mothers2mothers (m2m) is proud to announce that we have joined the Community Health Delivery Partnership (CHDP)—a collaboration of global, regional, and national stakeholders working with country governments to expand access to high-quality, community-based primary health care. The CHDP Secretariat is hosted by long-standing m2m partner UNICEF, and other notable members include the African Union, Africa CDC, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Global Fund, UNAIDS, the World Bank, and the World Health Organization.    

What is the CHDP?

The CHDP champions a country-led, data-driven approach to support countries to strengthen the health system at the community level—critically including community health workers’ (CHWs) status, rights, and protections. This is perfectly aligned to m2m’s work over the past 20+ years. By employing and training over 12,000 women living with HIV as CHWs—known as Mentor Mothers—we have delivered integrated primary health care services across 14 African countries, reaching more than 17 million women, children, and families and helping to keep more than three million at-risk women and children alive. Our model has improved maternal, newborn, and child health, reduced new HIV infections in children (notably, the rate of mother-to-child transmission of HIV for enrolled m2m clients was 0% in 2023), and strengthened health systems through technical assistance to governments and other partners.  

What will be m2m’s focus with the CHDP?

Our engagement will focus on three priorities: 

• Contributing evidence and best practice from m2m’s experience employing and professionalising CHWs at scale. 

• Supporting government leadership in integrating and sustaining community health budgeting, planning, coordination and delivery within national health strategies and budgets.  

• Advocating for gender equity by ensuring that the largely female CHW is formally recognised, compensated, and afforded every opportunity to advance in health leadership roles. 

At m2m, we know that investing in CHW is key to ensuring healthier futures—and that no one is left behind. We are excited to work with all CHDP members and partners to advance our shared agenda.