Robust policy is critical to achieving improved health outcomes—but far too often, action stops once a policy is developed and adopted. Policies are only as effective as the extent to which they are implemented, and poor policy implementation holds back efforts to expand equitable access to health services. To translate goals into meaningful outcomes, every policy needs a plan of action, resources, dissemination, and adaptation. That is why PATH, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, launched the Capital to Clinic initiative to examine bottlenecks to policy implementation and create tools to help advocates usher policies from development in national capitals to implementation in local clinics.

This case study outlines the life cycle of the C2C initiative, from conception through consultations and, ultimately, to the development of a suite of tools for advocates supporting successful policy implementation.