Advocacy Impact Case Studies

These case studies of advocacy success from around the world can be used as a resource to demonstrate how global health advocates can develop strategies to achieve policy goals. The series illustrates how PATH's 10-part approach to advocacy can be used to achieve lasting policy change. The framework includes:

1. Identify the advocacy issue.
2. State the policy goal.
3. Identify decision-makers and influencers.
4. Identify the interests of the decision-makers and influencers.
5. Clarify opposition and potential obstacles facing your issue.
6. Define your advocacy assets and gaps.
7. Identify key partners.
8. State the tactics you need to reach your goal.
9. Define your most powerful messages.
10. Determine how you will measure success.

The case studies include:

• Cambodia and Vietnam: Influencing policies to reduce deaths from diarrhea in Cambodia and Vietnam [PDF, 4 pages] - also available in Khmer [PDF] and Vietnamese [PDF]
• Ghana: Saving mothers' lives by preventing postpartum hemorrhage in Ghana [PDF, 4 pages]
• Guatemala: Preventing cervical cancer through better guidelines in Guatemala [PDF, 4 pages]
• India: Improving access to emergency medical care for new mothers and newborns in India [PDF, 4 pages]
• Kenya: Ensuring workplace HIV/AIDS policies for Kenya’s non-military uniformed service personnel [PDF, 3 pages]
• Malawi: Increasing access to key reproductive health and newborn commodities in Malawi [PDF, 3 pages]
• South Africa: Ensuring government accountability for expanded access to female condoms in South Africa [PDF, 4 pages]
• South Africa: Making human milk banking a priority in South Africa [PDF, 3 pages]
• Uganda: Preventing malaria during pregnancy for women across Uganda [PDF, 3 pages]
• Vietnam: Advocating for a total market approach to contraceptives in Vietnam [PDF, 4 pages]
• Zambia: Prioritizing the newborn agenda through policy change in Zambia [PDF, 3 pages]

Each case study is organised according to the following categories:

• The Big Picture
• Identifying the Policy Challenge and Opportunity
• Implementing the Strategy
• Achieving the Policy Goal
• Factors for Success

Here are a few sample insights to emerge from the case studies:

• Well-designed advocacy tactics can have an immediate and direct impact on decision-makers or influencers. Be strategic, selective, and creative. Tactics can take many forms - from one-on-one meetings with policymakers, to press briefings, to more innovative approaches. To promote more open dialogue among government experts on the sensitive topics of HIV/AIDS and sex education, advocates in Kenya launched a "condolympics" - a series of competitive games that helped people handle and become familiar with condoms and talk about uncomfortable topics - before discussing workplace policies.
• Messages should appeal to the decision-makers you intend to reach. Compelling messages are brief, focus on the issue and how it connects to the decision-maker's interest, and have a clear "ask". Using a messenger who has expertise and influence can be just as important as having a well-crafted message. In Zambia, advocates built on the First Lady's interest in newborn health to carry forward their message; this reportedly got the attention of key decision-makers.