• Every two minutes, a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth—a grim reality that absolutely cannot be ignored.

• We must take urgent action to eliminate preventable maternal deaths and achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing global maternal mortality to fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.

• The World Economic Forum’s Global Activator Network on Maternal Health is committed to collaborating with governments worldwide to accelerate the development of country-specific solutions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that the theme for World Health Day on April 7, 2025, will be "Health Starts Here, Hope for the Future." This year, the focus will be squarely on addressing the urgent global priority of improving the health and survival rates of mothers and newborns. EachTwo minutesOne woman lost her life due to complications from pregnancy or childbirth. These heartbreaking figures represent not only personal tragedies but also highlight the profound impact on families and communities around the world.

The distance to realizationSustainable Development GoalsWith only five years remaining, we must prioritize essential healthcare coverage for mothers and newborns if we hope to close the target gap. Last year,World Health AssemblyMeanwhile, several countries with the highest maternal mortality rates have declared a maternal health emergency and adopted a resolution to accelerate action.

A weak healthcare system and a lack of basic health resources have resulted in persistently high maternal and newborn mortality rates. Globally64%Maternal and neonatal deaths occurred in 29 countries identified by the World Health Organization as being affected by humanitarian crises. Governments, non-governmental organizations, donors, development agencies, and the private sector must work together to take decisive action and address this critical maternal health emergency.

Overburdened in low-income and lower-middle-income countries

94%The maternal deaths mentioned above occurred in low-income and lower-middle-income countries. Women in these regions face numerous barriers to accessing quality healthcare services, including inadequate health infrastructure, a shortage of skilled medical professionals, and a lack of essential, high-quality medicines and equipment. Socioeconomic disparities—such as poverty, limited access to education, and poor living conditions—further exacerbate these challenges, perpetuating a vicious cycle of poor maternal health outcomes. Moreover, maternal health inequalities are not confined to developing economies alone.Within developed economiesMaternal and child health outcomes also vary due to differences in factors such as access to high-quality care and the extent of insurance coverage.

Multiple Crises: The Impact of Climate Change, Conflict, and Global Instability

Maternal and reproductive health is increasingly threatened by climate change, geopolitical conflicts, economic downturns, and ongoing epidemics. Climate-related disasters, such as extreme heat, canIncreased pregnancy complicationsThe risk of developing conditions such as gestational diabetes and hypertension. Additionally, climate disasters like floods or hurricanes can disrupt medical facilities and drug supplies, leading to increased maternal morbidity and mortality rates—and prolonging disruptions in healthcare services.

Over the past two decades, rising conflict incidents have left more than 70 million people displaced. This has also had a significant impact on maternal and reproductive health.Devastating impact, healthcare services in many regions have been severely disrupted, further widening health disparities. Conflict undermines the ability to effectively deliver medical care and conduct research on maternal and reproductive health. Additionally, financial and geopolitical instability, combined with harsh living conditions for displaced populations—often residing in remote areas—and high staff turnover rates, as well as insufficient investment, all pose significant barriers to protecting mothers and pregnant women.

Calls for accelerated action and innovation

To eliminate preventable maternal deaths and achieve the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing global maternal mortality to fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030, we must take urgent, innovative, and targeted actions. At the current rate of progress, more than 80% of countries will fail to meet these ambitious targets. To accelerate the ongoing decline in maternal mortality rates,NinefoldOnly then can we meet the standards. The good news is that even in environments facing humanitarian crises, there are affordable, high-quality, and reliable solutions available.

The World Economic Forum'sGlobal Initiative Network for Maternal and Child HealthIt is a catalytic initiative aimed at collaborating with governments and health authorities to accelerate the development of country-specific solutions. The initiative seeks to help nations achieve the Sustainable Development Goals through the following approaches:

• Foster effective public-private partnerships to drive systemic change in the field of maternal and reproductive health.

• Connecting global and local stakeholders, strengthening the regional ecosystem, and promoting evidence-based interventions that are both successful and effective.

• Facilitating the exchange of leadership, experiential learning, and best practices among nations.

Nigeria Leads the Way in Transformation

Nigeria has become the first country to join the Global Maternal Health Initiative Network, demonstrating its commitment to "Ending Maternal Mortality" and its strong desire to achieve this critical goal through cross-sectoral collaboration.

During the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting 2025, Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare partnered with the World Economic Forum.Signed a letter of intent, ensuring this commitment is officially recognized. Subsequently, the project was launched in March 2025 through a collaborative effort between Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and Ferring Pharmaceutical, marked by the organization of a scoping workshop. Hosted by the World Economic Forum, the workshop clearly outlined the key priorities for public-private-philanthropic partnerships aimed at addressing maternal health and mortality challenges in the country. Participants agreed to prioritize strengthening midwifery training, ensuring the availability of high-quality maternal health supplies, and leveraging advocacy, fundraising, and coordination as core drivers. Organizations from the private sector and civil society pledged to tackle these issues collectively via this platform, working together toward the shared goal of "Ending Maternal Mortality in Nigeria." Following the workshop, stakeholders are now actively conducting focus group interviews to bolster ecosystem development and effectively implement the outcomes of the initiative.

The Global Initiative Network is also reaching out to other potential member countries to jointly develop and map out a roadmap for ending preventable maternal deaths. The initiative network is expected to expand into India and Indonesia later this year.

Multiple challenges require solutions that involve multiple stakeholders.

To achieve sustainable progress in maternal and reproductive health, a comprehensive ecosystem approach is essential—one that brings together governments, private-sector partners, civil society organizations, and global health agencies to collectively drive meaningful change. The Global Network for Maternal Health Initiatives is committed to collaborating with national governments while leveraging the power of the private sector, which plays a critical role in scaling innovations, investing in life-saving maternal health commodities, and strengthening supply chains for essential medicines and technologies. At the same time, the Global Initiative Network serves as a vital bridge to civil society, ensuring effective implementation and equitable access. Together, these efforts aim to co-design community-centered solutions for maternal health that seamlessly integrate into healthcare systems—and are ultimately fueled by people-centered, systemic transformations.