Delivering Healthier Futures for Women, Children and Adolescents

What is the Role of Business?

#DeliverTheFuture

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Efforts to deliver a healthier future for the world’s most vulnerable women, children and adolescents are being severely hampered by global crises such as climate change, conflict, and the legacy of COVID-19.

VIDEO: Why is this a concern for business?

DOWNLOAD the Discussion Paper on the Role of Business in Delivering Healthier Futures for Women, Children and Young People

4.5 million

Over 4.5 million mothers and babies die each year from preventable conditions during pregnancy, birth or in the few weeks of life.

One death every Two minutes

Globally, a woman dies in childbirth on average every two minutes.

Investing in the health and rights of women, children and adolescents is a moral imperative, a human rights requirement and a key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.  

Access to family planning services, safe births, postnatal care and good nutrition have the power to transform the health and opportunities of millions of people. It is also a smart economic choice that spurs economic growth and nurtures prosperous societies. 

Despite this, there remains a severe funding gap which even before COVID-19 stood at an estimated $33bn per year globally. Now, over 60 countries are off-track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals’ targets for maternal, newborn and stillborn mortality reduction by 2030.

The collaboration

Business Fights Poverty partnered with the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents (GFF), in support of GFF’s #DeliverTheFuture campaign. 

Our collaboration asked, “What is the role of the private sector in supporting governments to deliver healthier futures for women, children and adolescents?” 

Between August and December 2023, we brought together a group of companies, policymakers, academics and civil society actors to explore key questions: 

  • What are the key trends, challenges and opportunities in improving maternal, child and adolescent health and combating preventable mortality in these groups? 
  • Why is maternal, child and adolescent health a business concern? 
  • How are companies innovating to improve maternal, child and adolescent health? 
  • How are businesses supporting government action, particularly through partnerships at the national level? 
  • How can we increase investment in improving maternal, child and adolescent health through creative financing models? 
  • How can businesses leverage their advocacy capabilities and networks to raise the profile of maternal, child and adolescent health and accelerate action? 

The collaboration provides practical insights, inspiring examples of positive action, and opportunities for connection between like-minded peers with an interest in this vital area. 

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Find out more about the Global Financing Facility

#DeliverTheFuture Campaign

Find out more about the overall campaign at the GFF website

Visit the Website

Watch the GFF Video

Check out the campaign video...

Watch the Video here

DELIVER THE FUTURE: INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

Catalyzing Opportunities for Women, Children and Adolescents

Download the investment opportunity here

FAQs

The health of women, children and adolescents is intrinsically linked to business’ current and future workforce. Women make up nearly 40% of the world’s labour force, and globally 60% of garment sector workers and 43% of agricultural workers are women. Good health and nutrition is an important foundation for children’s learning, and all businesses have a vested interest in ensuring young people are able to take full advantage of educational opportunities and learn skills for future employment.

Businesses are an essential partner for governments to develop stronger health systems that meet the specific needs of women, children and adolescents. 

Clearly, pharmaceutical companies and businesses that supply medical products and services are crucial to healthcare delivery and have a vital role to play, and the food and agriculture sectors are key to ensuring good nutrition.  

There are also opportunities for companies with technical expertise to help drive innovation; for education companies to help deliver information and training; for investors and philanthropic foundations to develop creative models of finance to help plug the funding gap; and for multinationals with operations in low and middle-income countries to partner at the national level in support of government action plans. 

Beyond this, all sectors can support the health of women, children and adolescents by working to support access to healthcare and health education for women and their families within their core operations and across their supply chains, as well as through philanthropic investments and leveraging their advocacy voice.

The GFF is a multistakeholder partnership housed in the World Bank. It was co-created in 2015 by the World Bank, health leaders, the United Nations, and civil society organisations in response to slow progress towards global health commitments, and high rates of maternal and child mortality in many countries. Its unique, country-led model of financing has been critical to accelerating health investments and spurring health progress and empowerment for women, children and adolescents in 36 low- and middle-income countries. To date, $2 billion has been committed to the Fund, unlocking over $32 billion of funds in partner countries. As a result of GFF’s catalytic investments and technical assistance:

  • 96 million women have received four or more antenatal care visits
  • 103 million women have delivered their babies safely
  • 111 million newborns have benefited from early initiation of breastfeeding
  • More than 500 million women have received access to modern family planning
  • 187 million unintended pregnancies prevented

