UNFPA and the M-Pesa Foundation have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at transforming maternal and newborn health care in Kenya. Through a newly signed MoU, the two entities will combine resources and expertise to reduce maternal mortality and improve care for mothers and babies in vulnerable regions.
Highlights
- UNFPA and M-Pesa Foundation sign MoU to improve maternal and child health.
- Focus on upgrading maternity facilities, emergency care, and free surgeries.
- Builds on successful past projects in Kisumu, Vihiga, and Migori.
- Partnership targets underserved areas and strengthens referral systems.
- Health worker training and mobile solutions included in rollout plan.
Main Story
In a bid to tackle maternal and neonatal mortality, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and M-Pesa Foundation have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to formalize a long-term partnership. The agreement seeks to increase access to quality maternal health services across Kenya, particularly in counties with limited resources.
This collaboration builds upon a series of impactful health projects previously spearheaded by the M-Pesa Foundation. Notable among them are the 65-bed maternal unit in Migori, a KSh 60 million maternity complex in Vihiga, and an ongoing maternal health facility in Kisumu. Each of these facilities was developed to reduce patient backlogs, improve maternal outcomes, and enhance neonatal care.
The joint efforts will focus on comprehensive maternal health interventions. These include construction and refurbishment of maternity units, provision of mobile medical transport, fistula repair surgeries, and improved emergency referral systems. Additionally, the MoU aims to strengthen community-level health promotion and ensure more women deliver in well-equipped health centres.
As part of the rollout, the initiative will involve training for midwives and clinical staff to handle complex obstetric cases. This move is expected to reduce delays in care, one of the leading contributors to maternal deaths in rural Kenya.
UNFPA Kenya noted that the partnership is aligned with its mission to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. The M-Pesa Foundation echoed this vision, expressing its commitment to use technology and infrastructure to reach mothers who are often left behind.
When global agencies and local innovators come together, the result is more than a partnership — it’s a lifeline for mothers and babies who deserve safe, dignified care.
