Policy Context

MNCH is included in Canada’s FIAP under the action area ‘human dignity’. The policy frames MNCH within the larger lens of gender equality and global health, particularly SRHR. The FIAP emphasizes that support for SRHR is essential to ensure the best MNCH outcomes for women and girls, in addition to programs that strengthen health and data systems, improve nutrition, and combat infectious diseases.

MNCH is also addressed within the ‘comprehensive approach to SRHR’ pillar of Canada’s 10-Year Commitment to Global Health and Rights, specifically “ SRHR neglected area 1: SRHR advocacy and reform.” The 10YC is Canada’s largest and longest financial commitment to international development assistance. Canada will reach an average of CAD1.4 billion ( US$ 1 billion) in funding to advance the health and rights of women and girls annually by FY2023-24, and maintain these levels to 2030. This commitment builds on Canada's longstanding prioritization of MNCH within its international assistance, including its CAD6.5 billion ( US$ 6.6 billion) Muskoka Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Initiative which ran from 2010 to 2020.

Funding Trends

How is Canada’s bilateral ODA to MNCH evolving?

Canada’s bilateral ODA to MNCH match its global health ODA spending, which declined between 2017 and 2020. However, the MNCH growth rate in 2021 was much lower as Canada’s additional global health ODA was diverted to COVID-19 response.

Within Canada’s 10YC, funding for SRHR will reach CAD700 million (US$538 million) annually by FY2023-2024, and this level will be maintained to 2030. In addition, funding to the 10YC’s health and basic nutrition pillar is expected to benefit MNCH.

How does Canada allocate bilateral MNCH ODA?

Of allocable bilateral ODA, the largest share went to LICs in Africa. This is in line with Canada’s FIAP which states that 50% of Canada’s bilateral ODA will go to projects in SSA.

The largest funding to maternal and newborn health ODA in 2021 came from reproductive health, followed by basic nutrition, and personnel development for population and reproductive health. Canada’s funding to child health largely focused on basic nutrition, in line with its 10YC’nutrition pillar.

Key Bodies

How is ODA to MNCH calculated?

ODA to MNCH is estimated using the Muskoka2 methodology which estimates the proportion that each relevant OECD CRS purpose code contributes to reproductive health (RH), maternal and newborn health (MNH), and child health (CH). Disbursements that benefit MNCH were determined using CRS purpose codes for all donors except GAVI, UNFPA, and UNICEF, for which fixed percentages of disbursements were considered to benefit MNCH.