Geneva, May 31, 2026 – Eight countries have pledged more than $175 million to expand access to contraceptives and reproductive, maternal, and newborn health supplies, announced during the 79th World Health Assembly. The commitments come at a critical time, as global funding cuts threaten progress in women’s health programmes.
Ethiopia, Ghana, and Honduras together committed over $152 million across the next three years, while Nigeria pledged more than $1 million for maternal health medicines. Senegal announced $886,000 for contraceptives and plans to scale up the E‑MOTIVE approach to detect life‑threatening bleeding after childbirth. Zambia pledged $7.5 million for reproductive health supplies and an additional $4.5 million for last‑mile distribution to reach women in remote areas.
European partners Belgium and Luxembourg each contributed $4 million to the UNFPA Supplies Partnership, reinforcing international solidarity. Anne Goedert, Luxembourg’s Permanent Representative to the UN, stressed the importance of collective action: “We must act collectively to protect and expand access to life‑saving health commodities.”
The pledges arrive amid a looming $185 million funding gap in contraceptive supplies projected for 2026. According to UNFPA, more than 700 women die daily from preventable pregnancy and childbirth complications, underscoring the urgency of sustained investment.
Since 2020, domestic investment in contraceptives and maternal health supplies has increased more than sixfold across 54 programme countries. Several of the new commitments will be matched dollar‑for‑dollar through the UNFPA Supplies Partnership Match Fund and the Maternal and Newborn Health Commodities Accelerator, amplifying their impact.
This collective push highlights a renewed global effort to strengthen women’s health systems, reduce maternal mortality, and ensure equitable access to essential reproductive health supplies.
