HENNET in Partnership with PATH, advocating for Primary Health Care(PHC) and RMNCAH+N in Kenya.

Background

PATH is an international, nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the health of people around the world by advancing technologies, strengthening systems, and encouraging healthy behaviors. Since 2012, PATH’s Advocacy and Public Policy (APP) project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), has been working with the government of Kenya to advance evidence-based policy solutions at the national and county level to save lives and improve health in local communities. While the government of Kenya has made great strides to prioritize reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (RMNCAH+N) and Immunization, too many women, newborns, and children continue to die from preventable and treatable conditions. Through the APP project, PATH uses policy advocacy to drive the translation and implementation of policies and the effective allocation of resources at national level and within targeted counties.

Launched in 2015, the Global Financing Facility (GFF) for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) is a catalytic, country-led, innovative financing mechanism, in support of Every Woman, Every Child (EWEC) initiative and the updated Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents’ Health.  The GFF’s innovative financing approach aims to close the financing gap needed to eliminate preventable maternal, child, and adolescent deaths, thereby achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to RMNCAH+N. Additionally, the GFF mechanism aligns investments in RMNCAH+N, and supports countries efficiently utilize their allocated health resources, and increase their domestic resources for health.

In Kenya, the Health NGOs Network (HENNET) was identified as the platform under which health civil societies should engage in the (Global Financing Facility) GFF process. In January 2017 and under the HENNET umbrella, the RMNCAH + N CSO Coordinating Group was formed as a mechanism for engaging with CSOs in Kenya at national, and eventually, county level. The RMNCAH + N CSO coordinating group plays the fundamental role of engaging various key GFF actors at national and sub-national level. The coordinating group also serves as an advisory role to the HENNET secretariat and is made up of civil society drawn from relevant forums along the RMNCAH + N continuum of care. As a result of the advocacy of HENNET, supported by PATH, and working through the RMNCAH + N CSO coordinating group, civil society successfully advocated for the establishment of the RMNCAH+N multistakeholder country platform, launched in 2021led by the then Chief Administrative Secretary for Health (CAS), Dr. Mercy Mwangangi. To build on such successes, PATH and HENNET continue to work collaboratively towards joint objectives to contribute to outcomes around primary health care (PHC), RMNCH and immunization.

Objectives of the sub-agreement

The primary objective of this sub-grant is to continue support to HENNET in its role as a member of the RMNCAH+N multistakeholder country platform (MCP), Kenya’s designated civil society representative of the GFF and the CS in health convener at national and county level in Kenya.

Achievements

HENNET mobilized RMNCAH + N CSO Coordinating Group to review the RMNCAH end term evaluation report developed by APHRC. Recommendations were presented and advocated to be included into the final report for consideration when Kenya applies another re-investment to GFF. HENNET continues to host regular meetings to implement RMNCAH+N Accountability and Advocacy workplan.

The Health NGOs Network (HENNET), PATH and The Kenya Health Federation (KHF), in collaboration hosted a roundtable discussion to forge effective partnership for future engagements, knowledge-sharing, and the mutual exchange of ideas between Civil Society and the members of the National Assembly Health Committee. Speaking during the roundtable, Hon. Dr. Pukose Robert the chairperson to the parliamentary health committee, pledged to continue engagements with CSOs and private sector to provide legislative support to continue efforts to promote primary health care outcomes for the people of Kenya.