What Works: Improving Maternal and Newborn Health in Kenya and Ethiopia

Pillar

Network Learning & Development

Across sub-Saharan Africa, strong community networks, committed health workers, and innovative partnerships are already driving meaningful progress in maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH).  This webinar will explore how integrated, evidence-informed approaches are improving MNCH outcomes in Kenya and Ethiopia, and what it takes to sustain and scale that impact.

This episode of the Health in Africa Series highlights how community health systems, strengthened health facilities, digital innovations, and cross-sector partnerships are coming together to deliver timely, respectful, and life-saving care for mothers and newborns. The conversation will focus on practical lessons from programmes that build local capacity, leverage technology, and align community-based care with formal health systems.

The webinar will be led by Dr. Henry Kilonzo (BSc, MPH, PhD), a public health and social development leader at Safaricom and M-PESA Foundations. Drawing from over two decades of strategic social investment, Dr. Kilonzo will share insights from initiatives that have expanded access, strengthened referral systems, supported frontline health workers, and improved quality of care through innovation and partnership.

What you’ll learn: 

• What Works on the Ground – How community-led and facility-based solutions are improving maternal and newborn outcomes in Kenya and Ethiopia. 

• Connecting Community to Care – How strong referral systems, frontline health workers, and digital tools create a seamless continuum of care. 

• Innovation With Impact – How technology and data are supporting health workers, strengthening systems, and scaling quality care. 

• Partnerships That Deliver – How collaboration between communities, governments and foundations drives sustainable MNCH progress. 

The Speaker

Henry Kilonzo is a public health and development professional with deep expertise in strategy development, health systems strengthening, sustainable philanthropy, Corporate Social Investment (CSI), programme design, programme management, Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), and strategic partnerships. 
 
With proven experience across government, international NGOs, local NGOs, donors and the private sector, Henry has a unique cross-sector perspective to designing and leading teams in delivering high-impact social investments.  
 
He currently serves as Senior Manager, Foundations Programmes at Safaricom and M-PESA Foundations, where he leads multi-sector programmes, operations, grant management, partnerships, resource Mobilisation, and M&E to drive measurable and scalable impact. His prior roles span MSH Southern Africa, FHI360, and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)—supporting large, complex portfolios across Africa and Southern India. He is a mission-oriented people leader.  
 
He holds a PhD in Public Health (Maseno University), MPH (University of the Western Cape), and BSc in Information Sciences (Moi University), with executive training from Strathmore Business School, Harvard Business School, UNISA, and AMREF.