dyton mupawaenda
Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
IN a landmark move to tackle one of Africa’s most pressing health challenges, Delta Philanthropies and a powerful coalition of global partners have launched the Beginnings Fund, a US$600 million initiative aimed at transforming maternal and newborn healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The initiative is set to save more than 300 000 lives and improve healthcare access for 34 million mothers and babies by 2030.
“This fund represents a powerful demonstration of our collective commitment to invest in a critical area of global health that, despite being where life begins, remains severely underfunded,” said Mrs Tsitsi Masiyiwa, board chair of Delta Philanthropies at the launch event in Abu Dhabi. “Through this collaboration, we are turning shared pain into purposeful action that will benefit generations to come.”
The fund is being backed by leading philanthropic organisations including the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, the ELMA Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation.
The focus will be on ten countries in Sub-Saharan Africa where maternal and newborn mortality rates are among the highest: Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. In Sub-Saharan Africa, complications during childbirth continue to claim the lives of 182 000 women and 1,2 million newborns every year, in addition to 950 000 stillbirths — all largely preventable with access to trained healthcare workers and basic medical care.
“Never have we witnessed such a concerted effort by donors, national governments and other partners in collaborating to reduce maternal and infant mortality in Africa,” said Mrs Tanya Masiyiwa, president and chief executive officer of Delta Philanthropies.
“The Beginnings Fund will amplify our impact and save more lives. We hope that other African philanthropic organisations can join us on this important journey.”
Delta Philanthropies is building on a strong foundation of impact. In Zimbabwe, through its work with the Higherlife Foundation, it has supported maternal health initiatives for over six years. This includes equipping hospitals with life-saving medical tools, training frontline health professionals and implementing innovations like the Kangaroo Mother Care unit at Harare’s Mbuya Nehanda Maternity Ward. Between 2020 and 2023, these efforts contributed to a 21 percent reduction in maternal deaths and an 11percent decrease in neonatal deaths across 16 referral hospitals.
Beyond healthcare, the Higherlife Foundation has made a significant mark on education, supporting over 2 million children in the past 29 years with scholarships, digital learning tools, and skills development programmes designed to help Africa’s youth reach their full potential.
The launch of the Beginnings Fund signals a powerful shift in global health investment priorities and highlights what is possible when purpose meets partnership.
“This is not just about funding: it is about reshaping the future of African families. And the future starts now,” said one health official.
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