Contact the Global Financing Facility here

Relevant Resources

EVENT RESOURCES

Hosted with the Global Financing Facility Discover the pivotal role of businesses in advancing health for women, children, and adolescents with The Global Financing Facility. Learn about the latest insights on how cross-sector collaboration and financial strategies are crafting healthier generations, and from practitioners on innovative approaches for impactful investment in global health systems. Speakers: Lilia Zakirova, Healthcare Public Policy Director, Eastern Europe Middle East and Africa, MSD Sneha Kanneganti, Private Sector Lead, Global Financing Facility Sue Tym, Social Impact Portfolio Senior Manager, Primark Ronald Wakhu, Senior Associate, Health Finance Coalition Maziko Matemba, Director, HREP-Malawi & Global GSOs Representative, GFF Investors Group Moderator: Annabel Beales, Collaboration Lead, Business Fights Poverty
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Driving Health Outcomes for Women and Children

Watch this Webinar with the Global Financing Facility to discover the pivotal role of businesses in advancing health for women, children, and adolescents. Speakers: Lilia Zakirova, Healthcare Public Policy Director, Eastern Europe Middle East and Africa, MSD Sneha Kanneganti, Private Sector Lead, Global Financing Facility Sue Tym, Social Impact Portfolio Senior Manager, Primark Ronald Wakhu, Senior Associate, Health Finance Coalition Maziko Matemba, Director, HREP-Malawi & Global GSOs Representative, GFF Investors Group Moderator: Annabel Beales, Collaboration Lead, Business Fights Poverty
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Delivering healthier futures for women children and young people

This discussion paper underscores the pivotal role of the private sector in improving the health of women, children, and young people, essential for sustainable and equitable development. It highlights the increasing demand for healthcare services and the innovative solutions needed to address global health crises. With insights from a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including businesses, governments, and civil society, the paper presents a framework for collaboration, emphasizing the urgency to bridge healthcare gaps and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. With the Global Financing Facility (GFF) and Business Fights Poverty.
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2024
Our online written discussion delved into the critical role businesses play in promoting the health and rights of women, children, and adolescents. The dialogue emphasized the urgent need for innovative and sustainable solutions to address the health challenges faced by these vulnerable groups. Key insights from the discussion highlighted the importance of leveraging core business capabilities, addressing healthcare accessibility, and strengthening primary healthcare systems. The event was part of Business Fights Poverty’s collaboration with the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children, and Adolescents (GFF) in support of GFF’s #DeliverTheFuture campaign.
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Share key Moments on Social Media

“🫱🏻‍🫲🏽 We’re teaming up with @theGFF & @gatesfoundation to pave a healthier path for women, children & adolescents. Be part of the #DeliverTheFuture movement here in various ways: https://snipbfp.org/GFF_BFP “
“🚨 Every 2 mins, a woman dies in childbirth. @theGFF are challenging this reality, partnering with businesses for change. Let’s take a stand and #DeliverTheFuture! 🌟”
“Why is the health of women, children, & adolescents a business issue? @theGFF aims to raise $800M, unlock potential USD $20.5bn, impact 250M in emerging economies. Explore the business case & find out how you can help #DeliverTheFuture: https://snipbfp.org/GFF_BFP”
“🍼 @Pampers & @UNICEF saved 1 million lives. 🩺 @Amref_Worldwide & @GSK empower health workers & combat TB/malaria. 🌸 @LaerdalGH @theGFF are supporting Safer Births to save 25k lives a year in Tanzania. We’re collaborating with @theGFF & @gatesfoundation to #DelivertheFuture: https://snipbfp.org/GFF_BFP”
“🤰🏽 4.5M mothers & babies die yearly, but #supplychain experts can help. This #SocialImpactPioneers podcast explores a powerful partnership between @theGFF, @MSDInvents for Mothers, @UPS Foundation & Mozambique.”
“🆕 REPORT: ‘Delivering healthier futures for women, children and adolescents: what is the role of business?’ is out now! A #DeliverTheFuture initiative by @theGFF, it explores how business enhances global healthcare via operations, philanthropy & advocacy. 🚀 Key levers: Inclusive innovation, strengthening primary care, & finance mobilisation to close a $33bn gap.”
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