Technical Advice Connect (TAConnect), in partnership with the Africa Centre for Population Health and Policy (ACEPHAP) and the Governments of Borno and Gombe States, has officially commenced implementation of the Bloomberg Philanthropies-funded health systems strengthening intervention, following successful inception meetings held in both states.
The inception meetings marked an important milestone in aligning government leadership, implementing partners, and development stakeholders around a shared vision to strengthen health system performance, improve service delivery, and advance maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes through evidence-based and data-driven approaches. The engagements provided a platform to clarify implementation priorities, reinforce coordination mechanisms, and secure high-level government ownership as the project moves into its operational phase.
A section of government stakeholders and implementing partners during the inception meeting in Borno
In Gombe State, the inception meeting was convened in collaboration with the State Ministry of Health and brought together senior government officials, including the Honourable Commissioner for Health, the Permanent Secretary, the Special Adviser on Donor and Partners Coordination, Executive Secretaries of the State Primary Health Care Management Board and the Hospital Management Board, as well as Directors across the Ministry of Health. Legislative support for the initiative was also demonstrated through the participation of a Member of the House of Representatives and a representative of the Appropriation Committee on Health. Development partners, including Bloomberg Philanthropies, WHO, CHAI, and Jhpiego, joined TAConnect and ACEPHAP in reaffirming their commitment to collaborative implementation, coordinated planning, and accountability, with discussions emphasizing the use of data to strengthen decision-making, service delivery, and health sector performance across the state.
Similarly, in Borno State, the inception meeting for the Bloomberg-funded Embrace Project, brought together a broad spectrum of stakeholders to align efforts toward strengthening safe motherhood and newborn care. Participants included the Honourable Commissioner for Health, representatives of the Borno Emirate Council, Directors from the Ministry of Health, the MAMII focal person, and representatives of development partners such as WHO, UNICEF, CHAI, and Lafiya. Deliberations highlighted the need for coordinated, evidence-driven solutions to address persistent maternal and newborn health challenges, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, while strengthening service delivery systems and community engagement.
Across both states, stakeholders expressed a shared commitment to sustained collaboration throughout the project’s lifecycle, underscoring the importance of government leadership, partner synergy, and efficient resource utilization. With this strong alignment established, TAConnect and ACEPHAP, working closely with Bloomberg Philanthropies and the state governments, are well positioned to support Borno and Gombe States in delivering measurable, inclusive, and sustainable improvements in health outcomes, particularly for women, newborns, and children.
