Policy gaps and funding shortages have long been major hurdles in advancing maternal, newborn, and child health across Africa. Experts are converging in Nairobi, Kenya, to discuss policy and domestic financing strategies for improved healthcare outcomes. The high-level dialogue, themed "Shaping the Future of MNCH Policy and Health Financing for Healthier Mothers and Newborns," will bring together policymakers, civil society leaders, donors, researchers, and the media.
The meeting, scheduled for 24 March at the EDGE Convention Centre, is a side event at the International Maternal Newborn Health Conference 2026. It is being convened by the SMART Advocacy for Strategic Action Alliance in collaboration with various partner organisations. These include SAMASHA Medical Foundation, Health NGOs Network, Reproductive Health Network Kenya, and International Centre for Reproductive Health, among others.
Progress in maternal and newborn health remains uneven, with financing gaps and weak accountability systems hindering momentum. The dialogue aims to identify practical pathways for accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals related to maternal and newborn survival. With countries facing increasing financial constraints, the meeting will focus on strategies to sustain and scale investments in maternal and newborn health.
The meeting highlights the pressing need for policymakers to address the financing gaps and weak accountability systems hindering progress in maternal and newborn health. The SMART Advocacy for Strategic Action Alliance and its partners are right to spotlight country-led advocacy experiences and financing priorities from various African nations. However, it is crucial that these efforts are translated into concrete policy changes and sustained investments in healthcare. The fate of millions of mothers and newborns hangs in the balance, and it is the responsibility of governments and international partners to ensure that they have access to quality healthcare. The meeting is a critical step toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, but it is only the beginning – what comes next is what truly matters.
