African Union Launched Maternal Health Roadmap
The new 2026-2030 initiative aims to improve reproductive and child health outcomes across all 55 member states.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Pregnancy
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The African Union has launched a new Continental Roadmap on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health for the 2026-2030 period. This initiative aims to address health inequities, as the continent currently accounts for 70% of global maternal deaths.
Why it matters
The program seeks to accelerate progress toward 2030 Sustainable Development Goals because current health outcomes for mothers and children remain unequal and too slow. By aligning investments and political leadership, the AU hopes to reverse these persistent mortality trends.
The roadmap impacts 55 AU member states, aiming to reduce a burden that includes 70% of global maternal deaths and nearly half of worldwide stillbirths. Success will be measured using a seven-indicator Presidential RMNCAH Scorecard.
The players
African Union
An intergovernmental organization of 55 member states that coordinates continental policy, peace, and development across Africa.
Samia Suluhu Hassan
The President of Tanzania and the newly appointed AU Champion for Maternal and Child Health who will lead advocacy for the roadmap.
Africa CDC
A specialized technical institution of the African Union that provides regional coordination and public health support for member states.
The details
The strategy targets three major goals, known as the Three Zeros: zero home deliveries, zero preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and zero unvaccinated children. Implementation is managed by individual member states with technical coordination provided by the Africa CDC. The roadmap focuses on high-impact interventions and better alignment of regional health investments.
Timeline
The Continental Roadmap covers the 2026-2030 period.
The year 2030 serves as the final target for Sustainable Development Goals.
The Home Front
This roadmap aligns continental health efforts with the broader UN Sustainable Development Goals to address systemic disparities. It represents a significant shift toward coordinated policy to meet international development targets by 2030.
Families across the continent should prepare for increased access to facility-based maternal care and vaccination programs as member states implement the new standards. Consult with local health authorities to stay updated on new clinic services or expanded vaccination schedules in your region.
The takeaway
The AU roadmap places maternal and child survival at the center of continental policy through its Three Zeros target. Families should track the progress of the seven-indicator scorecard as local health programs begin to transition toward these new objectives by 2030.
Further reading
Learn more about global standards for reproductive well-being in our Pregnancy section.
More information
Review the full strategic framework in the Continental Roadmap download.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Africa CDC.
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