Publisher/Organizer: The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Publication date: May 2017 Number of pages: 36 Language: En

We are thrilled by this growth, as we believe that achieving the SDGs is heavily dependent on our partners working together in stronger alignment, within the Every Woman Every Child architecture, and throughout the continuum of care, for the good of the most vulnerable among us. In addition, we set about strengthening our governance structure to ensure inclusive governance and decision-making, and coordinated action among partners. We also explored new ways to publicize evidence for action at each life stage, launching a new knowledge summary on adolescent health and hosting several events and webinars presenting key findings from various Lancet series launched in 2016.

In terms of our accountability work, the Partnership led the development of the Global Strategy’s Unified Accountability Framework. We also facilitated the establishment of the Independent Accountability Panel, set up a secretariat to support its work, and provided inputs into its first report, which was launched during the UN General Assembly at our annual accountability breakfast event.

2016 was a pivotal year for our Adolescent and Youth constituency: it took centre stage and is now leading the charge in advocacy, accountability and meaningful engagement of young people in the Global Strategy. The response of our country partners in support of the adolescent agenda has emboldened us. In October, the Government of Mozambique hosted a public event within our 19th Board meeting, focusing on adolescent girls and underlining the country’s commitment to listening to them and addressing their needs. Bringing the Partnership family to Maputo was a proud homecoming for me, made more poignant by the example this event set of what we can achieve when we engage young people and let countries lead. Our work must continue in this regard so that we are optimally positioned to achieve the SDGs.

I am particularly excited by new leadership at both the UN and the Partnership to help us carry our important work forward. The new UN Secretary-General António Guterres places great importance on human rights and gender equality, and as a proponent of Achieving the SDGs is heavily dependent on our partners working together in stronger alignment within the Every Woman Every Child architecture, and throughout the continuum of care, for the good of the most vulnerable among us. social justice will be vital in helping us realize the SDGs. Now more than ever his leadership is crucial to ensuring that the rights of women, children and adolescents to health and well-being are protected. Helga Fogstad, a champion of SRMNCAH, joined the Partnership as Executive Director at the end of 2016, and brings to the organization a wealth of SRMNCAH experience. Under her guidance and ability to inspire and build consensus, I am confident that we will make significant strides in fulfilling our mandate for 2030.

We continue to work collectively for a world where every woman, child and adolescent matters and enjoys their fundamental rights to good health and well-being. PMNCH is pleased to do this in concert with our partners and is deeply committed to this common agenda. In our important efforts to ensure the well-being and empowerment of women, children and adolescents everywhere so that they can thrive and realize their full potential, onwards and upwards!