Improving the health of women and children around the world is a top priority for the international development community, as evidenced by Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 and the inclusion of specific health targets in the new Sustainable Development Goals. Although the high-impact interventions needed to prevent maternal and child deaths have been known for some time, they fail to be implemented at the necessary scale for global mortality reductions.

GBCHealth advances private sector engagement on reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) through its communications, advocacy and partnership platforms, building on the foundational work of the organization. In September 2015, GBCHealth made a significant commitment to the UN Secretary-General’s Every Woman, Every Child movement to focus a portion of its programmatic and partnership activities in support of women, children’s and adolescent’s health. Read the announcement here.

GBCHealth’s work in RMNCAH promotes the integration of services across health areas and a focus on geographies of highest need and burden, including Nigeria and India. Our work includes:

Thought Leadership

GBCHealth helps companies identify trends in the business response to RMNCAH and provides thought leadership expertise.

  • The Ultimate Investment: Profiles of Corporate Engagement in the Health and Development of Newborns This case studies publication highlights 48 companies and industry associations investing in saving newborn lives. The report was developed in support of the global Every Newborn Action Plan, adopted by the WHO in May 2014.
  • Business and the Health Millennium Development Goals: Closing the Gaps. This report presents a snapshot of health-related corporate investments in India, with a focus on business action on the MDGs. Based on survey findings from 23 leading Indian and multinational companies, the report documents the key characteristics of health CSR programs, including provides an informative look at how participating companies are currently investing their CSR rupees, their priority health focus areas, preferred partnership strategies, drivers and future investment priorities.

Investment and Commitment Platforms

GBCHealth leads its own signature collective investment platform, the Health Credit Exchange, and also supports a variety of platforms coordinated by peer global health institutions.

  • Health Credit Exchange (HCX) The HCX is a performance-based funding platform that connects business to high-performing and innovative public health programs targeting those most in need. In partnership with the Global Financing Facility in Support of Every Woman Every Child, the HCX aims to incentivize integrated delivery of high quality product and services by providers at the facility and household levels. GBCHealth envisions working closely with WASH, nutrition and ICT sectors as they intersect with MNCH. Learn more about the HCX and how your company can play a role here.
  • The Every Newborn Action Plan Private Sector Guide to Action provides specific entry points for companies looking to make an impact in newborn health.

Global and In-Country Knowledge-Sharing

At the global and country-level, GBCHealth provides ongoing advisory services and guidance to companies implementing MNCH programs and partnerships. This is done either on an individual company level or through collective knowledge-sharing workshops and convenings.

  • Reaching the Health MDGs: The Critical Role of India’s Business Sector At this day-long, high-level Business Forum more than 250 attendees gathered to discuss ways to mobilize India’s corporate sector to save the lives of millions of women and children. Speakers included Nita Ambani, Chairperson of the Reliance Foundation, Priyanka Chopra, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and Bollywood actress, and Dr. Abhay Bang, Director, SEARCH (Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health).
  • Accelerating Progress: The Intersection of Malaria Control and Maternal and Child Health Held in honor of World Malaria Day 2014, this Webinar included a discussion on ways to integrate maternal and child health interventions with existing malaria control programs, highlighting opportunities for private sector involvement.
  • In addition, GBCHealth staff serve as resource experts to companies seeking one-on-one consultations on their corporate MNCH programs.

For more information contact:

Lesley-Anne Long