Melinda French Gates and her daughters, Jennifer Gates Nassar and Phoebe Gates, joined other philanthropists in backing a $70 million initiative to improve women’s health and address gender-based violence. Launched in September 2025, the Women’s Health Co-Lab brought together donors through ICONIQ Impact and Co-Impact to support 22 organisations working on maternal healthcare, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and violence prevention. The initiative aims to mobilise $100 million and provide three years of support through unrestricted grants, allowing recipients to direct resources towards their priorities.
Its approach focuses on strengthening organisations and healthcare systems while addressing barriers that prevent women and girls from accessing essential services and living free from violence.
Ujamaa Africa was among the organisations selected for funding, receiving an unrestricted grant of $3 million. The initiative brings together philanthropists to support organisations addressing persistent inequalities in women’s health and safety. One recipient is Every Mother Counts, a nonprofit working to make pregnancy and childbirth safer. Its work addresses barriers that prevent women from receiving quality maternal healthcare, including gaps in access, resources and support. Six organisations were selected to strengthen efforts to prevent violence against women and girls, support survivors and challenge harmful social norms. Their work includes community programmes, advocacy and efforts to improve protections for those at risk. Named recipients include Ujamaa Africa, which works to prevent gender-based violence through programmes in African communities, and Serenas, an organisation working in this field. This approach is intended to reduce administrative burdens and help organisations respond to changing circumstances. A group working on maternal health may need to strengthen healthcare delivery, while an organisation focused on violence prevention may prioritise community education, survivor support or policy advocacy. The organisation works to prevent gender-based violence through programmes that engage young people and communities.