.png?sfvrsn=6d0e27cd_1 "Partnership for Change - v7 (1)")
On 9 May 2025, PMNCH convened the fourth peer learning exchange among the coordinating partners of the Collaborative Advocacy Action Plan (CAAP) initiative. Nineteen representatives from partner organizations across Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Tanzania, and Zambia shared reflections and learning from the CAAP development process, as we all as well as key outcomes expected during the implementation, resulting in a vibrant and productive exchange. The discussion was facilitated by Dr. Aminu Garba, CEO of the Africa Health Budget Network ( AHBN; coordinating partner in Nigeria), and Ms. Sharon Musakali, Senior Program Officer at HENNET (coordinating partner in Kenya).
As financial resources become increasingly constrained, sustaining momentum in WCAH progress demands greater coordination and collaboration across stakeholders, sectors, and countries, including at the regional level. In this evolving landscape, PMNCH is developing its new five-year strategy (2026–2030), which emphasizes multisectoral collaboration, strategic partnerships, and coalitions that prioritize equity, action, and accountability for MNCH, SRHR and AWB outcomes. The CAAP initiative is central to this, aligning stakeholders to ensure efficient allocation of resources to commonly agreed priorities toward high-impact advocacy for health outcomes.
In the discussion facilitated by Dr. Garba, participants reflected on success factors for the CAAP development process. They emphasized the importance of inclusive, participatory planning that engages a diverse range of actors—Ministries of Health, parliamentary committees, youth-led groups, academia, and health professionals. This inclusive approach has fostered political buy-in, sparked interest among new stakeholders, facilitated consensus on advocacy priorities, and generated opportunities for CAAP partners to contribute to ongoing policy processes. Critically, it has also ensured alignment of CAAP efforts with national development frameworks and priorities.
In Zambia, Mr. Levy Mkandawire, Program Manager at Amref Health Africa, reflected that engagements with the Ministry of Health’s Permanent Secretary and the Office of the Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly has led to active involvement of directors within the Ministry of Health and the Parliamentary Committee on Health. This high-level support enabled Amref Zambia to leverage national structures, such as technical working groups, to conduct the CAAP scoping review and build consensus across a wide range of stakeholders—including key parliamentary caucuses and a vibrant group of health advocates. Mr. Mkandawire emphasized that national ownership of the CAAP development process and engagement of all key partners was crucial to amplifying messages and mobilizing wider public support. This was enabled in part by Amref’s ability to engage strategically with web-based media outlets, securing earned media coverage to amplify the visibility and outcomes of their advocacy efforts.
“Many times we focus on the bigger outcomes, but I believe that the process is as important as the outcomes themselves. The small steps we took helped us significantly in achieving and appreciating the entire journey, to the extent that CAAP goals are now embedded in national frameworks and have been endorsed by all stakeholders involved.”
- Mr. Levy Mkandawire, Program Manager at Amref Health Africa
Partners also highlighted the value of the multistakeholder platform (MSP) assessment and conducting a scoping and assessment review of national WCAH commitments. Dr. Frank Chikhata, Associate Program Director at the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) in Sierra Leone, noted the strong leadership of the Ministry of Health (MoH) in the CAAP process, and shared that the scoping and assessment reviews not only enhanced visibility of commitments but also generated critical evidence to support government’s monitoring efforts. The leadership from the MoH enabled structured engagement of the RMNCAH+N MSP (which includes UN agencies, cooperation partners, CSOs and others), whose inputs were key to shaping the CAAP goals and activities. The MoH has committed to use the findings of MSP assessment to expand MSP membership to ensure greater inclusivity.
“The comprehensive scoping and assessment of implementation of commitments was an opportunity for us to improve evidence generation in terms on existing commitments and also identify policy gaps at the country level. This is something that the Ministry really appreciated.”
- Dr. Frank Chikhata, Associate Program Director, CHAI, Sierra Leone
Dr. Zelalem Demeke, Senior Program Manager at CHAI Ethiopia, reported that over 80 stakeholders across 10 PMNCH constituencies had been engaged in the process with active engagement by the Federal Ministry of Health, including the Office of the Minister and Lead Executive Office for Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Services, resulted in an action plan prioritizing critical WCAH issues as the roadmap for all partners. Partners from a broad array of constituencies contributed to the development of the CAAP plan, with several organizations committing to advance specific goals and link implementation to ongoing national initiatives.
Mr. Hester Nyasulu, Country Program Manager at Amref Malawi, shared that a partner has been identified to lead each of CAAP goals based on technical expertise and networks. Through the CAAP process, there is a platform to bring all these discussion under one table.
Additionally, the National Assembly of Malawi has committed together with the Ministry to conducting annual reviews of implementation progress for the commitments.
