Investments in the health of mothers and children are investments in long-term health and prosperity. They shape life outcomes from birth through adulthood through safer pregnancy and deliveries, proper nutrition, and protection from deadly childhood diseases. Maternal and child health investments are not only lifesaving; they are among the most cost-effective investments a government can make.
After decades of global support for mothers and children, many donor countries—including the United States—are scaling back budgets as they reevaluate the impact, sustainability, and effectiveness of their foreign aid.
As the US government redesigns its approach to foreign aid, PATH’s Center for Advocacy and Policy has published a paper detailing five ways to ensure future US investments continue saving the lives of moms and kids while aligning with American interests and values.
1. Focus on long-term sustainability
Lasting impact requires local ownership. US investments should align US foreign policy interests with partner country priorities and build capacity and accountability within local systems to ensure progress continues after US support ends. Future US programming must clearly communicate US priorities and establish a timeline of support—including co-financing strategies and graduation requirements to incentivize domestic resource mobilization—to support the development of local financing strategies for true sustainability.
2. Invest in proven, cost-effective interventions that make the dollar go further
As all countries consider how to do more with less, US funding should be focused on interventions that save the greatest number of lives while bringing the best value for money. Many maternal and child deaths are preventable, with proven interventions available that deliver a high impact at a very low cost, meaning policymakers can continue protecting decades of progress while more efficiently targeting US investments.
To maximize cost-efficiencies, health impact, and reach, these low-cost, high-impact interventions should be bundled where it makes sense. Instead of delivering one-off services, interventions can be combined into groups of evidence-based, context-specific “packages” that target the most common causes of death and illness at distinct life stages. An integrated approach to health services improves cost efficiencies, maximizes points of care, and makes each encounter more valuable for patients.
3. Engage the private sector and use innovative financing
To sustain US leadership in maternal, newborn, and child survival while streamlining the foreign assistance footprint, policymakers should prioritize strategic partnerships with the private sector and adopt innovative financing strategies that unlock new health investments and drive inclusive economic growth in low- and middle-income countries. Innovative approaches like those leveraged by the US International Development Finance Corporation can effectively blend public and private capital to de-risk investments to encourage private sector participation in high-impact development initiatives.
4. Improve reporting and data transparency
There should be no question about how US investments in saving moms and kids are spent. Reporting should be transparent, understandable, and easily accessible. Cost-effective and locally led data collection and reporting should be incorporated into US programming as part of an approach that prioritizes building capacity. Data collected should be used to guide evidence-based investment decisions, ensuring Congress can more effectively conduct oversight and appropriate funding to where it can have the greatest impact.
5. Leverage the potential of artificial intelligence
America needs a modern foreign assistance apparatus that leverages all available tools, including the 21st-century tools that can revolutionize care delivery. Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have the promising potential impact of facilitating a higher standard of care for mothers and their children, on a larger scale, often at a fraction of the price. In resource-limited settings, AI-powered tools can help health care providers more rapidly identify complications during pregnancy, optimize the inventory of essential medicines, and help predict infectious disease outbreaks. By enabling smarter, faster, and more efficient care, AI can be a force multiplier for US investments in maternal and child health.
Looking ahead
The United States has long stood for the protection of mothers and children around the world because it reflects American values and is a universal basis for stable, prosperous societies. As policymakers look toward the future of US foreign assistance, maternal, newborn, and child survival programs provide a smart, values-driven investment that advances American foreign policy interests and reflects the best of American leadership, generosity, and ingenuity.
