Germany leading the way in supporting maternal health in the most vulnerable countries

New York, UNITED NATIONS – The Government of Germany has committed a total of €12 million to UNFPA’s Maternal and Newborn Health Fund until 2027. This funding demonstrates Germany’s steadfast commitment to protect mothers and their babies, and reaffirms its trusted partnership with the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency.

The world has witnessed significant reductions in maternal mortality, which has fallen by 34 per cent globally since 2000. Yet data released by UNFPA and partners show deeply concerning trends: Since 2016, despite advancements in access to services and impressive reductions in maternal mortality in countries like Tanzania, Bangladesh and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, global progress has stalled. Some regions have even seen regression in the gains made in maternal and newborn health.

Approximately 800 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth – one woman every two minutes. Most of these deaths are entirely preventable. And women facing one or more forms of marginalization are more likely to experience poor sexual and reproductive health, maternal disability and even death.

Making motherhood safer is a human rights imperative.

As part of its commitment, Germany contributed €3.6 million to the Maternal and Newborn Health Fund in 2024 alone, demonstrating its role as a vital partner in addressing maternal health challenges. Additionally, Germany is the first donor to pledge funding for 2027, exemplifying its commitment to predictable, long-term financing that enables UNFPA to deliver sustainable results.

Thanks to support from partners, the Maternal and Newborn Health Fund has achieved significant impact on the ground, by working with governments, health experts, civil society and midwives to expand access to quality maternal health services. For example, in the East and Southern Africa region, the fund supported efforts to strengthen midwifery education and regulation across 14 countries, enabling the implementation of a standardized curriculum. Legal recognition of midwifery as a distinct profession from nursing was achieved in 14 countries, and 6 countries now have midwives serving as members of parliament. These efforts are empowering midwives – and saving lives.

In Senegal, the fund facilitated the establishment of a 24/7 emergency obstetric and newborn care network, which now covers 95 per cent of the population within a one-hour travel time. This initiative involved political advocacy, as well as the training and deployment of health workers, ensuring that timely, life-saving care is accessible to women and their newborns.

Germany’s trust in UNFPA’s ability to deliver results is reflected in its ongoing support for flexible thematic funding, which comes in addition to the country’s contribution to UNFPA’s core resources, which amounted to €42.5 million in 2024. These investments help millions of women and girls in fragile settings access critical maternal and reproductive health services. As we begin 2025, this funding will be instrumental in ensuring that UNFPA continues to champion sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.

About the Maternal and Newborn Health Fund:

The Maternal and Newborn Health Fund is UNFPA’s flagship programme to improve maternal and newborn health and well-being, providing catalytic support to ensure that every woman, adolescent girl and newborn has equitable and accountable access to quality sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health and rights. This pooled fund is supported by the governments of Germany, Sweden, Luxembourg, Belgium, France and Takeda Pharmaceuticals.