On August 21, 2024, MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity hosted an event, “Advancing Localization: Adapt, Enable, Empower,” in New Delhi, showcasing the critical role of localization in project implementation. The event underscored USAID’s commitment to shifting funding and decision-making power to local actors driving transformative change in their communities. During the event, MOMENTUM showcased local solutions that significantly enhanced COVID-19 vaccination efforts and routine immunization outcomes during project implementation. Over 200 people attended the event, including representatives from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and USAID India who emphasized the pivotal role of hyper-local strategies in delivering impactful health strategies.

MOMENTUM was honored to have two community champions at the event, Vidya Rajput, a transgender activist, and Fr. (Dr.) Francis, a Catholic priest. Vidya and Fr. Francis shared their transformative journeys promoting immunization. Vidya used traditional songs to promote vaccination within the transgender community, demonstrating the power of culturally relevant, localized messaging. Similarly, Fr. Francis leveraged his trusted position as a faith leader to partner with MOMENTUM, hosting awareness sessions and collaborating with medical officers to combat vaccine hesitancy.

Ms. Reema Nanavaty, Director of the Self-Employed Women’s Association of India (SEWA), served as the guest of honor at the event. SEWA has been a leader in locally-led development, particularly in the lives of women and vulnerable populations. Through her experiences, she shared insights on SEWA’s approach to empowering grassroots women as catalysts for change, fostering self-reliance, and underscoring the power of grassroot movements, approaches, and innovative solutions in healthcare to create lasting change.

“SEWA’s journey has shown that true progress is rooted in locally-led solutions, where empowered women become the agents of change within their communities. The MOMENTUM project reinforced by uniting efforts and fostering collaboration at every level, we can overcome even the most daunting challenges and build a future where every community has the opportunity to thrive.” – Padma Shri Ms. Reema Nanavaty.

Panel discussions focused on promoting hyper-local strategies at a grassroots level for improved health outcomes and strengthening communities by empowering local actors. The discussions underscored the necessity of forming strong partnerships with local entities, investing in decentralized systems, strengthening organizational capacities, enhancing technical skills, and the critical role of centering local voices for sustainable, impactful grassroots development.

MOMENTUM worked across 18 states and union territories and supported the administration of about 15.6 million vaccine doses through the support of 26 project non-governmental partners and over 380 local partnerships. During the event, 25 project partners participated in a marketplace where they showcased their local solutions and innovations that were critical in driving vaccination efforts for priority populations. State government teams held fireside chats, focused on partnerships between government bodies and local nongovernmental organizations. They underscored the scalability of the partnerships formed during the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, offering valuable insights into how these alliances can drive future public health initiatives.

The event celebrated efforts advancing USAID’s localization agenda and strengthening partnerships that will continue to drive positive change for immunization outcomes at both the national and local levels.

See more about MOMENTUM’s work in India here.