The CSEM’s Health for All Advocacy Toolkit is now live! It is available as a dynamic web-based tool and as downloadable PDFs in English, French, and Spanish.

Explore the Toolkit

Globally, there are thousands of organizations and networks advocating for greater attention to a vast array of specific health issues, including HIV, TB, malaria, diabetes, heart disease and maternal health to name but a few. The goal of universal health coverage (UHC) holds great potential to advance all of these health issues and to unite advocates across the sector in a common agenda for overall health and wellbeing. Increasing access to comprehensive and quality health services is one key component of achieving health for all, complementing important efforts to improve immunization, water and sanitation, education, migration policies, workplace safety, and other determinants of health. At the center of all these efforts are people and their communities.

The Health for All Advocacy Toolkit has been developed to build capacity, inspire and mobilize civil society in support of the global movement for UHC. It is based on the understanding that health is a human right, and our combined efforts are needed to ensure that the UHC conversation spans before, within, and beyond health system walls to reflect the realities of people and communities.

 

Why was the Toolkit developed?

In the lead up to the United Nations High-Level Meeting (HLM) on UHC in 2019, civil society and community representatives in countries around the world, convened by the CSEM, asked for more knowledge and information about UHC as well as about global level advocacy initiatives and platforms. The CSEM surveyed its members and other global health civil society to understand the specific kinds of information and resources that would be most useful in supporting their work on UHC. The survey received over 100 responses from 40 countries. Over 75% of respondents asked for practical tools and guidance for UHC advocacy. The Health for All Toolkit was developed to respond to these needs and to provide one-stop access to existing resources and toolkits for UHC. The Toolkit was developed by the CSEM, with support from UHC2030, Equal International, and a reference group—we extend our sincere thanks to all contributors!

Who is the Toolkit for?

The Toolkit is designed to be used by civil society advocates who are interested in learning more about what universal health coverage means; what commitments have been made to UHC at the global, regional, and country levels; and how they can incorporate UHC principles into their advocacy. The resources may also be useful for CSOs advocating on specific health issues or on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) beyond health, as the Toolkit provides information on how connecting to UHC advocacy can strengthen those efforts.

What is in the toolkit?

📑 Part 1: Introduction to Universal Health Coverage—provides an introduction to UHC, what it is, why health for all is vital, and how it can contribute to health as well as other SDGs.
📑 Part 2: Why civil society needs to engage in Universal Health Coverage—explores the critical role of civil society and communities in all stages of UHC design and implementation, and conveys civil society’s key calls to action.
📑 Part 3: How to participate—provides step-by-step guidance and tools for UHC advocacy at the national level.
🔗 The resource library links users to other complementary toolkits, additional learning materials and tools for their advocacy campaigns.

How will the toolkit be shared and used?

Leading up to and following this launch event, the Health for All Advocacy Toolkit will be shared with CSEM member organizations and partners with encouragement to distribute widely. On 7 October, a follow-up event during the C20 Summit will further introduce the toolkit content to a wider group of CSOs interested in beginning UHC advocacy. Following these introductory sessions, a series of in-depth workshops will be organized virtually by region to increase familiarity with the toolkit content, reach a range of CSOs in countries, and facilitate networking among civil society and community advocates. All participants at the launch event and follow-up activities are welcome to submit feedback or responses to the toolkit.

Launch Event

The toolkit was launched on 28 September 2021 on the sidelines of the 76th United Nations General Assembly and presented at the C20 Summit on 7 October 2021. Both events discussed (1) why a broad range of stakeholders must advocate for UHC, (2) lessons from civil society, and (3) the Health for All Advocacy Toolkit as a resource to kick-start UHC advocacy. Speakers include representatives of communities and civil society organizations who advocate for UHC, leaders from regional/global networks, and representatives of UHC2030 and CSEM.

The events were co-hosted by CSEM, UHC2030, APCASO, Aidsfonds, Georgia Red Cross, Global Health Council, GNP+, IFRC, Living Goods, Love Alliance, Management Sciences for Health, NCD Alliance, UNAIDS, WACI Health, and White Ribbon Alliance Kenya.

Advocating for Universal Health Coverage: A New Toolkit for Civil Society

See the recording.
Tuesday, 28 September 2021 | 8:00-9:00am New York 
Translation in French, Spanish, International Sign Language with live captioning

Strengthening UHC Engagement: A New Toolkit For Civil Society

See the recording.
Thursday, 07 October 2021 | 8:00-9:00am New York 
Translation in French, Spanish, Italian

Speakers included:

  • Jennifer Ho, Deputy Director, APCASO
  • Masaki Inaba, Program Director for Global Health, Africa Japan Forum (CSEM Advisory Group Member)
  • Justin Koonin, Co-Chair, UHC2030 Steering Committee
  • Natia Loladze, President, Georgia Red Cross Society
  • RD Marte, Executive Director, APCASO
  • Collins Masinde, Chairperson, Youth for Sustainable Development – Bungoma, Kenya
  • Samuel Matsikure, Program Manager, GALZ, Zimbabwe
  • Eliana Monteforte, Director of Special Projects, Global Health Council (CSEM Advisory Group Member)

 

For more information, please email: csem@msh.org