In “Connecting the dots: Lessons learned, challenges, and opportunities for national, regional, and global MNCH advocacy,” PATH hosted technical experts and impactful advocates working across Africa for a moderated discussion on lessons learned and opportunities in maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) advocacy efforts. This was the first session of our quarterly advocacy series to advance MNCH outcomes in Africa.
Our panelists provided valuable insights on actions that should be taken at the country-level to advance advocacy for MNCH, including: the importance of partnering with country-level stakeholders, the need to prioritize local solutions and amplifying the voices of local women’s groups in advancing MNCH; the value of advocating for a coordinated response so that civil society organizations (CSOs), donors, and governments more effectively work together and speak a common language aligned to a One Health approach; and how we can strengthen MNCH advocacy across levels by elevating the voices of affected populations, centering the work of CSOs and sharing opportunities, learnings, and challenges at the regional level.
Speakers:
- Angela Nguku
Founder and Executive Director, White Ribbon Alliance - Bénédicte Walter
Senior Advocacy Consultant, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health, World Health Organization - Jackie Katana
CSO Representative to the Global Financing Facility Investor's Group - Melanie Picolo
MNCHN Program Manager, PATH
