Nuru Ya Vijana Project
OMMI Project
Genesis Project
The GBVRC program
PMA Agile Phase 2 Gender / GBV Study
Stawisha Pwani
Exemplars in Family Planning
UNFPA Projects

Introduction

The Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) and the Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality (EPMM) frameworks were introduced in 2014 and 2015, respectively, providing specific guidelines and targets for reducing maternal and newborn mortality rates, including stillbirths. These initiatives aim to support countries in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly goals 3.1, 3.2, and 3.7, which focus on reducing maternal and child mortality and advancing sexual and reproductive health. ENAP and EPMM share complementary strategic objectives, coverage targets, and milestones.

Despite global progress in reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths, high rates of maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality persist. Globally, there is an urgent but under-recognized crisis leading to 4.5 million maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths annually4 and the required pace of action to accelerate progress towards maternal and newborn Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is nine times faster to reduce maternal mortality, three times faster for stillbirths, four times faster for newborn mortality, and four times faster for children aged 1-59 months5. Maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality remains an important public health challenge in Kenya, with a maternal mortality rate (MMR) of 355 per 100,000 live births (2019 Census)3 and neonatal mortality rate (NMR) of 21 per 1,000 live births6. With less than six years remaining to achieve the SDG target of MMR at 70 per 100,000 live births and NMR at 12 per 1,000 live births by 20307, Kenya is significantly off-track. In 2013, the Kenyan Constitution established a devolved system of government designed to improve access to health services for all Kenyans, particularly those in remote and underserved areas. With this shift towards devolution, the approach to implementing health policies also changed. While some policy issues like policy formulation are still managed at national level, the execution of health policies now takes place at the county level, involving local policymakers and health officials more directly in the process. Currently, there is need for momentum to accelerate maternal and child survival at both national and county levels.

The World Health Assembly Agenda 11.7 emphasizes six actions to reduce unacceptably high maternal, newborn and child deaths that include prioritization, standardization and improvement of data flows and use of national and subnational data for policy and programmatic decisions to improve the quality of health care delivered, and to reduce inequities and drive local change.

The Challenges OMMI Project will address:

While Kenya made progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), it did not achieve targets 4 and 5, focusing on reducing child mortality and improving maternal health. Now, under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Kenya faces a similar challenge. With six years remaining to achieve the SDG targets for 2030, the country is not on track. This indicates a continued need for focused efforts to address these critical health issues.


  1. Improving maternal and newborn health and survival and reducing stillbirth: progress report 2023. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2023
  2. WHA Agenda Item 11.7 – Accelerate progress towards reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality in order to achieve SDG targets 3.1 and 3.2
  3. Kenya Demographic Health Survey, 2022.
  4. Countdown to 2030 Collaboration. Countdown to 2030: tracking progress towards universal coverage for reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health. Lancet. 2018;391(10129):1538–48. 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30104-1

 

Project Strategic Goals:

  1. Increased Quantity and Quality of Domestic Funding for MNCH at National and Sub-National Levels in Priority Geographies (2024–2027).
  2. Increased Adoption of Policies That Enable Scaling for Women’s and Child Health Best Buys in Priority Geographies (2024–2027).
  3. Improved Execution of Policies Prioritizing Women’s and Child Health in Priority Geographies (2024–2027)

Project Outcomes

  1. Implementing partners and donors at county level are better coordinated around priority interventions to accelerate maternal and child survival including nutrition.
  2. ENAP/EPMM priorities including lifesaving bundles and products included in county workplans and budgets.
  3. Better facility financial flows + spend for ENAP/ EPMM priorities.
  4. National guidelines on healthy pregnancy (POCUS), PPH and newborn bundles advanced into routine care/Preservice Curriculum.
  5. Health managers use data for performance management to improve quality of MNCH.
  6. Local communities/groups lead accountability efforts for improving maternal and child survival including MPDSR and follow-on actions by decision makers.
  7. Grassroots champions link with national and regional champions and drive conversations that accelerate and put maternal and child survival on the political and technical agendas.
  8. County issue salience on nutrition, maternal and child survival included in broader county agendas and influence decision making.

 

Theory of Change

Donor: Gates Foundation.

Period: 3 years (2024 to 2027).

Implementing Partner:

Other Partners:

  1. Ushiriki Wema
  2. E4A,
  3. KOGs
  4. KMTC,
  5. Lwala Community Alliance,
  6. County Youth RH Networks,
  7. Shina Foundation, Fountain of Hope,
  8. FANIKISHA,
  9. Ollwi/Touch a Life,
  10. WPWD,
  11. Wanahabari

 

Key Stakeholders                          

National 

Counties

  1. Garissa
  2. Kilifi
  3. Homa Bay
  4. Nakuru
  5. Muranga
  6. Kisumu
  7. Nairobi
  8. Kakamega
  9. Bungoma
  10. Kwale
  11. Migori
  12. Kisumu

 

Contact Person


Dr. Susan Ontiri, Country Director, ICRHK
Head Office: Tudor office, next to MM & MV Shah Academy and Ngala House, Mombasa
Nairobi Office: Starwood Apartments, Argwings Kodhek Road, Nairobi
Email: sontiri@icrhk.org
Tel: +254707639688