NURHI 2 worked with stakeholders at the State and local government levels to form Advocacy Core Groups (ACGs) that coordinate family planning advocacy activities in Kaduna, Lagos and Oyo States. Advocacy Core Groups are comprised of committed individuals from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and projects working on maternal health and family planning, Family Planning Coordinators at the State Ministry of Health, and influential retired individuals, such as government officials. These committed individuals worked together to successfully increase support for family planning among policy makers, religious and traditional leaders in their States and LGAs. For more information, see Guide to Setting Up and Managing Family Planning Advocacy Working Groups.

ACGs work closely but independently with the State and local governments to create a more supportive environment for family planning uptake and sustained use. Over the years, NURHI provided training in SMART advocacy skills, budget analysis and monitoring, presentation skills, strategic plan development, budget analysis and monitoring for FP. and resource mobilization.

Under the TJ Mather funded 6-month Advocacy Scale-up Project, NURHI 2 established the Kano State Advocacy Core group. For learning and experience sharing, the group paid a two-day learning visit to the Family Health Advocacy Network Initiative (FHANI) which is Kaduna State Advocacy Core Group. The Kano State Advocacy Core Group continues to receive support through The Challenge Initiative (TCI).

Similarly, NURHI 2 established an ACG in Kebbi State under a 6-month Scale-up Project funded by UNFPA. Here, NURHI 2 strengthened the capacity of an existing advocacy group, Advocacy Champions for Childbirth Spacing and Family Health. NURHI 2 trained the group in SMART advocacy and presentation skills, and assisted the group to restructure for more effective family planning advocacy. The group focused advocacy efforts on gaining support for family planning among key religious and traditional leaders, engaging policy makers to allocate funds for family planning, and improving positive perceptions of family planning through media engagements and participation in conferences and other networking activities.

NURHI 2 supported ACGs in Kaduna, Lagos and Oyo States to become self-driven and sustainable advocacy organizations, recognized by their States as key stakeholders for family planning accountability. The three groups have registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission as the Public Health Social Advocacy Initiative (PHSAI) in Lagos, the Family Health Advocacy Network Initiative (FHANI) in Kaduna, and Advocacy Network of Nigeria (ANN) in Oyo.