Scaling up life-saving commodities for women, children and newborns: an advocacy toolkit

This advocacy toolkit was produced under the auspices of the UN Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for Women and Children’s Advocacy Working Group and Maternal Health Technical Reference Team.It provides background information, tools and messages for advocates to help ensure improved and equitable access to life-commodities for women, children and newborns.This toolkit will be particularly useful to policymakers, development partners, program implementers, health professionals, private-sector leaders, civil society activists, and community members interested in engaging in advocacy work. It recognises the key role of advocacy in guiding the refinement or development or plans and interventions that reflect the needs of a given country, as well as generating support and commitment.The toolkit includes four major sections:1. What you need to know provides background information on the Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for Women and Children, including:

• outlining connections with other global initiatives
• introducing country funding and support mechanisms
• analysing the Commission’s recommendations

2. What you can do gives practical actions and resources - such as a policy brief, press release and letter of support templates - that advocates can adapt and use.3. What there is to say outlines key messages that advocates can adapt and use to inform the public and engage with relevant stakeholders.4. Spotlight on commodities provides an overview of maternal, child, and newborn health and contraceptive commodities, including issues and barriers to their access and use, and specific advocacy needs.To download the toolkit for free, click here>Kade, K., Kingshott, E., Latimer, A., Nieuwenhuyus, B.J., Pacque, M., Fox, S. & Lias, N. (2013). Scaling Up Life-saving Commodities for Women, Children and Newborns: An Advocacy Toolkit. Seattle: PATHS, Global Health Visions.