Catalyzing domestic financing for infection prevention and control through targeted budget advocacy: Implementation lessons from Nigeria

Introduction: Robust infection prevention and control (IPC) programs in healthcare settings are crucial for reducing the spread of infectious diseases and are key components of quality healthcare. According to the World Health Organization, a dedicated IPC budget is a minimum requirement for a functional IPC program. However, in Nigeria, significant gaps exist in domestic funding for IPC. We assessed the funding landscape and implemented a targeted advocacy campaign to improve domestic IPC financing. Methods: A two-phase approach was adopted. In 2023, we conducted a budget landscape analysis at the national level using a validated toolkit developed by Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI). The analysis assessed the country’s epidemiological context and the functional status of the national IPC program, existing IPC funding, political and stakeholder mapping, national budget process, and legal frameworks. In 2024, we implemented an advocacy campaign in collaboration with two civil society organizations (CSOs) that included- sustained multi-stakeholder engagement, media advocacy, and capacity building initiatives to influence policy and budgetary decisions at the national level. Results: Landscape analysis revealed that although Nigeria had a national IPC program, no dedicated IPC budget line existed within the health sector budget. Advocacy efforts contributed to the establishment of a dedicated budget line for IPC with an allocation of two hundred million Naira (₦200,000,000) in the 2025 national health budget, approval of a revised national IPC policy, and development of a costed five-year IPC strategic plan. Conclusion: Strategic and sustained budget advocacy serves as a powerful mechanism to catalyse institutionalised financing and governance reforms for IPC in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Nigeria’s experience demonstrates that linking evidence-based analysis with strategic engagement during national budget cycles is crucial for strengthening health system resilience and accelerating progress toward International Health Regulations (IHR-2005) goals.