So far, our database features 150 interventions funded by over 80 funders from across the world. One thing we were interested in looking into was how funding is distributed across Nigeria’s 36 states and capital. Were there funders that were prone to fund particular states? What states received the most funding and what funders funded the most projects across the country? This insight will highlight the top funders for each state and breakdown funding trends. This is not an exhaustive list of all the state-funded programs, the analysis is based on data collected by Maternal Figures.

Big Timers

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Department for International Development (DFID) are the most consistent funders across our database. While the Gates Foundation and USAID have both funded 70 interventions in our database, the Gates Foundation has funded programs in 30 states across the country, while USAID has only funded interventions in 23. The Gates Foundation also consistently remains the top funder in 13 states. DFID follows behind the two. The UK development agency has funded 54 across 22 states. The agency is consistent in the country’s northern region. It has taken top billing in Jigawa and tied with USAID in Kano for most interventions in the state.

State-Funded Programs

States-funded interventions often look like free maternal healthcare programmes, which are made available in a number of states across the country. But certain states offer more. In our database, Lagos state has the most state-funded programmes. The state has implemented policies like the maternal and child mortality reduction programme, which hopes to improve the health-seeking behaviours of women of childbearing age in the state. Former governors have prioritized infrastructure, by building mother and child centres that offer services across the state. So far, Lagos state leads the charge for the state with the highest number of state-funded interventions.

International Players

While USAID, DFID, and the Gates Foundation are the most notable players. Other countries like Canada, Japan, Norway and Germany have also contributed to maternal health interventions. For example, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has contributed to interventions in Lagos state that aimed to improve access to life-saving interventions in urban and hard to reach riverine areas in the state.

Cover photo source: The Conversation