Improving the Survival of Mothers and Newborns in Tanzania (2025)

Save the Children is leveraging its deep expertise in community-based programming, health system strengthening, and policy engagement to support national efforts. Through this partnership, we work alongside the Government of Tanzania to reduce maternal and newborn deaths, improve nutrition, and ensure all children have a healthy start in life—contributing to the country’s long-term socio-economic development. Our work is firmly rooted in national systems and aligned with Tanzania’s health and development priorities. We operate through equitable partnerships and localisation strategies that prioritise sustainable, locally led solutions. This includes building capacity, co-planning with partners, sharing resources, and fostering strong collaboration with government institutions and local civil society organisations (CSOs).

This brief outlines Save the Children’s efforts to strengthen maternal and newborn health (MNH) in Tanzania through evidence-based interventions, health system strengthening, and community engagement. Tanzania has achieved major progress, reducing maternal mortality by more than 80% between 2016 and 2022 and improving under‑five and neonatal survival, though persistent regional disparities, stillbirth rates, and gaps in neonatal care remain. Save the Children works alongside the government to enhance the quality of antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care; expand emergency obstetric and newborn care; and scale innovative approaches such as the M‑mama emergency transport system and the Safer Births Bundle of Care, which has reduced maternal deaths by up to 75% and newborn deaths by 40% in supported facilities. Through localisation, capacity building, digital tools, and community-led solutions, the organisation is contributing to equitable, sustainable improvements in MNH and supporting Tanzania’s progress toward national and global health targets.