Transforming multi-stakeholder engagement towards coproduction of optimized maternal, newborn, and child health and a resilient community health system in rural Ethiopia: A qualitative study

Our study reveals mixed policy and practice-related results, the current multi-stakeholder engagement is necessary but insufficient and fragmented to coproduce optimized MNCH outcomes and ensure a resilient health system in rural Ethiopia. Moving beyond the current multi-stakeholder engagement as a buzzword in health polices to practice through, embracing meaningful coproduction frameworks is fundamental while building on multi-stakeholder engagement efforts to optimize MNCH outcomes and a resilient community health system. A coproduction framework leverages the intersection and mutual reinforcement of multi-stakeholder synergy throughout the CHWs' program cycle through shared power and joint assessment, planning, implementing, decision making and evaluating. Fostering effective multi-stakeholder engagement synergy requires balanced shared power, alignment to community priorities, systemic mapping, coordination and monitoring, and continuum and sustainability of engagement strategies. Beyond donor initiatives and a dependency approach, proactive health diplomacy strategies are also important to sustain the existing and attract new actors to realize sustainable positive health outcomes and a resilient community health policy and strategy.