NAIROBI — A new partnership between the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the M-Pesa Foundation aims to improve maternal and newborn healthcare across Kenya, focusing on regions with limited access to quality services.
The two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday, launching a joint effort to address Kenya’s persistent maternal and neonatal health challenges. The collaboration prioritizes emergency obstetric care, skilled birth attendance, and treatment for conditions such as obstetric fistula.
The agreement comes amid alarming maternal and newborn mortality rates. Kenya currently reports 355 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and 21 neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births, according to the latest health data. These figures are particularly high in arid regions and urban informal settlements, where hospitals remain under-resourced and many mothers cannot access lifesaving care.
“This partnership is about reaching the women and children who have long been overlooked,” said Anders Thomsen in a statement on behalf of UNFPA Kenya. “We are working to remove the barriers that prevent access to quality care, regardless of geography or income.”
M-Pesa Foundation Chairman Nicholas Ng’ang’a emphasized the importance of targeting healthcare interventions where they are most urgently needed. “We’re proud to partner with UNFPA to improve maternal, newborn, and child health. We believe this will help restore dignity to women and girls who face the highest health risks,” Ng’ang’a said.
Under the MoU, UNFPA and the M-Pesa Foundation will also advocate for policy reforms and encourage the involvement of community stakeholders. The agreement outlines plans to expand digital health tools and engage private sector players to help finance improved maternal and child health services.
According to the terms, both parties will mobilize resources, support community-driven healthcare models, and scale up prevention and treatment programs. One major area of focus will be on the treatment and elimination of obstetric fistula, a condition linked to prolonged and obstructed labor that still affects women in remote areas.
The MoU also seeks to introduce private-public partnerships to fund maternal health infrastructure and programs across the country.
This agreement comes at a time when national and county governments are under pressure to fix gaps in healthcare access. The partnership will support Kenya’s broader goal to reduce maternal and child mortality and meet its national targets under the Sustainable Development Goals.
