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Advocacy Resource Center

HMHB’s commitment to advocacy is based on the premise that knowledge without action is insufficient and that policy-relevant evidence and expertise are critical to driving evidence-based policies and impactful activities.

Today HMHB is working on the front lines of translating research and curating knowledge to promote evidence-based advocacy agendas that help inform and engage national decision-makers, funders, and implementors to support the scale-up of multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) and reach mothers across low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) and other poor resource settings who have inadequate access to nutrient-rich diets.

 

 

Improving maternal nutrition status is foundational for healthy and strong families, communities, and economically self-reliant countries.

 

National governments and their development partners need the correct information, tools, and MMS-relevant policies necessary to adopt and scale MMS and the financing to support maternal health programs that include MMS at the country level. 

The HMHB Consortium works with partners to advocate for collective action and intentional, innovative, and systematic investment in the health of mothers.  As a start, the Consortium has developed an Advocacy Toolkit for MMS to equip national actors to introduce and scale up MMS at their country level.    

About the Toolkit

The toolkit has been developed for advocates and public health professionals, national health officials & partners in NGOs, research, academia, program implementors, as well as local providers and distributors.  It consists of five components to support national stakeholders: an adaptable slide deck, an advocacy brief, a frequently asked questions brief, an HMHB Consortium factsheet, and short, unique, five-minute films that lift up women’s voices in different global contexts. 

HMHB aims to facilitate in-country dialogues that will support policy alignment and consensus.  The resources are meant to guide and assist national partners in advocating for the prioritization of maternal nutrition, more significant investment in nutrition interventions including MMS, and adoption and scale-up of MMS at the national level. The toolkit summarizes evidence on pregnancy and nutrition, the scale and scope of maternal malnutrition, research on MMS, national investment case, steps for introducing and scaling MMS, and finally, a case study performed in Indonesia.  It will soon be available in French, Spanish, and Arabic.

Adaptable MMS Advocacy Slide Deck

These adaptable slides are a resource for anyone wanting to communicate the evidence and benefits of MMS for pregnant women and their babies. They contain key messages that can be delivered to decision-makers or to those considering piloting, scaling, and implementing MMS. It is divided into five modules.

Advocacy Toolkit for MMS 

  1. Complete slide deck – English
  2. Module A: Pregnancy and Nutrition – English
  3. Module B: Global scope of maternal malnutrition- English
  4. Module C – Evidence on MMS – English
  5. Module D – National Impact and Investment Case – English
  6. Module E – Introducing and Scaling MMS and Case Study on Indonesia – English

MMS Advocacy Brief

This Advocacy Brief is meant to equip champions and decision-makers to advocate for safe, affordable, and cost-effective nutrition interventions, particularly multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) to improve maternal health.

Advocacy Brief – English

FAQ Brief on MMS

This FAQ brief addresses frequently asked questions on multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) such as the need, benefits, composition, and guidance on MMS.

FAQ brief – English 

Advocacy Brief and FAQ on Inclusion of MMS in WHO's EML

This Advocacy Brief and FAQ document answers questions related to the inclusion of MMS in WHO’s Essential Medicines List to support national advocacy efforts.

Advocacy Brief and FAQ – English

HMHB Fact Sheet

This fact sheet provides a complete introduction to the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Consortium (HMHB) – its origin, activities, and future direction.

HMHB fact sheet – English 

Women's Voices Films

HMHB has introduced a series of short films that lifts up women’s voices in different global contexts. These unique five-minute stories provide an up-close view into the lives of mothers during pregnancy and also show the commitment of community health workers who support them – all told in their own words. The films highlight both the challenges and the opportunities to improve micronutrient intake and the nutritional well-being of mothers globally.

Voices from Ethiopia

Agurash’s Story

This film tells the story of Agurash from Habru, Ethiopia, a woman in the third trimester of her pregnancy. She shares her challenges in accessing healthy food and the nutrition services she needs for herself and her unborn child.

WATCH THE FILM

Voices from Borwadi Tanda, India

Shakuntala’s Story

In this poignant film, Shakuntala, a dedicated health worker, recounts the struggles faced by pregnant women in Aurangabad, including social barriers, in having safe and healthy pregnancy experiences.

WATCH THE FILM

Voices from Mumbai, India

Shabana and Parveen’s Story

This film depicts the struggles of Shabana and Parveen from Mumbai, who work outside and inside their homes to provide for their families despite being heavily pregnant. They lack access to adequate food and nutrition, as well as health and nutrition services.

WATCH THE FILM

Voices from Bangladesh

Jahanara’s Story

This short film shows the struggles faced by Jahanara from Bangladesh in getting nutrition and health services during her pregnancy.

WATCH THE FILM

Voices from the Democratic Republic of Congo

Makenge Thethe’s Story

This short film, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, shows the challenges faced by Makenge Thethe, during the ninth month of her pregnancy in getting nutrient-rich food and health services for a healthy pregnancy.

WATCH THE FILM

READ THE BLOG

Poor maternal nutrition during pregnancy leads to widespread micronutrient deficiencies with significant consequences for both mother and child.

MMS offers an opportunity to improve maternal nutrition and reduce adverse health and economic outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) and other poor resource settings.

The Advocacy Toolkit for MMS equips national actors to introduce and scale up MMS at their country level.

Coffee and Chai Chat on the Advocacy Toolkit for MMS