Survive and Thrive

Maternal, newborn, and child health is the cornerstone of effective international development. Expanding critical health services that address all health needs for mothers, babies, and children – including immunisation, nutrition, and primary health care – has supported millions to not just survive, but to thrive.

But now progress for mothers, babies, and children around the world is at risk due to extreme poverty, spiraling national debt in low-income countries, climate change, and an increasing number of emergencies and conflicts. This is made more acute by donor countries reducing Official Development Assistance (ODA), including proposed cuts to UK aid to just 0.3% of Gross National Income (GNI) by 2027.

To avoid the worst impacts of these cuts, the UK’s next chapter in international development must be based on evidence of what has most impact for communities and countries, as well as the UK’s unique strengths.

This report analyses UK policy, financial, and programmatic contributions to the global maternal, newborn, and child health agenda over the past decade (2016–2023), showcasing strengths and making recommendations for how the government should now reinvigorate their approach in a way that harnesses UK comparative advantage and builds on hard-won gains.