Step 5: Use the 7-1-7 target for advocacy and accountability

Clearly articulated, objective targets can help identify strengths and weak spots, and bottleneck analysis can point to financing and resources needed for improvement. Findings from use of the 7-1-7 approach, including both performance against the three metrics and identification of bottlenecks, can then be translated into advocacy asks. The 7-1-7 approach also offers an easy means to capture and report on improvements once investments have been made. This creates a virtuous cycle of accountability and advocacy by providing stakeholders with a clear view of progress and measure of return on investments.

A key challenge to improving health security capacities in both high- and low-income countries has been adequate financing of national plans. Substantial efforts have been made to improve multisectoral planning initiatives, including NAPHS, but integration of these plans into national planning and budget cycles is critical for their actual implementation. In a recent publication on its NAPHS development process, Cameroon recommended that the NAPHS be accompanied by a financing strategy.

This step focuses on translating 7-1-7 findings into clear messages for different stakeholders to promote increased financing and strengthen implementation, as well as processes to enhance budget advocacy.