Donors have pledged more than $800 million to launch a new investment round for the Global Financing Facility (GFF), a World Bank–hosted partnership aimed at accelerating reductions in maternal and child deaths.
The GFF announced $806 million in new commitments from governments and philanthropic partners in support of its five-year TRANSFORM 2030 strategy, unveiled on the sidelines of the World Bank Group–IMF Spring Meetings.
“The case is clear: investing in women, children and adolescents builds human capital, reduces poverty, and creates jobs and lasting prosperity,” said Mamta Murthi, Vice President for People at the World Bank Group and Chair of the GFF Trust Fund Committee. “With its new strategy, a fully funded GFF will help partner countries deliver lifesaving care to hundreds of millions of people twice as fast.”
The pledges mark more than 80% of the GFF’s $1 billion fundraising target for 2026, with additional contributions expected in the coming months.
Launched in 2015, the GFF supports countries to scale proven health and nutrition interventions through national systems. Under its new strategy, the partnership plans to expand from 36 to 50 high-burden countries between 2026 and 2030, leveraging an estimated $12.5 billion in World Bank financing, $17.8 billion from partners, and $21.4 billion in domestic resources.
The initiative is expected to contribute to the World Bank’s broader goal of reaching 1.5 billion people with quality, affordable health services by 2030.
Major contributors to the new funding round include Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, the Gates Foundation, and the Laerdal Scale-Up Fund.
Hon. Reem Alabali Radovan, Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, said the investment reflects a commitment to gender equality and health rights. “All women and girls everywhere must be able to make their own decisions about their bodies and futures. Investing in health and gender equality is key to realizing this fundamental human right,” she said.
The funding includes targeted investments in innovation and health commodities. A $250 million Sustainable Commodities Access Program aims to expand access to essential medical supplies and address supply chain bottlenecks, while a $15 million innovation challenge will support the scale-up of the Safer Births Bundle of Care in 10 countries.
Dr. Ayoade Alakija, Nigeria’s Ministerial Global Envoy on antimicrobial resistance and a GFF partner, said the initiative comes at a critical time as countries face mounting pressures on health systems.
Hon. Dr. Austin Demby, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health and Sanitation and Chair of the GFF Ministerial Network, described the funding as a step toward long-term sustainability. “The GFF is an essential partner as countries strive to move from donor dependency to domestic sustainability,” he said. “Its catalytic model helps maximize every dollar toward high-impact health priorities.”
Countries benefiting from the GFF have reported significant gains, including reductions in maternal and child mortality and improvements in child nutrition.
Kate Hampton, CEO of the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, said improving access to essential supplies remains critical. “To support country leadership, we need to remove practical barriers, including limited access to essential commodities,” she said.
Anita Zaidi, President of the Gender Equality Division at the Gates Foundation, emphasized the importance of resilient health systems. “Ending maternal and child deaths remains both an urgent priority and an achievable goal,” she said. “Resilient, adequately financed health systems are essential.”
Civil society groups also welcomed the new commitments. Rosemary Mburu, Executive Director of WACI Health, said the GFF model helps align partners around national priorities. “Investing in primary health care for women, children, and adolescents is one of the most cost-effective investments countries can make,” she said.
With total confirmed funding now at $1.43 billion, including previous commitments, the GFF says it is well positioned to accelerate progress toward ending preventable deaths among women, children, and adolescents in the world’s most vulnerable settings.