“… What was missing was for us to all be on a coordinating table, to coordinate our efforts and ensuring that when we have a voice for one area and all us rally behind…our voices can be loud enough to push for action.”
-Mr. Hester Nyasulu, Country Program Manager at Amref Malawi
Ms. Faith Ndungu, Communications and Advocacy Manager at HENNET, shared Kenya’s experience. She highlighted HENNET’s engagement with the National Assembly's Health Committee on the development of a new MNCH bill. The current RMNCAH MSP is being considered as the mechanism for coordinating implementation and, if included in the final legislation, could be central to institutionalizing national coordination efforts.
Dr. Margaret Lubaale, Executive Director of HENNET, added that in response to HENNET's advocacy efforts, the Cabinet Secretary has invited the organization to recommend on how the National Health Insurance Fund can be strengthened by including key maternal health commodities.
“Without maternal and child health, we feel that PHC is not functioning, and so UHC becomes a pipe dream. Our vision of success is better coordination for increased investment in RMNCAH. We look forward to meeting with the Cabinet Secretary next week.”
-Dr. Margaret Lubaale, Executive Director, HENNET
Ms. Marieme Ly of Amref Health Africa Senegal noted that their CAAP was developed in close collaboration with the Advocacy Steering Committee within the Department of Maternal and Child Health (DSME) of the Ministry of Health. CAAP priorities were defined through a phased approach where regional commitments made by the Government of Senegal were translated into a coherent national roadmap agreed upon with key ministries spanning health, family, education and justice. The roadmap was centered around eight pillars which reflect core areas of reproductive health and rights alongside its social and structural determinants. They include the right to education, prevention of early and forced marriage, protection from gender-based violence and harmful practices, and access to reproductive health services, including safe abortion. Adolescent health and the meaningful engagement of young people were also prioritized, in line with the government’s commitment to unlocking the potential of youth as a key driver of national progress. These institutional and collaborative efforts brought together multiple ministries, civil society and development partners to harmonize advocacy, community mobilization and communication strategies.
In concluding the discussion on the CAAP development phase, Dr. Garba noted the importance of overall coordination, advocacy coalition strengthening to influence policies and keep an eye how agreed budgets are executed.
“This is an exciting moment. It is excellent that MSPs have been strengthened in countries and that CSOs and young people have contributed to the CAAP development process which has helped strengthened the relationship between the government and civil society.”
- Dr. Aminu Garba, Coordinator and CEO, AHBN
During the session facilitated by Ms. Musakali, partners discussed what the success looks like as the developed CAAP plans are progressing towards implementation. Key elements included stronger stakeholder coordination, meaningful engagement of underrepresented groups, and expanded civic space to root policy processes in community realities to strengthen legislation, increased /sustained investments in WCAH, and enhanced government accountability.
Budget advocacy and expenditure transparency were underscored as essential for ensuring that, even amidst fiscal challenges, existing investments in RMNCAH are sustained or increased. Participants emphasized the need to build CSO capacity in budget monitoring and to use digital platforms for public engagement—drawing inspiration from Kenya’s county-level stakeholder outreach model.
Envisaged country-level success outcomes shared by partners, included increased political will for greater investment in RMNCAH issues including quality service delivery for functional PHC, and particularly, to reduce out of pocket expenditure. Specific service packages included those related to adolescent health (such as access to family planning without stigma) and essential medicines for WCA.
Considering the current challenges across countries, success of advocacy efforts depends on greater unity across organizations in advocating for RMNCAH issues, including by facilitated by leveraging CSO–government partnerships to strengthen national MSPs, Core Technical Groups, and relevant TWGs for united advocacy of CAAP goals.
Speaking from across country experience Ms. Vania Kibui, Regional Policy Advocacy and Capacity Strengthening Specialist, Amref Health Africa called for “Expansion of civic space via MSPs, ensuring that youth and community-based organizations are included in national dialogues, rely on each other’s strengths” and Mr. Andrew Storey, Senior Director, Global Health, CHAI underscored the importance for enhanced access to medicines and health commodities through smarter financing and supply chain reforms.
In concluding the discussion, Ms. Sharon Musakali underscored the “importance of coordinated progressive conversations and the importance of empowering youth movements, Gen. Z movements and communities to generate demand” for the most critical health priorities for WCA on which governments can focus.
As the global health landscape evolves, the imperative for coordinated, country-led action grows ever more urgent. The CAAP process provides a critical opportunity to safeguard and advance the health and rights of WCA despite resource limitations. By fostering collaboration and strengthening mutual accountability to advance commonly agreed priorities, partners in countries are working to ensure that vulnerable and marginalized women, children and adolescents are not left behind in these challenging times.