Maternal Health Task Force POPPHI Working Group Meeting, Washington DC, April 6, 2009

Background July–November 2008: –Advancing Maternal Health: Action, Architecture, Engagement Meeting convened by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) seeking input on the development of a new coordinating and convening entity to advance maternal health agendas globally –BMGF invited EngenderHealth to submit a proposal to host the new entity (approved in Nov. 2008)

Background November 2008–February 2009: –Convened EngenderHealth Internal Advisory Group –Retained consultants –Officially announced MHTF and survey sent to broad base of stakeholders –Conducted interviews with small number of critical partners –Recruited Director of the MHTF project –Developed draft Terms of Reference –Launched at meeting in DC, February

A Unique and Valuable Opportunity to: –Add to the momentum already underway to position maternal health as a global and country level priority –Bring advocacy & policy, research & evidence, and application & evaluation closer together –Advance the global and country- level maternal health agendas and, therefore, contribute to improving maternal health

Challenges –Avoid unnecessary duplication –Elicit active participation of partners –Closely involve developing country organizations –Engage new players –Meet the unique requirements of a very diverse community –Prove value and impact within three-year project span. –Sustain the focus on maternal health beyond life of current project

Vision The MHTF aims to be a far-reaching, diverse, and dynamic community using evidence-based approaches to move the maternal health agendas forward

Core Values The MHTF will: –Add value without overlapping or competing with existing initiatives –Proactively involve developing country colleagues and organizations –Operate collaboratively, transparently and inclusively –Foster innovation, flexibility, respect for differences, and a willingness to compromise –Communicate frequently with a broad community of partners –Recognize and celebrate all participants’ accomplishments

Overarching Goal Build common, evidence-based agendas in…  research and evidence  application and evaluation  advocacy and policy …to advance maternal health at the global and country levels

Objective 1 and Project Activities Objective 1: To provide an inclusive, collaborative, and vibrant space for dialogue and consensus building on maternal health agendas –Identify and engage current stakeholders and new participants –Give a stronger voice to national organizations and individuals –Create face-to-face and virtual spaces of encounter

Objective 2 and Project Activities Objective 2: To guide identification of critical areas of debate and gaps in the maternal health field, and establish effective mechanisms to address them –Offer a safe and objective space for reaching consensus –Collect existing evidence to support an objective dialogue –Commission strategic research – Develop systematic reviews and knowledge management tools – Compile and conduct new case studies and examine lessons learned

Objective 3 and Project Activities Objective 3: To stimulate new thinking, approaches, and action to improve maternal health – Involve experts in fields traditionally not linked to maternal health – Develop innovative, engaging and relevant information sharing and knowledge management platforms – Stimulate novel approaches to advance the maternal health agenda – Establish a program for young champions in maternal health to identify and nurture a new cadre of professionals

Objective 4 and Project Activities Objective 4: To compile and develop instruments to empower constituents to carry out maternal health agendas –Compile existing effective and relevant tools –Develop priority and pertinent new tools –Disseminate a set of pragmatic, evidence-based, and user-friendly tools that provide clear and comprehensive guidelines on how to deal with challenges at the country and global levels

Next Steps –Finalize TOR –Establish the mechanisms required for collaboration and operation of the MHTF –Finalize work plan for the balance of year one –Recruit rest of MHTF team –Start implementation

Thank you !