.png?sfvrsn=6d0e27cd_1 "Partnership for Change - v7 (1)")
Since 2000, the world has made significant progress in improving the health of women, children, and adolescents (WCAH). However, that momentum has stalled, and we are now off track to meet global targets. Conflicts, climate disruptions, economic instability, and shrinking financial resources are placing unprecedented strain on health systems, especially those serving women, children, and adolescents. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated service disruptions, many of which have not fully recovered - particularly in low-resource and crisis-affected settings.
At the same time, advocacy for WCAH faces increasingly complex challenges:
Deprioritization on health funding both domestically and through ODA has led to reduced visibility and resources for WCAH issues.
Hostile political environments are enabling anti-gender movements and increasing risks for SRHR advocates.
Mainstream media coverage of systemic health inequities is shrinking.
Competing health and development priorities and fragmented agendas lead to difficulty in prioritizing WCAH.
Advocates must now work harder to compete for limited attention in a crowded, polarized, and fast-moving information environment.
Yet, amid these challenges, powerful lessons can be drawn from social movements like the HIV/AIDS response and Black Lives Matter, which successfully mobilized public support and political action through strategic communications, grassroots organizing, and coalition-building. New technologies -from mobile-based storytelling to AI-powered advocacy tools are - also transforming how messages are created, targeted, and amplified.
In today’s constrained and contested landscape, WCAH advocates must evolve their approaches. Communications must not only inform, but also inspire, activate, and sustain attention. Strategic messaging, digital tools, and cross-sector alliances are critical to ensuring that WCAH issues remain visible and prioritized on national and global agendas.
This workshop aims to strengthen the ability of advocates to drive attention and action around national commitments to women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health.
Objectives of the Workshop
In response to today’s complex advocacy environment - characterized by slowed progress, funding cuts, reduced media space, and backlash against WCAH and particularly gender equality and SRHR rights - PMNCH is organizing this virtual capacity-building session to equip WCAH advocates and communicators with movement-informed tools and strategies.
This interactive workshop aims to:
Peer learning: learning from each other, what works and what does not work and how we can work together to build momentum
Equip participants with effective communication strategies rooted in effective movement-building and media storytelling
Explore how lessons from global social justice movements can be applied to WCAH advocacy;
Showcase tools - from narrative frameworks to AI-enabled platforms - that can improve messaging impact, rapidity and campaign reach;
Encourage practical peer learning through small-group collaboration and real-world exercises.
Through a combination of case studies, expert talks, hands-on activities, and digital toolkit sharing, this workshop will enable participants to rethink how we communicate and advocate for WCAH in a polarized, digitally driven world.