PMNCH was launched in September 2005 when 80 organizations belonging to the Partnership for Safe Motherhood and Newborn Health, the Healthy Newborn Partnership and the Child Survival Partnership joined forces. By uniting and working as one partnership they could do more to accelerate action by partners and countries to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 (reduce child mortality) and 5 (improve maternal health).
The vision and goals of the new Partnership—The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (PMNCH) —were outlined in "The Delhi Declaration" – a landmark statement developed by participants of "Lives in the Balance: The Partnership Meeting for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health", held in New Delhi, India, 7-9 April 2005.
In 2015, the Every Woman Every Child Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health was launched to reflect the shift from the MDGs to the Sustainable Development Goals. The updated Global Strategy, which has guided PMNCH’s work since 2016, takes a more holistic view of health, moving beyond survival to well-being and social transformation.
It has been more than twenty years since PMNCH was launched, and given its expansion to include adolescents, it is now referred to as PMNCH for women's, children's, and adolescents' health.
Current Leadership
Leadership Legacy
Former Directors
Former PMNCH ED | 2016 - 2023
Former PMNCH ED | 2015 - 2016
Former PMNCH ED | 2011 - 2015
Former PMNCH ED | 2009 - 2011
Francisco Songane
Former PMNCH, ED | 2006-2009
Former board chairs
Former PMNCH Board Chair
Graça Machel
Former PMNCH Board Chair
Julio Frenk
Former PMNCH Board Chair
Julian Sweitzer
Former PMNCH Board Chair
Former PMNCH Board Chair
Former PMNCH Board Chair