MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics
BeninBurundiDemocratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)GuineaIndiaMadagascarMaliMozambiqueNigeriaRwandaSenegal
| 2020-2025
The MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics program, funded by USAID, was designed to strengthen surgical safety in maternal health and voluntary family planning services. Although the program was terminated early in 2025 due to the dismantling of USAID, its impact continues through more than 60 resources now available. These resources—ranging from training materials to technical briefs—serve as a valuable legacy to advance surgical safety and improve maternal and family planning care worldwide.
Building a Legacy of Surgical Safety and Maternal Health
Through evidence-based approaches, innovative practices, and global collaboration, the MOMENTUM Safe Surgery program expanded access to high-quality, person-centered surgical care. By focusing on key areas such as obstetric fistula, caesarean delivery prevention, and voluntary family planning, the program worked to eliminate barriers to care, improve outcomes, and advance the global commitment to ending preventable maternal deaths and injuries.
This program built upon EngenderHealth’s decades-long commitment to ending obstetric fistula, integrating these efforts with improved access to family planning services.
As the MOMENTUM Safe Surgery Director, Dr. Vandana Tripathi, notes:
This project was the first USAID-funded effort in safe surgery, and one of the first global initiatives to recognize and act on health systems needs for surgical interventions across maternal and reproductive health care. We built a framework for strengthening surgical ecosystems to support people in seeking, reaching, and receiving appropriate care, and in remaining connected to the health system for integrated follow-up after discharge. The innovations created through the program provide a foundation for partners to continue expanding access to quality surgical care across the life course to reduce the burden of preventable mortality and morbidity in low-resource settings.
Collaborative Efforts Across 11 Countries
The tools and insights generated through this work remain crucial for advancing safe surgery within maternal health programs, and the evidence produced continues to guide global health policy.
MOMENTUM Safe Surgery was implemented across 11 countries—led by EngenderHealth and supported by core partners like IntraHealth International, Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Together, we provided crucial training, scaled evidence-based practices, and generated global tools that continue to benefit healthcare providers and organizations working in maternal health and family planning.
Access and Use the MOMENTUM Safe Surgery Legacy Resources
The legacy of the MOMENTUM Safe Surgery program is now available to global health professionals, policymakers, and partners in the form of over 60 technical resources. These include implementation guides, policy briefs, case studies, training materials, and peer-reviewed publications, all of which are accessible on our website.
These resources provide the evidence and best practices needed to carry this work forward. Whether you are looking to integrate surgical safety into your own programs or contribute to global efforts to improve maternal and family planning care, these tools are designed to support sustainable, high-quality care.
Explore the MOMENTUM Safe Surgery Legacy Resources
Resources & Publications
Participatory approaches to programme design, planning and early implementation: experiences from a safe surgery project in Nigeria
Explore how the EngenderHealth-led, USAID-funded MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics project strengthened Nigeria’s surgical ecosystem through locally driven, co-created interventions. Download this research study to learn how innovative partnerships, advances in fistula care, and sustainable country ownership build resilient health systems. Journal article originally published in Health Policy and Planning.
Partnering with Youth for Impact: Profiles of MOMENTUM Youth Partners from Across the Globe
Download this inspiring resource to discover how youth around the world are leading change, shaping healthier futures, and transforming systems—supported by evidence-based programs like the EngenderHealth-led, USAID-funded MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics project. Access to explore powerful youth partnerships, proven strategies, and real-world examples of advocacy to improve youth sexual and reproductive health and rights in Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, India, Kenya, Mali, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Tanzania.
Perinatal Mental Health Consequences of Stillbirth and Potential Interventions: Summary of Evidence From Low- And Middle-Income Countries
Worldwide, around two million women experience stillbirth each year—most are preventable. This report, developed under the EngenderHealth-led, USAID-funded MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics project, explores the mental health impacts of stillbirth in low- and middle-income countries and highlights evidence-based interventions to support grieving women.
While the MOMENTUM Safe Surgery in Family Planning and Obstetrics program may have come to an end, its legacy endures. The insights and tools created through this program will continue to shape the future of maternal and family planning care. By using these resources, partners can ensure that the lessons learned and practices developed through this program continue to improve healthcare systems and save lives for years to come.
