To successfully implement many of the key actions in the operational guide decision-makers need to be convinced of the benefits of the actions. This includes decision-makers in government, nongovernmental organizations and UN agencies, community leaders and health managers at every level (local up to national and global levels).

You can be an effective change agent by advocating for the health needs of children and adolescents to decision-makers. Advocacy can take many forms, and may occur both within organizations and between organizations. Children, adolescents and their parents are powerful advocates, so involve them in advocacy efforts as much as possible.

• The RMNCAH/CAH working group takes the lead in advocating for child and adolescent health to health and humanitarian authorities (see Annex 3).
• All health leaders and agencies working in child and adolescent health work together to advocate for the needs of children and adolescents, which should include the following areas.
• Human rights: child rights; how humanitarian and protection principles relate to children and adolescents.
• Data: disaggregate data by age and disability; include key CAH indicators in data collection activities; report to stakeholders and the community.
• Prioritization: highlight CAH priority areas that need more support.
• Funding: seek donors to support longer term (e.g. multiyear), multisectoral programming for sustainable learning and programmatic improvement.
• Community: raise awareness of CAH issues among parents, teachers, community and religious leaders (especially about sensitive topics such as violence, child abuse, sexual health).
• Participation: promote the involvement of children, adolescents and parents in all aspects of programme planning, implementation and evaluation.

• The RMNCAH/CAH working group, and individual organizations, work together to advocate for the health needs of children and adolescents.