Executive Director's spotlight on PMNCH Private Sector Constituency

This month, I’m proud to spotlight six partners from our PMNCH Private Sector Constituency - DAI, MSD for Mothers, Laerdal Global Health, Ferring, Philips, and Abt Associates. In a true collaborative effort, these organizations led the development of a framing paper on private sector engagement within PMNCH, which was approved by the PMNCH Board in December 2022 and will be used as a guide for the development of a strategy for enhancing private sector integration and leadership in advancing women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (WCAH).   

Private sector partners interact closely with communities where WCAH interventions take place and have extensive experience in public-private partnerships. Their expertise in local markets, technology and innovation to define gaps and to deliver quality service and results, including in low resource settings is highly valuable to PMNCH. During the COVID-19 response, the private sector played a critical role in developing and delivering vaccines, diagnostics and PPE, and supporting vaccine access through financing, technical capacity provision and training, R&D, and infrastructure development. 

Amidst the challenges of not only COVID-19 but also conflict and climate change, there is more need than ever to increase the capacity and leadership of the private sector to deliver what it can do best. Without meaningful partnership between public and private sectors, the goals and targets of the SDGs will not be achieved. 

The upcoming strategy will include: 

• Common guidelines, standards and a framework for measuring social impact and strengthening accountability;
• People-centered indicators, ensuring a rights-based approach to measuring SDG progress;
• Improved integration of local private sector actors within countries in multi-stakeholder partnerships;
• Increased attention to community-based needs and priorities, including with respect to quality of care; 
• Greater focus on adolescent needs and priorities and the role of innovation in taking programs to scale.  

We will be working closely with the Private Sector Constituency in getting the Engagement Strategy finalize for Board approval in 2023 and hope to get your inputs in its development. 

Furthermore, as we prepare for the Global Forum for Adolescents in October 2023, we look forward our Private Sector contributions as well as strategic partnerships to expand reach to women, children and adolescents.