Reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health outcomes have improved in Zambia in recent years; however, access to and availability of high-quality health services in rural and remote areas to support sustained positive gains remain a challenge. MOMENTUM is a three-year USAID project that is implemented in partnership with the Zambia government (GRZ) to strengthen quality reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH) services in Zambian communities. 

Unfortunately, Zambia still records a high number of preventable newborn, child, adolescent, and maternal deaths each year. The situation was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which reversed some gains, and more intensive efforts are required to increase access to and availability of services, especially at the community level.

  • Life of Project: October 2021 - September 2024
  • Geographic Focus:  Northern and Central Provinces 
  • Partner: JHPIEGO
  • Chief of Party: Lastina Lwatula - lastina.lwatula@jhpiego.org 
  • Total USAID Funding: $10 million 
  • USAID Contact: Masuka Musumali - mmusumali@usaid.gov

MOMENTUM (Moving Integrated, Quality Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health and Family Planning and Reproductive Health Services to Scale) is a global USAID initiative that works in partnership with countries to improve equitable access to integrated health care to ensure that women, children, families, and communities have access to high-quality RMNCAH services. In Zambia, MOMENTUM aims to improve maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health services, with a key focus on Central and Northern provinces, which bear a higher disease burden compared to other provinces.  

MOMENTUM builds upon previous U.S. government investments in Zambia and takes an integrated and holistic approach to address several key focus areas including family planning and reproductive health, maternal health, newborn health, child health, water sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and gender. The specific objectives include:

  1. Increasing availability of and access to quality RMNCAH services.
  2. Increasing demand and uptake of RMNCAH services.
  3. Strengthening health systems at national and sub-national levels for effective RMNCAH service delivery.

The initiative catalyzes country capacity development and leadership to implement a comprehensive and integrated approach at facility and community levels, focusing on rural and hard-to-reach areas. High-impact interventions strengthen and ensure equity of services and improve health outcomes for women, children, and adolescents in Northern and Central provinces. Through a strong focus on building the capacity, sustainability, and resilience of local organizations and institutions, MOMENTUM puts countries on the path towards self-reliance for health.

Expected Results

The MOMENTUM Zambia field support project is expected to improve maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health services and accelerate reductions in maternal, newborn, and child mortality and morbidity in Zambia. It aims to achieve the following three key results:   

  • Increase the availability of and access to quality RMNCAH services in Zambia’s Central and Northern provinces.
  • Increase demand for and uptake of RMNCAH services for mothers, newborns, children, and adolescents.
  • Strengthen the capacity of health systems at national and sub-national levels, focusing on Central and Northern provinces, to provide an enabling environment for effective RMNCAH service delivery.
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Zambia Active Project