There is a strong reclaiming of the people’s voice in advocacy and creating change, and I am encouraged about the trends that are emerging.

A few weeks ago, the African Development Bank Group released a report stating that Africa is set to outperform the rest of the world in economic growth over the next two years, with the real gross domestic product (GDP) averaging around 4% in 2023 and 2024.

It also identified potential risks and called for robust monetary and fiscal measures to address them, backed by structural policies.

All of this sounds great and is definitely better news than we have had recently, but as always, the chances of this report’s claims becoming a reality lie within the power and responsibility of all stakeholders.

When you consider advocacy, especially across East and West Africa where Niyel is an active player, the dominant trends are actually within various stakeholder groups, as well as the relationship between the groups.

The following trends are evidence of the change coming to the fore:

1. Increased Citizen Engagement

The average citizen is continually asking questions and demanding accountability, reducing the acceptance of whatever information or interventions are given. There is increased ownership as it is no longer ‘their’ problem but ‘our’ problem.

Technology is also an enabler – even though social media has its drawbacks because emotional outbursts are easily presented as facts that are misleading and could even be dangerous. However, the interconnectedness that technology provides has led to increased solidarity, within the continent as well as the diaspora.

2. The Government is Paying Closer Attention

The people in government are taking extra care with what they do, what they are saying, how it looks, and most especially – how their actions or inactions are interpreted. Some officials are starting to pay more attention to their mandates and the people’s expectations of them.

3. Advocacy & Development Focused Organisations are Taking the Lead

Organisations in the middle are taking a leading role and are having a share of voice in the big issue conversations. These organisations can better represent the people because they live on the continent, were, or are, directly impacted by the state of affairs; and can truly act in the best interest of the people.

Now that there is greater ownership of development by local and impactful advocacy actors, nobody is simply waiting around for the Western World to put Africa on the agenda.

Development has been decolonised as to who gets resources because the power dynamics are shifting, and Africa is better for it.

The people are becoming active at different levels, and are driven by passion, purpose, and an overwhelming sense of ownership which is essential to sustainable development across the continent.

There is still however, much work to be done as these trends continue to define frameworks of advocacy engagement and socio-economic development.

There is a responsibility for adequate citizen education, conversation, and engagement. There is also a need to clarify the mandate of the different arms of government and other stakeholders, so the people are informed about how the state works and don’t confuse who should be accountable for various issues.

This would positively impact how citizens approach issues and lead to constant self-reflection of how the average citizen can contribute to the shaping of policies, not simply by pointing fingers, but by shifting practices in their lives and within their direct areas of influence.

At Niyel, we have always believed in the ‘power of the citizen’ to drive change and design frameworks and resources that create the structure to effect sustainable impact. We believe in harnessing everyone’s power for the collective good. We regularly invite citizens to participate in our campaigns and initiatives, from ensuring inclusivity for basic rights in water and sanitation, to matters of data and data governance in order to have responsible artificial intelligence (AI) on the continent.

We realise that we cannot directly deploy all that is required for development. We will continue to provide free tools and resources that can be used by individuals and organisations, and lead and support people-driven initiatives that demand greater intervention from decision makers while consistently engaging civil responsibility. We do this in an effort to continue to do good work in and for Africa.

Attending to nature’s call daily is healthy, however problems arise when it becomes too watery and happens too frequently. Excessive loss of fluids and other essential minerals harm the body’s ability to function well.

According to a UNICEF report 1,300 children yet to celebrate their fifth birthday, die from diarrhea every day, accounting for approximately 9% of all infant mortality cases. In Sub-Saharan Africa, these figures are worse.

In West Africa, specifically Nigeria, diarrhea is the second topmost cause of child death largely due to poor hygienic and sanitary practices. Standing at 18.8%, this child killer is twice as prevalent in Nigeria as compared with global figures.

The alarming and incredibly sad aspect of diarrhea related child deaths is that a readily available preventive solution exists and for almost two decades. The rotavirus, one of the deadliest diarrhea causing-agents, is responsible for over 40% of diarrhea cases in Nigerian children and accounts for 14% of total global rotavirus related deaths. 

Fortunately, a rotavirus vaccine exist that protects against diarrheal diseases.

If this preventive solution has been around for so long, why is diarrhea still a menace? A few reasons include the fact that the rotavirus vaccine was not included in some country’s national routine immunization program such as Nigeria – not until August 2022. Although the vaccine has been available in private hospitals at a fee, many parents in high-risk communities are unable to afford it, miss doses, or stay away altogether due to a mistrust and fear of vaccines. This is the case in some other countries.

In 2017, the WHO urged all countries, particularly those with high diarrhea mortality rates in children, such as Nigeria, to introduce rotavirus vaccines into their immunization programs. Thankfully in August 2022, Nigeria’s federal government, through the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) introduced the rotavirus vaccine into the national routine immunization schedule.

According to a mapping by the ROTA Council, Nigeria is among 79% of African countries (including Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Kenya and Ethiopia) and 115 countries worldwide who have introduced the rotavirus vaccines into their national routine immunization schedule.

This was a lifesaving saving event capable of averting about 50,000 deaths of Nigerian children yearly, according to a report by the WHO African office.

