Demand generation strategies must consider gender concerns when designing messages as gender affects access to information, health services and economic resources.  Well-designed demand generation strategies will direct messages to clearly defined target audiences, considering the appropriate timing, location and call to action for each audience.  Gender directly impacts where and when target audiences are exposed to messages, and how the audience is able to respond to the messages.

The most successful demand generation interventions are those that are grounded in sound behavioral and communication theory. But while theory and frameworks are commonly used to guide the design of health messaging content, the same is not always the case for the selection of the media through which those messages are conveyed.

The use of ICT and new media shows huge potential in increasing demand and utilization of the commodities. However, there is limited evidence of e- and m-health interventions from low-resource settings. While SMS reminders are a common intervention, there is less known about what other interventions have been, or are currently, being implemented, what their challenges and successes have been, and what (preliminary) results they have shown. Furthermore, there has been a call for mHealth interventions to be guided by behavior change theory yet limited literature exists to document projects that have explicitly used these theories. There is a need to capture and disseminate evidence being generated in programs that is not reported in the literature.

Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) are an effective way to increase resources, expand revenue streams, increase visibility and expand credibility for demand generation programs.  Successful partnerships are engaging and mutually beneficial for both parties and consider the other partner’s relative comparative strengths.  Each partner brings expertise to the table, but also each has constraints and competing demands, as well as opportunities to be explored.