On June 11, 2025, Gavi’s Zero-Dose Learning Hub (ZDLH) brought together global and country-level experts in a timely webinar titled “From Evidence to Action: How Local Networks Accelerate Zero-Dose Evidence Uptake.” The virtual session explored how local partnerships are turning immunisation research into impactful action, with a clear goal—reducing the number of zero-dose (ZD) and under-immunised (UI) children through evidence-informed programming. 

The webinar showcased success stories from high-burden countries including Nigeria and Mali, where decentralised planning, community engagement, and continuous feedback are changing the way vaccines like BCG, Pentavalent, and DPT reach the most vulnerable children. 

Speakers from ZDLH and the Zero-Dose Learning Agenda (ZDLA) shared practical experiences in stakeholder engagement. They discussed how “learning by doing” and knowledge translation approaches—such as co-creation, local data analysis, and tailored interventions—are helping bridge the gap between policy and practice. 

In Nigeria, the ZDLH team introduced Decentralized Immunization Monitoring (DIM) and local immunisation scorecards to track service delivery, budget releases, and stakeholder accountability. Community actors—including religious and traditional leaders—have been mobilised to champion childhood immunisation. One innovative example was the Male Caregiver Advocacy Network, where men lead mosque-based messaging to encourage vaccine uptake among hesitant caregivers. 

In Mali, the local learning hub CAPEV focused on tools like Coaching for Performance (C2P) and MEDEXIS, a digital platform to track vaccine stock levels and streamline planning. These innovations are helping health workers in remote and conflict-affected districts manage vaccine delivery more effectively. Microplans are now driven by real-time data, and communities are engaged in every step of the process—from planning to outreach. 

The event also underlined the importance of integrating gender considerations, promoting inclusive planning, and using iterative learning methods. These approaches ensure that interventions are responsive to local realities—whether they involve mothers in rural Bangladesh, male caregivers in northern Nigeria, or youth volunteers in urban Mali. 

As part of the broader Immunization Agenda 2030, these efforts aim to reduce zero-dose children by 50% by 2030. And for countries like Bangladesh, where reducing zero-dose and under-immunised children remains a national priority, the lessons shared in this session offer valuable inspiration. 

By aligning evidence with community voice, and policy with practice, local networks are proving that innovation doesn’t always require new technology—it often begins with trust, collaboration, and shared commitment to leaving no child behind. 

References: 

From evidence to action: How local networks accelerate zero-dose evidence uptake [Internet]. Gavi.org. [cited 2025 Jul 16]. Available from: https://zdlh.gavi.org/events/evidence-action-how-local-networks-accelerate-zero-dose-evidence-uptake