Across sub-Saharan Africa, more than 550 women die each day from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth and 2,800 newborns lose their lives.

We know how to save maternal and newborn lives. Most of these deaths could be prevented by access to skilled care at birth, emergency obstetric and newborn care, and family planning. Yet broken health systems are denying women and adolescent girls their right to a healthy, fulfilling and productive life. 

Our mission

Evidence for Action-MamaYe (E4A) is a programme managed by Options, with financial support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Our advocacy activities currently focus in Nigeria and Kenya, we also work across sub-Saharan Africa on advocacy specific to health budgeting and the Global Financing Facility.

The power of evidence

When data is accessible and easy to understand, better decisions can be made that strengthen the health system. Our experts in Africa and the UK translate complex health system data into simple graphic formats and make sure that the right people have the capacity to interpret and use it.

This means that:

  1. Gaps and obstacles in the health system that prevent people from enjoying good health are identified so that different audiences can take action.
  2. Decision-makers can use evidence to inform how they make plans and allocate resources for better health care.
  3. Health budgets and the budgeting process are demystified, empowering citizens to influence how resources are allocated and spent.
  4. Those in power are held to account for commitments to increase resources and improve the quality of health services across the continuum from family planning through to newborn care.
Working together, we can make sure maternal and newborn survival is a political priority
  • Map of Sub-Saharan Africa 1
    550 women die every day in sub-Saharan Africa

Evidence for action

E4A contributes to saving the lives of mothers and babies through a strategic combination of evidence, action and accountability.

MamaYe team Nigeria


MamaYe is the public face of Evidence for Action (E4A), a programme led by African experts in Kenya, Nigeria and Ethiopia to improve the chances of maternal and newborn survival in sub-Saharan Africa. It is made possible with management support from Options and funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.