Musa Abdullahi Sufi
In a significant stride toward improving health outcomes for women, children, and adolescents in Nigeria, the Africa Health Budget Network (AHBN) has signed a renewed agreement with the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH), hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The agreement marks the continuation of AHBN’s role in coordinating the implementation of Nigeria’s 2025 Collaborative Advocacy Action Plan (CAAP).
The CAAP is a strategic advocacy framework developed by partners to align efforts across sectors, mobilize stakeholders, and promote policy and financial commitments for maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH), including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
With support from PMNCH, AHBN will lead the coordination of advocacy activities under CAAP, focusing on coalition building, accountability mechanisms, and increased domestic resource mobilization for women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health (WCAH).
This initiative aligns with Nigeria’s key health priorities, including the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (HSRII), Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), and the MNCH Acceleration Plan under the “Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere” (EWENE) agenda.
Driving Multi-Sectoral Advocacy
Central to the CAAP strategy is the engagement of diverse stakeholders such as youth, civil society, the media, individuals with lived experiences, parliamentarians, and policymakers.
The overarching goal is to strengthen the national advocacy ecosystem to accelerate progress on unfinished health agendas, particularly the reduction of maternal and child mortality and the promotion of SRHR.
“This renewed partnership reflects our shared vision for equitable health outcomes for women, children, and adolescents,” said Dr. Aminu Magashi Garba, Coordinator of AHBN.
“As we move into implementation, CAAP will serve as a unifying framework for collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and key constituencies, ensuring sustainable financing and strong accountability systems.”
Expected Outcomes of the Partnership
Through this engagement, AHBN and its partners aim to:
1- Build a stronger multi-constituency coalition for advocacy and accountability on WCAH;
2- Advance Nigeria’s commitment to reducing maternal, newborn, and child mortality and morbidity, in line with the 77th World Health Assembly resolution;
3- Advocate for increased and effective financing, particularly through domestic resources, for WCAH programming;
3- Reinforce a resilient national advocacy ecosystem that translates reforms into tangible health improvements.
About the CAAP Initiative
PMNCH’s CAAP initiative is being implemented across 10 countries, including Nigeria, with the aim of strengthening accountability and coordinated action on WCAH. The initiative follows a partner-led, multi-stakeholder approach, with each country’s Ministry of Health playing a leadership role.
CAAP also leverages the Digital Advocacy Hub (DAH), a virtual platform that facilitates knowledge-sharing, resource mobilization, and real-time collaboration among partners.
The initiative is designed to:
a)!Provide better evidence on commitments and policy gaps;
b) Enhance the participation of underrepresented groups in national health policymaking;
c) Promote inclusive and coordinated national advocacy efforts;
d) Increase visibility and accountability for WCAH-related commitments.
As Nigeria continues to confront significant health challenges, this partnership between AHBN and PMNCH represents a timely and critical investment in coordinated advocacy that ensures the voices and needs of the most vulnerable are not left behind.
Join the Movement
For more information on the Collaborative Advocacy Action Plan or to join the movement for health advocacy in Nigeria, contact: info@africahbn.org