The Reduction of Maternal and Neonatal Mortality in Kenya programme supports a range of interventions to improve maternal and neonatal health (MNH) including training of health workers, health systems strengthening, community mobilisation, and demand generation. It is implemented in six counties with different sociodemographic contexts.

A formal evaluation has been contracted with four components: 1) annual mapping of key data and trends; 2) in-depth comparative studies in matched sub-counties; 3) additional studies to assess specific Programme components and to answer evaluation questions; and 4) comprehensive analysis of the Programme at the start and end of the evaluation phase (2016-18).

Data collected through these four evaluation components will be triangulated. An independent expert group will enforce credibility. Evaluation results will be communicated to Programme partners and stakeholders in 2016 with a view to recommend adjustments of programme activities in order to reach intended outcomes, as and if needed. This synthesis will be repeated towards the end of 2018 in a summative evaluation that will document final programme outcomes and lessons learned.

The first set of findings are reported here.