Every Woman Every Child

Every Woman Every Child
Name	Every Woman Every Child
Formation	2010
Founder	Ban Ki-moon
Type	Global health initiative
Focus	Women's health, child health, adolescent health
Headquarters	New York City, United States
Parent organization	United Nations
Website	https://www.everywomaneverychild.org/

Every Woman Every Child is a global multi-stakeholder movement launched by the United Nations to intensify action on improving the health of women, children, and adolescents worldwide. It mobilizes and aligns commitments from governments, the private sector, civil society, and other partners to address the leading causes of mortality and inequity. The initiative is a driving force behind the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, aiming to achieve the ambitious targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Overview

The movement operates as a platform for accelerating progress on sexual and reproductive health, maternal health, newborn health, child health, and adolescent well-being. It champions a continuum of care approach, emphasizing the interlinked health needs from pregnancy through childhood and adolescence. Central to its mission is the reduction of preventable deaths, with a focus on regions with the highest burdens, such as Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The initiative strongly advocates for gender equality, human rights, and universal health coverage as foundational pillars for sustainable health outcomes.

History and launch

Every Woman Every Child was launched in September 2010 by then-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon during the United Nations Millennium Development Goals summit. Its creation was a direct response to lagging progress on MDG 4 (reduce child mortality) and MDG 5 (improve maternal health). The initial Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health garnered over $40 billion in commitments from a wide array of stakeholders, including the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In 2015, the strategy was updated and expanded to include adolescents, aligning with the new era of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the UN General Assembly.

Key initiatives and programs

The movement encompasses and catalyzes numerous flagship programs and partnerships. These include the EWEC Global Financing Facility, a partnership supporting country-led investments in health systems, and the Innovation Marketplace, which scales up promising health technologies. It also drives the Accountability Panel and the Independent Accountability Mechanism to track commitments and results. Key campaign focuses have included the Every Newborn Action Plan, the Global Strategy to End Child Marriage, and efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis through integrated service delivery.

Governance and partners

Governance is steered by the United Nations Secretary-General’s office, with operational support from a secretariat housed within the World Health Organization in Geneva. A core feature is its multi-stakeholder partnership model, engaging entities like UNICEF, the United Nations Population Fund, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Leadership groups, such as the High-Level Steering Group, include representatives from member states like Canada, Ethiopia, and Norway, as well as leaders from pharmaceutical companies, academic institutions like the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and advocacy groups such as Save the Children.

Impact and achievements

Reported achievements include contributing to a significant decline in global maternal mortality and under-five mortality rates since 2010. The movement has helped mobilize resources for health workforce training, the expansion of child immunization programs, and increased access to modern contraceptives in priority countries. Its accountability frameworks have improved data collection and reporting, exemplified by the annual Progress Report presented at events like the World Health Assembly. The initiative has also elevated political attention to issues like nutrition, mental health, and the health impacts of climate change within the global development agenda.

Criticism and challenges

Critics have pointed to challenges in measuring the direct impact of the broad movement versus its constituent programs, and occasional fragmentation among partners. Some non-governmental organizations have raised concerns about the influence of the private sector within partnerships, particularly regarding intellectual property and access to affordable medicines. Persistent challenges include health inequities exacerbated by conflict, as seen in Yemen and Syria, and health system weaknesses that hinder progress in nations like Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ensuring sustained financing and navigating complex political landscapes remain ongoing tests for the initiative's long-term success.

Category:United Nations organizations Category:Global health initiatives Category:Women's health organizations Category:2010 establishments