ACEPHAP hosts AIM MNCNH Advocacy Consortium partners meeting to align priorities with TEAM-OB/NEO program

The Africa Centre of Excellence for Population Health and Policy (ACEPHAP) Advocacy and Implementation of Maternal Newborn Child Nutrition and Health (AIM MNCNH) consortium partners convened a strategic meeting to review implementation progress, share experiences and lessons from ongoing advocacy activities, and agree on priorities for aligning the consortium’s work with the TEAM-OB/NEO program.

Held from 28 to 29 September 2026 in Kano, Nigeria, the meeting brought together representatives from ACEPHAP, Pathfinder, Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), and Center for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI) to reflect on the implementation of the AIM-MNCHN advocacy activities, document lessons learned, and establish a framework for the next phase of the initiative.

The meeting provided a platform for partners to review the two-year AIM-MNCHN advocacy activities, assess progress, identify lessons and challenges, and develop recommendations to strengthen future advocacy efforts. A key focus was also the orientation of partners to the TEAM-OB/NEO structure, alongside the development of a new Theory of Change and actionable work plan.

Prof. Hadiza Shehu Galadanci, Director of ACEPHAP, delivered the welcome address and provided context for the transition from AIM-MNCHN advocacy to TEAM-OB/NEO. PATHFINDER, led by Dr. Olufemi Ibitoye presented on advocacy implementation and policy alignment, while CCSI, led by Dr. Kanayo Omonoju, focused on strategic communication. MWAN team, led by Prof. Rosemary Ogu shared insights on clinical and community advocacy outreach support, highlighting the role of advocacy in strengthening engagement around maternal and newborn health.

During the meeting, Dr. Aminu Wakili, Program Manager, provided an overview of TEAM-OB/NEO, including its program structure, framework and objectives. He also outlined what the transition and re-scoping would mean for the consortium’s ongoing advocacy work, with particular emphasis on ensuring continuity while aligning future activities with TEAM-OB/NEO priorities.

The discussions reaffirmed the consortium’s commitment to the Foundation’s Policy, Advocacy and Communications (PAC) priorities, with activities focused on contributing to reductions in maternal, newborn and child mortality through evidence-informed policy engagement, context-responsive and localized advocacy, stronger political commitment, and sustainable investments in healthcare.

A key focus of the meeting was ensuring that the advocacy platform and partnerships already established through AIM MNCNH continue to support the evolving maternal and newborn health agenda. This includes strengthening the use of evidence to inform policy and implementation, supporting champions and decision-makers, and promoting learning and collaboration across participating settings.

As an important outcome of the meeting, consortium partners jointly developed an updated Theory of Change (ToC), Results Framework (RF), and detailed work plan to guide subsequent advocacy and policy engagement activities. These tools will provide a common framework for coordinating implementation, monitoring progress and measuring results across the consortium.

The revised approach will also strengthen regional engagement through the Regional Think Tank established and led by ACEPHAP, providing a platform for African experts and champions to share evidence and experiences, strengthen policy dialogue, build political salience around priority maternal and newborn health issues, and support the translation of evidence into policy and implementation.

The meeting marked an important step in repositioning the AIM MNCNH advocacy work to complement TEAM-OB/NEO while sustaining the partnerships, advocacy structures and learning generated through the consortium.

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