Kenya has some of the highest rates of maternal and neonatal mortality in the world at 360/100,000 and 22/1,000 live births respectively.  Translated into numbers – this equates to about 7000 maternal deaths and 29,000 neonatal deaths per year in Kenya.

The DFID-funded Reducing Maternal and Neonatal Death in Kenya programme aims to reduce mortality through increased access to and utilisation of quality maternal and newborn health (MNH) services. The original programme design focused on improving the knowledge and skills of health workers to provide emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC), strengthening health systems and interventions to increase demand for MNH services in six of Kenya’s 47 counties (Homa Bay, Turkana, Garissa, Kakamega, Nairobi and Bungoma).

This Assignment Report reviews the performance of the programme. The programme has made good progress since the 2017 DFID Annual Review and has scored an overall ‘A’ (outputs exceeded expectations). At the current rate of progress, it is on track to meet its original outcome and output targets for 2019.