The Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) builds support for government investments in epidemic preparedness. We draw on our extensive experience conducting health-focused advocacy campaigns around the world as we work with local partners to:
Engage political decision-makers about the need to prioritize epidemic preparedness.
Strengthen capacity in government institutions, civil society and media to advocate for epidemic preparedness funding.
Demonstrate public demand for investments in preparedness through media coverage and public discourse.
Develop political strategies to remove bottlenecks affecting the allocation and release of epidemic preparedness funds.
Track budget drafting through execution to inform continued budget advocacy.
Nigeria’s funding for the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) grew to a record 2.9 billion naira (US$7.7 million) in fiscal year 2021 – more than double from the 1.4 billion naira (US $3.5M) appropriated for the agency two years prior.
2022
A citizen’s petition calling for the establishment of a Public Health Emergency Fund in Ghana, developed by GHAI and its partner SEND-Ghana, resulted in a request by Ghana’s Ministry of Finance to develop and submit an official proposal to establish the fund.
2023
Kano State, Nigeria, launched its Action Plan for Health Security, a roadmap for strengthening the core capacities required to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats and emergencies.
GHAI’s Prevent Epidemics program developed the Budget Advocacy Toolkit for Epidemics Preparedness, based GHAI’s experience in Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal, to support government and civil society advocacy for epidemic preparedness. The Toolkit is a learning resource that describes how to implement each step of the budget advocacy cycle and provides instructive questions and worksheets to guide the planning and implementation of an advocacy strategy to catalyze political will for epidemic preparedness funding.
In Nigeria, advocacy by GHAI and its partners resulted in increased funding for the NCDC and other national action plan for health security ministries, department and agencies. In Kano State, advocacy by GHAI and its partners resulted in the creation of new and sustained funding for epidemic preparedness and response in Kano state.
Kano State improved its ability to prevent, detect and respond to disease outbreaks by establishing a budget line for epidemic preparedness and response (EPR) after civil society organizations (CSOs) made the case for increased and sustained funding.
Nigeria doubled funding for its Center for Disease Control over two years, and Kano state added a new budget line for epidemic preparedness, following strategic advocacy led by local civil society organizations supported by GHAI.
Senegal has improved its ability to prevent, find and stop disease outbreaks. With support from GHAI, Senegalese civil society advocates successfully made the case for domestic investments in epidemic preparedness and a funding proposal developed in collaboration with government leaders.
Join GHAI and our partners alongside the 77th World Health Assembly for a conversation about how civil society organizations (CSOs) are contributing to accountability mechanisms for ensuring sustainable domestic health financing.