Also, researchers have reported about 59% reduction in hospitalization due to rotavirus and 36% reduction in diarrheal hospitalization and deaths in children under 5 years among over 100 countries that have introduced the rotavirus vaccine.

The rotavirus vaccine introduction into the routine immunization schedule in Nigeria means that the vaccine is available at no cost in public health facilities for infants aged 6, 10 and 14 weeks.

At some private hospitals across the country, it was discovered that parents pay about 20,000 naira (or 47 US dollars) for just one of the three required doses of the vaccine. Children whose parents could not afford to pay, likely paid with their lives in a country where over 40% of the population (about 82 million people) are poor (live on less than 12,000 naira monthly or 28 US dollars). 

Unfortunately, access to these vaccines at no cost in public health facilities in Nigeria does not mean everyone who requires vaccination will take up this life-saving offer. A recently released survey by UNICEF titled, 2021 Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) & National Immunization Coverage Survey (NICS) shows that 18% of children in Nigeria have not received any vaccine while 46% missed out on some doses. Some identified reasons why children were not fully vaccinated were lack of knowledge or information (51%) and mistrust or fears (26%). 

There is evidence that repeated infections of diarrhea can affect later development in children which can lead to lifelong implications for health and wellbeing.

These include stunted growth, decrease in cognitive development and increased risk of mortality from other infectious diseases such as malaria, measles, and pneumonia.

Even later in life, adults who suffered frequently with severe diarrhea as children may potentially be at higher risk for developing chronic disease including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. There are other economic, and educational consequences.

Missed days from school due to diarrheal hospitalization can affect the child’s intellectual growth, while missed days from work while talking care of the sick child can affect the family’s earning power added to the cost of treatment. 

The inclusion of the rotavirus vaccine into the routine immunization schedule is a ray of hope for many Nigerian children, especially the poor. 

Improved efforts must be made to educate the public and build their confidence to increase uptake of this lifesaving vaccines and others. At Niyel, we are engaging high-reach and credible African voices to work with us in increasing trust and confidence in vaccines and routine immunization.

We are building momentum by driving further education to reach more people in Africa through podcasts, radio shows, trivia games, pitching battles and support for media activations of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

We’re simultaneously working with healthcare workers, local community, religious and cultural leaders, as well as with humorists, that have a key role to play in initiating conversations to build trust and improve uptake of vaccination services for young children in their respective communities.

The rotavirus vaccine introduction in Nigeria should reduce the consequences of diarrheal diseases including thousands of children, yet to celebrate their 5^th birthday, who die daily from diarrhea. However, we need to implement a comprehensive strategy that ensures access to these vaccines so many lives are saved.

Do Something is a collation of expert views in the field of advocacy, within and outside Niyel, assembled in 77 3–5-minute tip-based videos.

Available digitally on YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, the highly curated toolbox, compiled by industry experts, provides insight on how to better plan, organize and implement effective advocacy strategies that will bring change.

The value of such a resource for civil society organizations, research institutions, government agencies, grassroots movements and local youth and women’s groups, is to build internal capacities and skills so that they are able to achieve their missions of influencing and creating change to policies and practices in their communities. 

“Change is difficult. Whether personal or at an institutional level, change is not something that happens easily. Yet, change in policies and practices is the primary mission of most non-profit institutions. Through research, communication, mobilization, lobbying and other forms of engagement, different organizations have taken on a clear mandate to engage with communities and policy makers and influence policies and practices. Despite this, very few comprehensive guides are available for organizations learning how to influence or strengthen their impact work,” says Tasha Mills, Director of People and Partnerships at Niyel.

As part of its goal to enhance the advocacy sector through access and expertise, Niyel’s Do Something will be a free digital resource and available in both English and French for any change creators looking to build a better world through impact driven work.

The use of digital tools such as Do Something, which is readily available on popular social media platforms, drives access to capacity building and essential skills, especially for the African youth,” says Antoine Alain Diatta, Senior Creative at Niyel. 

Looking to advance the work of research institutions, civil society organizations, government agencies, grassroots movements and local youth and women’s groups, A team of team of experts created modules that translate willingness and commitment into effective actionable plans.

One such video titled Marches by American Social Justice Advocate Bryant Warren, explains how to organize a protest march for a social or political cause. This video describes the preliminary steps for organizing effective marches but also the impact that this tactic can have in influencing change.

Additionally, when looking to organize a press conference, communications expert Sabra Saleh, hosts a video on how to organize a press conference. It provides tips on how to do this effectively, identifying the different axes to follow in terms of timing, objectives, and distribution channels. 

Another communications expert, Irmin Durand, hosts a messaging video which gives steps on how to develop clear advocacy messaging, how to craft it and to whom it should be addressed while also answering pivotal questions about what is a good message.   

In order to strengthen peer-to-peer learning and responsive engagement with community partners and policymakers, and improve your impact initiatives, Laetitia Delaunay Badolo, Niyel’s Director of Advocacy and Impact, covers recruitment and training of volunteers to ensure cause and impact align with participation.

The Do Something: 77 tools for change creators videos will be released once a week. Watch the first video here