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Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Nutrition International and partners launch NOURISH to accelerate maternal health and nutrition across Africa
With catalytic support from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, NOURISH brings together governments, Nutrition International and other global partners to advance country-led action that strengthens antenatal care systems and expands access to lifesaving micronutrients for pregnant women across Africa.
Posted on February 13, 2026
Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA — Across Africa, governments are embedding maternal nutrition within national health priorities and strengthening antenatal care (ANC) as part of broader health system reforms — a focus taking centre stage at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, where leaders are convening to drive collective action on nutrition, health and development. Building on this momentum, Nutrition International has officially launched NOURISH (Nurture the ecosystem, Optimise the market, Unlock financing, Reinforce ANC platforms, Integrate and Scale MMS and Calcium for Healthy Futures), a multi-country initiative supported by an initial USD $54M investment from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), designed to catalyze increased government-led financing and support country-led efforts across the continent.
As health systems face increasing strain — with gains in maternal nutrition and child survival beginning to stall in some settings — governments are seeking more coordinated, system-strengthening approaches to sustain and accelerate progress. Led by Nutrition International as consortium lead and technical steward, NOURISH brings together partners, including UNICEF and Sight and Life, to align strategic financing, technical expertise and service delivery behind national leadership. The initiative reinforces ANC platforms across eight select countries, beginning with Ethiopia and Rwanda, while laying the groundwork for the future integration of calcium supplementation.
“We’re proud to support NOURISH, a partnership which will embed nutrition with stronger public health systems and support country leadership, so improvements can be sustained and embedded over time.
— Richard Matikanya, Deputy Executive Director of Africa, CIFF
“Nutrition is the foundation of good health for individuals, and strengthening nutrition for mothers and children is the foundation of a flourishing society. To ensure [they] have access to the nutrition they need, we need long-term, sustainable solutions,” said Richard Matikanya, Deputy Executive Director of Africa, CIFF. “That’s why we’re proud to support NOURISH, a partnership which will embed nutrition with stronger public health systems and support country leadership, so improvements can be sustained, expanded and embedded over time.”
Global evidence shows that antenatal multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) — a daily supplement delivering 15 essential vitamins and minerals during pregnancy — is as effective as iron and folic acid supplementation (IFAS) in preventing maternal nutrition and more effective at improving birth outcomes. Nutrition interventions such as these are particularly critical in sub-Saharan Africa, where maternal anaemia affects roughly one in three pregnant women and low birthweight remains a leading contributor to newborn mortality.
“When women have access to the right nutrition during pregnancy, the benefits ripple far beyond a single birth, improving child survival and lifelong health.
— Joel Spicer, President and CEO, Nutrition International
Across participating countries, governments have already been strengthening ANC platforms, improving service quality and advancing domestic financing for maternal nutrition. NOURISH accelerates these efforts by aligning partners, financing and market approaches behind national plans, helping ensure pregnant women can reliably access proven interventions through routine services.
“When women have access to the right nutrition during pregnancy, the benefits ripple far beyond a single birth, improving child survival and lifelong health” said Joel Spicer, President and CEO, Nutrition International. “African governments are already advancing maternal nutrition and ANC reforms. Through NOURISH, we are bringing partners, financing and evidence together in a more coordinated way to reinforce that leadership and scale.”
From 2025 to 2030, NOURISH is expected to mobilize up to an additional USD $54M in sustainable, government-led financing, strengthening countries’ ability to independently plan, implement and scale maternal nutrition interventions. Over this period, the initiative aims to reach at least four million women directly and benefit more than seven million additional women indirectly through strengthened health services.
NOURISH reflects a collective commitment by governments, philanthropic partners and implementing organizations to new ways of working together — strengthening health systems, improving maternal and newborn outcomes, and securing healthier beginnings for women and their babies across Africa.
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