The Government of Kenya and the Beginnings Fund have signed a five-year cooperative agreement backed by USD 80 million (approximately KSh10.4 billion) to expand access to quality maternal and newborn healthcare across 21 high-burden counties, in a move expected to save more than 46,000 lives by 2031.
The agreement, signed on Monday through the Ministry of Health, marks the formal launch of one of the country’s largest philanthropic partnerships dedicated to improving maternal and newborn survival. The programme will strengthen services in approximately 200 high-volume health facilities and is expected to benefit nearly 5.9 million women and newborns over the next five years.
The investment comes as Kenya continues to grapple with high rates of preventable maternal and neonatal deaths despite notable improvements in healthcare. Current estimates place maternal mortality at 355 deaths per 100,000 live births, while neonatal mortality stands at 21 deaths per 1,000 live births and stillbirths at 19 per 1,000 births.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale said the success of the partnership would depend on swift implementation rather than the signing of agreements.
“Frameworks or agreements do not save lives. Implementation does,” Duale said, urging all implementing partners to move quickly from planning to execution. He noted that delays in procurement or programme activities could translate into preventable deaths among mothers and newborns.
“The measure of success will not be the amount of money disbursed, the number of meetings held, or the volume of reports produced. Success will be measured by reductions in maternal deaths, reductions in newborn deaths, reductions in stillbirths, stronger health systems, and greater public confidence in our healthcare services,” he said.
The Beginnings Fund, a philanthropic initiative that pools catalytic funding to improve maternal and newborn health across Africa, will support Kenya’s efforts by investing in frontline health workers, essential medicines and technologies, referral systems, and health information systems. The programme is designed to improve the quality of maternal and newborn care while strengthening the country’s health system.
According to the Fund, its investment will complement financing from both national and county governments, reinforcing Kenya’s government-led approach to improving maternal and newborn health.
Alice Kang’ethe, Chief Executive Officer of the Beginnings Fund, said the partnership reflects the organization’s belief that sustainable progress is achieved when governments lead and partners align behind national priorities.
“We are honoured to partner with the Government of Kenya in advancing its vision for maternal and newborn health,” Kang’ethe said. “Our role is to provide catalytic support that strengthens the people, products and systems needed to deliver quality care, building on the leadership, expertise and commitment that already exists within Kenya’s health system.”
The initiative aligns with several national health priorities, including Every Woman Every Newborn Everywhere (EWENE) Acceleration Plan, the Maternal and Newborn Health Rapid Results Initiative, Universal Health Coverage reforms, and Taifa Care.
Kenya becomes one of the first countries to formally launch a partnership under the Beginnings Fund, joining Malawi, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Lesotho and Nigeria in implementing the Fund’s maternal and newborn health programme across Africa.
The Beginnings Fund is backed by a coalition of philanthropic organisations, including the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, the Gates Foundation, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), Delta Philanthropies and The ELMA Foundation.
Acting Director General of the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, Dr. Shamma Khalifa Al Mazrouei, said strengthening health systems remains critical to preventing avoidable maternal and newborn deaths.
“Every birth should be a moment of hope, yet every day mothers and newborns die from causes we know how to prevent,” she said. “By working alongside governments and partners to strengthen the health workforce and equip health facilities with the tools needed to deliver quality maternal and newborn care, we can help ensure more mothers and babies receive the care they need when they need it most.”
CIFF Executive Director Faustina Fynn-Nyame described the agreement as a major milestone in Kenya’s efforts to improve maternal and newborn survival, while Gates Foundation Africa Director Dr. Paulin Basinga said the partnership demonstrates what can be achieved when government leadership is matched with catalytic investment to expand access to lifesaving care.
Health officials expect the programme to contribute to preventing an estimated 46,494 maternal and newborn deaths by 2031, while strengthening referral networks, improving access to essential medical commodities and building a more resilient healthcare system capable of delivering quality care for mothers and newborns across Kenya.