The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) are partnering to strengthen maternal health and drive economic growth across Africa.
The partnership was formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on the sidelines of the AfDB Annual Meetings in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, on Tuesday.
The agreement seeks to position maternal health and demographic resilience as key pillars of Africa’s economic transformation.
AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah said both organisations would explore innovative financing and implementation mechanisms to support investments in women and young people.
He said the areas of focus include digital training for health workers, climate-resilient health infrastructure, and stronger health information systems.
The Executive Director of UNFPA, Diene Keita, said Africa’s economic progress depends on investment in women’s health.
“Economic progress for Africa is only possible if we prioritise women’s health and address preventable maternal deaths,” she said.
Keita described the renewed partnership as a shared commitment to place maternal health and human capital development at the centre of Africa’s transformation agenda.
According to her, Africa has made significant progress in reducing maternal mortality, although major challenges remain.
She identified financing gaps, unequal healthcare access, and structural obstacles as key barriers affecting maternal healthcare delivery.
Since 1992, UNFPA and the AfDB have collaborated on strengthening health systems and supporting data-driven development across Africa.
Their interventions include improved maternal healthcare services in Cameroon and population data modernisation in Côte d’Ivoire.
The partnership has also supported reproductive health and climate adaptation programmes in Madagascar and other African countries.
The Annual Meetings, which opened on Monday, will close on Friday.
