Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Consortium Knowledge Management Initiative
World Vision Canada is part of a consortium of non-governmental organizations, including CARE Canada, Plan International Canada and Save the Children Canada. We are partnering with The Hospital for Sick Children and the University of Toronto Munk School of Global Affairs (Sick Kids/UT) with funding from Global Affairs Canada, as part of the Canadian Government commitment to Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) announced at the G8 Summit in Muskoka, Ontario in 2010.

From September 2012 to September 2015, CARE, PLAN, Save the Children and World Vision are implementing community-based MNCH programs in seven countries, including Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Pakistan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. These programs contribute to: strengthening health systems, improving health service delivery at the district level, training health workers, improving access for mothers and children to health care facilities and interventions, and addressing the leading diseases and illnesses that impact maternal and child mortality.

Based on the projects’ results, the Sick Kids/UT team will conduct two research projects to contribute to global knowledge in MNCH.

Supporting Systems to Achieve Improved Nutrition, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (SUSTAIN) -- Tanzania
In the Singida district in Tanzania, fewer than half of all pregnant women attend prenatal clinics at least four times and only 63 per cent of moms give birth in a health facility, which means that when things don’t go smoothly, there is a significant risk for both new moms and new babies.

As part of the Muskoka Initiative (see above), World Vision Canada received $3.1 million from Global Affairs Canada to contribute to improved health and nutrition of mothers, newborns and children under age five, living in poor, rural communities in Iramba and Singida Rural districts of Tanzania. Started in 2012, the three-year SUSTAIN project aims to:

• enhance service delivery by the Ministry of Health at the community level;
• improve household nutrition practices and increasing women’s control of food; and,
• teach parents how to prevent illnesses such as malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and HIV&AIDS and care for sick children.

Systems Approach to Improve and Sustain Food Security in West Africa (SATISFY) – Ghana, Mali, Sierra Leone, Senegal
Lack of access to reliable food sources continues to be a major challenge in West Africa. One in four people suffers from malnutrition and more than 36 per cent of children under five suffer from stunting. Three quarters of people live on less than $2 per day and more than a quarter of the population isn’t consuming enough calories to maintain good health.

Started in 2012 with an $11.05 million contribution from Global Affairs Canada, the five-year SATISFY project seeks to improve the food security of over 2.1 million people living in poor rural communities in Ghana, Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone through: Increased adoption of agricultural practices promoting sustainable livelihoods by both women and men; Improved intake of healthy food, especially by women and children; and, Increased effectiveness and use of agricultural services.

Maternal and Under 5 Nutrition and Child Health (MUNCH) -- Afghanistan
Inadequate birth spacing and family planning, poor nutrition for pregnant women and barriers to accessing care during pregnancy all have a negative impact on children’s nutrition and health. The absence of health facilities, poor quality of services, few female health workers, limited mobility of women due to cultural constraints and the overall status of women and girls, are all obstacles to their accessing appropriate care.

Started in 2013, with a $17.3 million grant from Global Affairs Canada, this project aims to improve the nutrition and health of mothers, newborns and children under five and reduce the vulnerability of people in the Western Afghanistan provinces of Herat, Ghor and Badghis. The project targets 921,082 adults and 792,294 children.

In addition to the above, World Vision Canada is also undertaking the following projects:

• Global Affairs Canada: Benishangul Gumuz Food Security and Economic Growth Program – Ethiopia (2010 – 2015)
• Global Affairs Canada: PASEQ Mali Education – Mali (2014 – 2016)
• Grand Challenges Canada: Feasibility and Effectiveness of Low-Intensity Cognitive-Behavioural Treatment for Women Affected by Urban Violence in Kenya (2013 – 2015)
• World Health Organization (WHO): Niger Integrated Child Health Services (NICE) – Niger (2013 – 2015)

Many of our private and corporate donors help to fund projects in communities around the world, such as providing wells, rehabilitating schools, training mothers on how to keep their babies healthy and well-nourished, helping parents to start small businesses, and so much more. Group fundraising is another way private donors can fund larger projects. For more information, see our Group Fundraising section.

We also work with a number of corporations, including Voortman, IBM, Energuy, Bios and others, that have supported projects benefiting children and families around the world. Learn about how your company can get involved.​

For information on how to corporately donate resources and products, visit our Give Products section and learn how World Vision can be your Business Solution partner.

World Vision partners with churches to bring lasting change to communities around the world. Working together we’ll help your church meet its ministry goals by offering advocacy support, resources and events for church leaders, and transforming relationships through Global Partner Opportunities.

Global Partner Opportunities pairs your church with a community living in poverty in a developing country. Through individual child sponsorship, your church can help bring physical, social and spiritual well-being to children and families. The transformation is powerful: your congregation becomes more united as your partner community works toward becoming self-supporting and self-sustaining.

To find out how to become a Global Partner or to learn about other partnership opportunities, contact your regional Church Advisor.