Increased funding for child survival programs should be strategically pursued through effective advocacy, public education, and outreach

Purpose / Background: In the FY 07 and FY 08 budgets, child health and survival programs face flat or decreased funding. These programs are critical for saving nearly 11 million children under five who die each year (about 30,000 per day) – nearly three-quarters from preventable causes. According to the Lancet, $5.1 billion annually will save 6 million children in the 42 countries responsible for 90 percent of child deaths in 2000.

The Coalition is a collaboration of organizations and individuals united to strengthen U.S. and global commitment to improve children's health and survival in developing countries. It represents a broad cross-section of organizations – corporations, universities, private voluntary organizations, non-governmental organizations, faith-based organizations, and foundations. Through a grant from the Gates Foundation, the Coalition seeks to strengthen, solidify, and mobilize members, increase the commitment to address maternal, newborn, and child health needs in developing countries among key U.S. policymakers and other influentials within Congress and the Administration, and mobilize grassroots constituencies of Coalition members.

Methods: The Coalition has a three-pronged advocacy strategy: 1) preserve and grow child health funding; 2) explore a potential Presidential initiative; and 3) put child survival on the 2008 election agenda. In 2007, it will lay the groundwork for reintroducing the CHILD and Newborn Act of 2005, develop effective child survival messages, recruit and mobilize advocates, and conduct outreach to target groups.

Recommendations: The U.S. has been a leader in developing preventive and curative child health interventions, and Americans usually rate child survival as one of their top reasons for giving foreign aid. The U.S. has a vital role to play in this effort and the cost of investing in child survival and maternal health should not be an issue.