.png?sfvrsn=6d0e27cd_1 "Partnership for Change - v7 (1)")
In a two-day advocacy retreat convened by the African Health Budget Network (AHBN), in Abuja on July 9th -10th, key stakeholders from across Nigeria's health ecosystem gathered to chart a path forward for collaborative advocacy and accountability.
The focus of the meeting was to rally partners’ collaborative efforts to implement the Collaborative Advocacy Action Plan (CAAP) and accelerate progress through the Every Woman, Every Newborn, Everywhere (EWENE) Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) Acceleration Plan. The retreat was attended by representatives from Government agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), development partners, professional associations, media, and academia.
Participants at the advocacy retreat convened by Africa Health Budget Network
There was consensus among stakeholders that 2024 has been a pivotal year for Nigeria’s health sector, under the leadership of Honorable Dr Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, characterized by major policy shifts, enhanced funding, strengthened collaborations, and key achievements. However, in the face of the fundamentally altered development landscape in 2025, all partners need to ‘step up’ and no longer accept the status quo when still so many women and children are dying and there is great need to accelerate reductions in maternal, newborn and child mortality and morbidity.
“We are committed to collaboration with CSOs in this collaborative advocacy action plan being facilitated by the Africa Health Budget Network and we commend the leadership of the CSO leaders aligning their advocacy agenda with the Nigeria’s Government vision of One Plan, One Budget, One Conversation and One Report”
-Dr Binyerem Ukaire, Director of Family Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
Building on the Honorable Coordinating Minister’s SWAP code of conduct of ‘One Plan, One Budget, One Report, and One Conversation’, participants identified the importance of uniting the advocacy efforts of civil society actors to speak strategically with one voice, march in one direction and harmonize accountability frameworks for WCAH issues.
“We are convening this retreat to promote collaborative advocacy among various multistakeholder partners and to support alignment of our various advocacy priorities across issues related to women, children, adolescent and collaboratively galvanize actions to stimulate domestic resource mobilization, efficient utilization and strengthened accountability and transparency and to support the Nigerian government achieves its health sector renewal and investment initiatives.”
- Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba, Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer, Africa Health Budget Network
A Convergence of Commitments
Workshop participants updated the four advocacy goals in the CAAP plan in relation to the new developments in Nigeria’s health sector and identified partners who, given their comparative advantage, could help coordinate efforts to advance each of the goals. The Africa Health Budget Network, under the leadership of Dr. Garba, will coordinate the overall implementation of the CAAP plan, create an enabling environment for other partners, link to government’s processes and invite partners to join the efforts.
Goal 1: Family Planning (FP) Commodity Financing:
The Association for the Advancement of Family Planning committed to coordinating harmonized advocacy efforts targeting the release and efficient use of funds for FP commodities. Building on the government’s commitment from the Medical Relief Fund, PVAC and other donor funding streams, stakeholders demanded full implementation of commitments and 100% timely release of financing FP commodities (updated from current target of 50% improvement) — framing this as a moral imperative and public health priority.
Goal 2: Increasing financing for Adolescent Well-Being at both national and sub-national levels:
Education as a Vaccine and the Health Sector Reform Coalition will co-lead efforts to strongly push for financial appropriation and release at the national level, and the creation of dedicated budget line for adolescent well-being at the state level (updated to include sub-national focus). Partners emphasized the importance of leveraging ongoing efforts to accelerate implementation of the Government’s Commitment Statement of Adolescent Well-being and SDG Priorities, made at the Global Forum for Adolescents.
Goal 3: Inclusive Governance and Youth Representation
Education as a Vaccine will coordinate advocacy efforts for integration of youth voices into RMNCAH structures like the RMNCAH Coordinating Technical Group (CTG). Participants advocated for meaningful CSO and youth inclusion in RMNCAH coordination platforms.
Goal 4: Implementation of the 77th and 78th World Health Assembly Resolutions on MNCH issues and Health Financing
AHBN with WHO’s support will coordinate partners’ advocacy efforts to advance the implementation of the resolutions, co-sponsored by Nigeria, including through the scale up of BHCPF allocations from 1% to 2% (specificity in target has been introduced) and advocate for transparent tracking of health resources, particularly at the subnational level.
Participants brainstorming collaborative advocacy approaches and entry points
From Fragmented Conversations to Coordination
Participants recognized that many actors often approach the same policymakers with fragmented asks — weakening advocacy outcomes. In response, the retreat reinforced the principle of intentional collaboration, committing to:
Joint advocacy visits to key policymakers, including the National Assembly, Governors’ Forum, and Federal MDAs for implementing the CAAP and the EWENE MNH acceleration Plan
Harmonization of advocacy briefs using existing data, evidence, and trends — prioritizing clarity, evidence, and shared messaging
Establishing state-level systems such as Family Health Departments and multistakeholder platforms, to domesticate national strategies as well as accelerate and monitor policy translation.
Elevating Accountability Through Media Visibility of Key Data
Discussions emphasized the critical role of data and media in driving accountability. With continued support from partners including UNICEF, WHO, and CHAI, participants highlighted the need to:
Leverage the latest evidence and data to advocate to political leaders and engage policy makers on key strategic approaches and interventions
Utilize innovations like the Motion Tracker to monitor commitments
Develop one accountability framework for tracking implementation of all commitments and milestones including those in the MNH acceleration plan
Engage media strategically to elevate maternal, newborn and child health issues on the national agenda and change mindsets
Spotlight on the Subnational: Where Implementation and Change Happens
From Bauchi to Kaduna states, participants shared that the greatest gaps — and opportunities — lie at the subnational level. Several states have successfully launched Family Health Departments, while others have integrated adolescent-friendly services.
Yet challenges remain: stockouts of commodities, fragmented data systems, under-resourced facilities, and poor governance undermine gains. The retreat reinforced the need for state-specific CSO advocacy strategies to ensure that state governors deliver on the compact signed with the Honorable Minister.
Key Outcomes and Next Steps
Agreement to present the outcomes of the meeting at the upcoming RMNCAH CTG meeting in August
Expansion of the membership of the SWAP TWG to include one CSO representative and to create space in the agenda for the CSO representative to provide their perspective.
Commitment to joint monitoring of national health funds — including BHCPF, SWAP allocations, and the Medical Relief Fund
Endorsement of a media-forward approach to spotlight maternal and newborn health injustices, leveraging partnerships with NAWOJ and leading journalists
Focus on subnational engagement and advocacy, through multi-constituency efforts, to accelerate implementation of policies, plans and budgets
A Call to Action
As Profesor O.A. Ladipo, President Emeritus of the Association of Reproductive and Family Health, aptly stated:
"If 375 planes crashed each year, the government would act immediately. Yet 75,000 women die silently from preventable causes. We know what to do. We must act."
This retreat was a rallying call for unity, strategic coordination, and bold advocacy. Nigeria’s CSOs and partners resolved to speak with one voice, track every naira, and ensure that no woman, child, or adolescent is left behind.