The International Maternal Newborn Health Conference (IMNHC) is a global convening of the maternal and newborn health (MNH) community, focused on accelerating action so that mothers and newborns not only survive, but thrive. Held biennially, the conference provides an inclusive, action-oriented platform for governments, implementers, researchers, civil society, donors, and advocates to assess progress and advance collective solutions toward shared global goals.
At a time of mounting pressures on health systems worldwide, IMNHC 2026 represents a pivotal opportunity for the MNH community to regroup and chart a clear path forward. Participants will examine persistent challenges, exchange evidence and practical tools, strengthen accountability, and catalyze new partnerships and financing to drive measurable progress for mothers and their babies.
R4D at IMNHC 2026
This year’s conference features a dedicated track on essential MNH commodities — an area where Results for Development (R4D) brings deep expertise in market shaping, commodity financing, and supply chain strengthening.
R4D experts Amna Abdulsalam, Brighid Morgan, Samantha Durdock, and Yosef Alemu will participate in multiple sessions focused on improving access to quality-assured maternal and newborn health commodities and strengthening supply chain systems, including:
Aligning Incentives and Unlocking Access to Quality MNH Commodities
Tuesday, March 24 | 2:00–5:15 PM (EAT)
Speaker: Samantha Durdock
Despite decades of global health dialogue emphasizing “quality MNH commodities,” the underlying market incentives that shape access remain misaligned across key actors. This highly interactive side session will examine how incentives among ministries of health, procurers, suppliers, development partners, and providers impact access to quality MNH commodities.
The session will begin with a presentation of the evidence base, followed by a moderated panel featuring diverse market actors responding to real-time audience input. Participants will then work in small groups to develop solutions to specific challenges, with facilitators and panelists providing feedback. The session will conclude with a synthesis of key insights and participant commitments.
Applying a Mixed Health Systems Approach to MNH Supply Chain Strengthening
Wednesday, March 25 | 2:30–3:45 PM (EAT)
Speaker: Samantha Durdock (co-presenting with Ed Lewellen, Global Financing Facility)
The Access PDC project, implemented by R4D in partnership with the Global Financing Facility (GFF), introduces a novel approach to analyzing mixed public–private health supply chain systems. Piloted in three countries, the methodology uses innovative analytical tools and visual frameworks to identify bottlenecks across availability, affordability, and quality.
By engaging both public and private sector actors, the project generates actionable evidence to guide strategic investments and unlock more effective supply chain reforms. R4D and GFF will share pilot results and invite feedback to refine and strengthen the approach.
What Incentivizes Quality MNH Commodities?
Wednesday, March 25 | 4:15–5:30 PM (EAT)
Panel Session, including Samantha Durdock
Although “quality MNH commodities” is widely emphasized, there is limited consensus on what quality truly means — and how to ensure equitable access in low-resource settings. This panel will unpack the market dynamics that incentivize — and sometimes undermine — quality.
Building on Tuesday’s session, panelists will explore how misaligned incentives contribute to substandard products circulating in markets and discuss opportunities to strengthen coordination, transparency, data use, procurement practices, and stewardship. The session will focus on practical strategies to shift markets toward improved quality for women and newborns.
