Country ownership as a guiding principle for IA2030: A case study of the measles and rubella elimination programs in Nepal and Nigeria

•Country ownership is one of the four guiding principles for the Immunization Agenda 2030.•There is little practical guidance on what country ownership is and how to operationalize it.•Measles and rubella programs are used to illustrate country ownership in operation.•Five elements of country ownership - commitment, coordination, capacity, community participation, and accountability - are described.•Our work is a useful guide for immunization program strategy development.