The sustainable development goals (SDGs) and updated Global strategy for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (2016–2030) call upon countries and the global community to transform health systems and society. ^{1 , 2} Additional investments in women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health are essential to achieve the ambitious agenda that has been set. Support for nationally-identified reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health priorities needs to be better coordinated and new mechanisms, such as the Global Financing Facility, need to be used to expand domestic financing and attract additional resources. ^{3 , 4} The relevant global frameworks have to be translated into actions at the country level and, for this, the lessons learnt from previous engagement with individual countries may give useful guidance.