Building Gender
Responsive Health Systems for All
The Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Advocacy Project (2023–2024) was a two-year initiative led by Women in Global Health Nigeria, dedicated to ensuring that gender was fully integrated into healthcare program design and implementation. The project strengthened women’s leadership in health, promoted equitable access to services, and advanced recognition, fair compensation, and career progression for primary healthcare workers, especially women community health workers (CHWs), who form the backbone of Nigeria’s health system.
About the Project
The project, formally titled Strengthening National Movements for Women’s Leadership in UHC,worked across three dimensions:
Leadership Identification & Networking
- Identified and convened women leaders and champions of UHC across Nigeria
- Brought leaders together on a two-year advocacy journey
- Built partnerships with NGOs and stakeholders driving UHC reforms.
Advocacy Development
- Developed national key messages and policy priorities
- Produced and shared updated National Advocacy Toolkits
- Held bilateral meetings with decision-makers and conducted stakeholder mapping
Visibility & Amplification
- Elevated women leaders’ voices through social media, blogs, op-eds, and global platforms
- Organized and co-sponsored events to spotlight gender and UHC priorities
- Issued country-level statements linking UHC to gender equality
Our Approach
Through sustained engagement, WGH Nigeria forged strong partnerships with the Ministry of Health and other key actors, securing major commitments:
Gender Desks in PHC Governance
Agreement to establish gender desks within primary health care governance to embed gender priorities in policy design and implementation.
Recognition of Women Health Workers
Commitments to structurally recognize women’s role in PHC, alongside advocacy for improved working conditions, pay parity, and career progression for CHWs.
Peer Accountability on Gender
Establishment of regular gender-in-policy meetings and workshops to track progress, share lessons, and sustain momentum across the health sector.
Our Impact in Nigeria
The project was built directly on our 2022 research, Women’s Leadership and Community Health Workers in Nigeria, which highlighted the challenges faced by CHWs and the urgent need to empower them as leaders and change agents.
As a result of the advocacy campaigns, the voices of CHWs were amplified in national dialogues, influencing new commitments around workforce recognition, gender-sensitive governance, and fairer compensation structures. These outcomes mark important steps toward making Nigeria’s health system more inclusive, equitable, and responsive on the path to Universal Health Coverage.