Organization of Organizations: Working in Coalition to Advance Global Health Policy

The U.S. commitment to global health has grown markedly over the last decade. The response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic has transformed global health financing and programming, demonstrating the potential to make substantial progress to improve health in low- and middle-income countries and placing a new emphasis on accountability, public engagement, and the health needs of the most vulnerable populations. To expand on these gains, the Obama Administration seeks to achieve major improvements in health outcomes by pursing a comprehensive whole-of-government approach to global health.

In the summer of 2009, a coalition of U.S.-based civil society organizations with expertise across a range of diseases and development formed to coordinate strategic advocacy approaches and provide policy recommendations on the administration's proposed Global Health Initiative (GHI). The work of the Ad Hoc Coalition for a Global Health Initiative included analyzing existing U.S. initiatives, aid agencies and funding necessary to address global health needs.

As an organization of organizations, working in coalition toward a common goal is likely to achieve the best results for advocacy campaigns. This coalition brought together groups with diverse health perspectives, linkages, and areas of influence that helped push forward a unified agenda. Working in coalition also had disadvantages, including time management and message control. As with all advocacy campaign, coalition work should be evaluated accessing leadership, resource allocations and compromises reached.