Healthy Pregnancies and Safe Births
Support women, families, frontline workers, and health systems before, during, and after birth.
Learn more →Stronger beginnings. Locally led.
Invest in African leadership so women and young children can thrive.
African 1000 Days Action USA connects U.S. philanthropy, expertise, and partnerships with locally led African solutions for women, newborns, and children from pregnancy through age five.
Why the earliest years matter
The beginning of a life shapes what comes next.
A child’s earliest years begin before birth. Health, nutrition, responsive care, protection, and access to timely services during this period can shape wellbeing for years to come. We prioritize the first 1,000 days, from pregnancy to a child’s second birthday, while supporting children and families through age five.
Why the First 1,000 Days →Our role
The ideas, knowledge, and leadership already exist.
What is often missing is the right combination of flexible funding, specialized expertise, trusted relationships, and long-term visibility. ADA USA helps mobilize those resources behind priorities defined and led in Africa.
What we support
Newborn and Infant Health
Strengthen timely, respectful care during the most fragile first days and months.
Learn more →Nutrition and Early Development
Help children receive the nourishment, responsive care, protection, play, and stimulation they need to grow.
Learn more →Strong Families and Health Systems
Support community leadership, frontline capacity, referrals, data, and services that make care more dependable.
Learn more →How partnership works
Resources should follow local priorities.
- Local leaders define priorities and shape solutions.
- ADA USA mobilizes aligned funding, expertise, and relationships.
- Partners agree on responsibilities, safeguards, learning, and accountability.
- Evidence and community feedback guide improvement and future investment.
Local implementation relationships begin through approved initiatives, targeted outreach, established country relationships, or a public opportunity—not through a rolling open application process.
Review our partnership criteria →Locally led. Accountable. Built to learn.
A stronger start can shape a lifetime.
Help put U.S. resources behind African leadership.