Align MNH and the Government of South Africa will host the first of the series of International conferences on maternal and neonatal health in May 2023, in Cape Town. It is only eight years remaining to the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 target. South Africa had made progress in reaching a milestone of institutional mortality rate of 88/100 000 live births prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. This milestone provided hope for the country to reach the SDG target of reducing maternal mortality. In 2022, however, the country’s performance deteriorated to an institutional maternal mortality rate of 112/100 000 live births. The regression in performance is not unique to South Africa but similar in other countries across the globe. It is against this background, that AlignMNH organization initiated the conference series designed for a technical community to review progress and create space to share emerging science, effective implementation strategies, and proven best practices. While the purpose of the conference is to create a learning network, it is equally critical to create opportunities for the country delegation and the partners to celebrate progress.

In this regard, UNFPA is supporting the conference in South Africa through the National Department of Health with Rapporteuring services for the conference. Under the overall guidance of UNFPA, the contractors shall provide rapporteur services during the International Maternal Health Conference on 7-13 May 2023.