to advocating for WCAH issues. The concept of a Global Leaders Network was discussed among President Ramaphosa and PMNCH Board Chair Helen Clark during a dedicated meeting in August 2022, which was followed by invitations from President Ramaphosa to 10 identified leaders.

In parallel, the PMNCH Board agreed in 2022 to strengthen PMNCH’s focus on national advocacy and accountability for commitments to WCAH. To support the implementation of this approach, 30 low- and middle-income countries have been identified for targeted support. PMNCH will also create a digital compendium of commitments to guide national dialogue on gaps and opportunities for implementation. National multi-stakeholder platforms will also be strengthened or established by PMNCH-affiliated country lead partners, beginning in Malawi, Zambia, Nigeria and South Africa.

Catalytic grants were provided to national youth coalitions in 11 countries (1) to support their efforts toward the Global Forum for Adolescents and the 1.8 Billion Young People for Change campaign. This included capacity building and youth-led training of mobilizers for the What Young People Want initiative to gather perspectives of 1 million adolescents and youth; supporting the development and implementation of national events aligned with the 1.8 Billion campaign; raising the visibility of the campaign and forum through curated communications strategies in their respective countries and contributing towards mobilization of national commitments for AWB.

In 2022, PMNCH met with approximately 20 ministers of health and 30 parliamentarians on the side of global and regional events (such as the World Health Assembly in Geneva, 144th IPU Assembly in Indonesia and the 145th IPU Assembly in Rwanda) to enlist their support as champions of the 1.8 Billion Young People for Change campaign and the Global Forum for Adolescents, as well as to identify parliamentarians’ capacity building needs in relation to championing WCAH issues. 

PMNCH supported resources on WCAH and budget literacy for UHC which were made available and accessible to parliamentarians via different fora to enhance uptake. For instance, 88MPs from 46 countries were capacitated as part of PMNCH’s participation in the IPU-organized empowerment series for young parliamentarians on health and nutrition.

At a multi-stakeholder level, PMNCH participated in the country consultations coordinated by Civil Society Engagement Mechanism for UHC2030 as part of the State of UHC commitment review process. More than 100 PMNCH partners in Malawi, Liberia and Ghana participated in these consultations.

As part of the Voluntary National Review processes for the SDGs, PMNCH participated in two capacity building activities: a VNR Lab on Sustainable Development Goal 3 and a VNR 2023 virtual knowledge exchange organized by UN DESA, sharing information on the MAYE knowledge toolkit.

Overall governance meetings, light touch assessment, good governance and good management

In 2022, PMNCH continued to strengthen its partner engagement efforts by convening joint Standing Committee, working group and constituency meetings, leveraging knowledge and information sharing among all partners.

An important topic of focus this year was the development of an independent assessment of good governance and good management practices at PMNCH, led by the MIND consultancy group of Oslo. Findings from this extensive exercise reflected positive commitment of PMNCH leaders to ensure a strong and sustainable approach to diversity, inclusion, equity and sound governance and management, with due attention to creating systems to recognize and guard against power imbalances, unconscious biases and/or discrimination in all forms. Results from this assessment including clear recommendations will be available in Q3 2023. In addition, PMNCH commissioned a light touch assessment of its governance reform effort to identify key areas of course correction to ensure meaningful engagement by all partners.

Digital Advocacy Hubs

The PMNCH Digital Advocacy Hubs project was a major partner engagement effort in 2022. During Phase 1 (Q1/Q2 of 2022), consultations were held with PMNCH partners, governance leaders and the secretariat to determine the platform needs. Subsequently, PMNCH solicited a technology partner to support the build.

Working with a diverse beta testing team, comprised of a representative group of PMNCH partners, the platform was built to enable partner access to high quality and timely knowledge and information to equip them to conduct more impactful advocacy and accountability; support partners to develop greater skills, networks, connectivity and capacities for effective and impactful advocacy; and facilitate greater partner access and participation in PMNCH advocacy campaigns.

In Phase 2 (Q4 2022), six pilot hubs were launched, including the NGO and private sector constituencies, and four hubs that support the coordination and development of the 1.8 Billion campaign, involving 173 PMNCH partners. Digital Advocacy Hubs have now become the main planning platform for the Global Forum for Adolescents. The pilots were met with a highly positive response, and refinements were made based on feedback. A staggered rollout will take place beginning in 2023; including an android and iOS app, to meet our goal of each member having PMNCH in their pocket.

(1) Kenya (Organization for African Youth), India (The YP Foundation) and Mexico (Y yo, por que, no?). In response to demand by AYC, the project was scaled up to provide grants to eight additional countries (Nigeria (Education as a Vaccine), Cameroon (Cameroon Youth Network), Malawi (Youth Act Alliance), Liberia (Big Sisters Organization), Ghana (Young Leaders for Change Foundation), Sierra Leone (Youth Partnership for Peace and Development), Zimbabwe (My Age Zimbabwe), and Zambia (Copper Rose Zambia))