Advocacy

At BoyChild Kenya we want to see local and national governments, regional bodies, and global institutions direct money and resources towards ending drug and substance abuse. We advocate for laws, policies and programmes that empower youth and their communities. We want them to be well-financed, comprehensive, and multi-sectoral.

We are national and regional advocates. We work with key partners, youth networks and member organisations on regional and national advocacy initiatives and campaigns to engage decision-makers and keep drug and substance abuse high on the policy agenda. We support others to integrate prevention and rehabilitation approaches within their own work. Substance abuse is a public health and development issue that must be addressed across the health, education, security and human rights sectors.

We are community advocates. We partner with our member organisations to advocate for effective responses to drug and substance abuse at the local and national levels. We demand accountability from decision-makers. We share lessons learned, evidence and data about what works to end addiction. Together with our membership, we hold governments to account for implementing their national drug control and prevention strategies and programmes.

National advocacy opportunities and campaigns

When we put the causes, impacts and solutions to drug and substance abuse in the spotlight, we can boost political and social support for leaders to address the issue. BoyChild Kenya uses key moments in the national advocacy calendar to advance efforts to end drug and substance abuse. We support the development of effective national policies and frameworks, and we drive resources and political will toward prevention and rehabilitation efforts at the county and community level.

We work with platforms such as the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA), the Ministry of Health, and the Council of Governors to highlight the work of civil society and community leaders addressing substance abuse in their regions. We engage county assemblies, national ministries, and local government agencies to strengthen prevention policies and integrate rehabilitation into development plans.

Budget advocacy

Budget advocacy is a strategic approach to influence government and institutional budgets, ensuring they translate commitments on drug and substance abuse into real action.

Government budget allocations reflect political will. The decisions leaders make about funding prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation directly impact the lives of young people  their health, education, safety, and opportunities.

This is why we advocate for prevention, awareness, and treatment programmes to be properly planned, costed, and funded across sectors. We also push for transparent spending at national and county levels to ensure that resources reach communities  which is where our budget advocacy comes in.