Sabin peer review workshop on sustainable immunization financing Abuja, Nigeria April 2016 Country: Liberia Case: Budgeting, resource tracking and domestic advocacy case studies Presented By: Adolphus T. Clarke Deputy Programme Manager/ EPI Ministry of Health/RL

Presentation Structure 1.NEW PRACTICE(S)  Description  Problems Addressed  Importance of the problem  Duration  Institutions/Organizations involved  Activities/Interventions inputs  Key individuals/units involved  Contributions to the process  Frequency of activities  Champions  Challenges and difficulties encountered 2. SIGNIFICANCE 3. COMMENTS

THE NEW PRACTICE - 1 DESCRIPTION OF NEW PRACTICE Planning: Holding of technical working session to develop detail road map on sustain approach to advocacy, communication and resource mobilization. Parliamentary Briefings: The national EPI provides regular updates to the parliamentary health committees and the parliamentary immunization forum. Parliamentary Briefings and Peer Exchanges are also held regularly with other SABIN SIF program countries. Budget Negotiations: Advocates participate directly in the annual negotiations of the national budget, especially the parliamentary health committees which advocate with ways means and finance committees for increased budgetary allocation for immunization.

THE NEW PRACTICE -1.1 DESCRIPTION OF NEW PRACTICE Investment Case: The minister of health, parliamentary health committees and the parliamentary forum for immunization take their investment case directly to the appropriate bodies to secure an approved budget increase for the upcoming fiscal year. Subnational Missions: Yes, advocates visit counties to secure immunization budget increases from relevant authorities. Civil Society/Media: Advocates engage civil society and the media to help persuade policymakers to allocate sufficient resources to immunization. PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY NEW PRACTICE o The question of why do you need budgetary increment???

THE NEW PRACTICE - 2 IDENTIFICATION OF POROBLEM Desk review of immunization partners directory to see who is in/out. IMPORTANCE OF PROBLEM o The current problems identified is very important as it clearly shows the need for continuity through sustained advocacy and engagement DURATION OF NEW PRACTICE 2013 – TO DATE.

THE NEW PRACTICE - 3 INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED Expanded Programme on Immunization, National Health Promotion, County Health Teams, UNICEF and WHO ROLE OF EACH ORGANIZATION/ INSTITUTION All organization participated in a well-coordinated manner with EPI being the lead. ACTIVITIES/ INTERVENTIONS/ INPUTS o Establishment of a ACM Technical Working Group (TWG, Chaired: EPI; Co-chaired NHPD) o Development and finalization of ToR o Agreeing on the meeting frequency o Writing of minutes and report for all advocacy meeting

THE NEW PRACTICE - 4 o KEY INDIVIDUALS/ UNITS INVOLVED  EPI  NHPD  County Health Teams o CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PROCESS EPI Division-60% NHP Division -30% County Health Teams- 10% FREQUENCY OF ACTIVITIES Periodically taking phase wide approach

START OF NEW PRACTICE - 1 CHAMPIONS o EPI TWG CHALLENGES AND DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED o Competing priorities

SIGNIFICANCE SCALE UP AND SPREAD The new practice has not been taken up by other organizations/institutions so far The practice could be adopted in other countries EFFECTIVENESS Very effective as it affords everyone an opportunity of understanding clearly the importance of country owning their immunization programme.

“ We are all friends aim at one objective which is to ensure that the children survive”