On 28^th April 2025 in Al Ain–UAE, Rwanda’s Minister of Health Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, along with Ambassador John Mirenge joined the launch of The Beginnings Fund, a new initiative to improve maternal and newborn health in Africa. 

Rwanda is among the 10 countries set to benefit from this new fund. Launched by a coalition of global philanthropies in partnership with ministries of health of the countries involved, “the Beginnings Fund” will operate in Rwanda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.

It aims at pooling together resources and investing multi-year funding, with initial commitment from its founding philanthropies being to catalyse further funding from new donors, ensuring long-term sustainability.

The establishment of the fund is part of a joint philanthropic commitment of nearly $600 million for maternal and new-born survival, including $100 million in direct funding for initiatives that further the Beginnings Fund’s mission.

Among the organisations supporting the fund is the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Delta Philanthropies, The ELMA Foundation, Gates Foundation, Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Patchwork Collective, and others.

With a focus on sustainability and local ownership, the Beginnings Fund will work in partnership with African governments, national organisations, and experts to prevent over 300,000 deaths and enhance access to quality care for 34 million mothers and babies by 2030. Read more on The New Times and Emirates News Agency