The Beginnings Fund was launched on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi, the home of another key backer, the United Arab Emirates' recently rebranded Mohamed Bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity.

The project has been in the works for at least a year. But its role has become more important as governments worldwide follow the United States in pulling back from international aid, its Chief Executive Alice Kang’ethe told Reuters in an interview.

“It is an opportune moment,” she said earlier this month, stressing that the fund aimed to work alongside African governments, experts and organisations rather than parachuting in experts or technologies, an approach she said differed from many traditional donor programmes.
The Beginnings Fund aims to save the lives of 300 000 mothers and newborn babies by 2030, and expand quality care for 34 million mothers and babies.

--Reuters--