Overview
CIFF envisions a future where communities drive sustainable progress to build a healthier, more equitable, and climate-resilient future for all children aligned with Agenda 2063 (Africa's development blueprint to achieve inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development by 2063).
We are working to achieve this by strengthening our relationships with African governments, partners and regional institutions to support countries to deliver their development priorities in line with the global SDGs. More than ever, it’s clear that urgent and lasting progress for children is best achieved by strengthening local ownership, political leadership and state capacity for delivery.
Ending violence against children: giving girls choice and opportunities through integrated programming
Child “marriage” remains one of the most pervasive barriers to girls’ rights, wellbeing and futures across Africa. Despite significant global commitments to end the practice, an estimated 12 million girls are married before their 18th birthday every year, with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for the highest rates in the world. In several countries, a combination of economic hardship, climate shocks, limited access to education, and deeply rooted gender norms continue to push families towards early marriage as the perceived only option. Without targeted and scalable action by governments, the number of child marriages on the continent is projected to rise.
In 2025, efforts across Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Malawi have accelerated progress towards ending child marriage. Government and civil society have taken a holistic approach: strengthening and enforcing laws and accountability; building community consciousness through parents, community leaders and adolescents; mobilising and aligning financing and resources; and driving momentum. This integrated model is projected to prevent 530,000 child marriages across 4 countries and reinforce a sustainable ecosystem of partners committed to protecting children from harm, keeping girls in quality education and enabling futures built on autonomy, choice and opportunity.
Ending the intergenerational cycle of
malnutrition: strengthening holistic maternal nutrition services with MMS
In Africa, the impact of undernutrition in children is felt across society, worsening child health, contributing to 45% of child deaths, and ultimately limiting the ability of future generations to thrive. However, governments across Africa are increasing their commitment to break this intergenerational cycle – and CIFF is working alongside partners to support these government-owned and led nutrition interventions from maternal supplementation and nutrition counselling through to quality and nutritious school feeding programmes.
The scaling of MMS in Ethiopia is a significant example of progress. MMS can improve maternal nutrition and reduce the risk of low birth weight and preterm birth, and in 2025, more than 357,000 pregnant women (89% of the total target population) received this essential nutritional care across the country as the programme expanded beyond the initial 21 rural Woredas into major urban areas in Ethiopia. CIFF was proud to have supported this significant shift from a small-scale pilot to a nationally relevant model that strengthened government ownership, resulting in the finalisation and endorsement of the National Costed MMS Roadmap (2025-2030), charting Ethiopia’s path to achieving universal MMS coverage by 2030. This is the first national scale up roadmap in Africa for MMS, and has provided the blueprint that other African countries are now using as they plan their own transition and scale up.
Eliminating neglected tropical diseases: a landmark year for impact
Across Africa, 519 million people still require protection against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) (WHO, 2025). These diseases disproportionally affect the poorest communities, causing chronic illness, disability and economic hardship. Yet the past decade has seen remarkable global progress in the fight against NTDs, with momentum building annually as more countries eliminate at least one of these diseases in line with the WHO’s NTD Roadmap 2030. CIFF’s approach to NTD elimination, alongside global partners, is rooted in country-leadership with a focus on system strengthening and delivery of quality healthcare.
The headline from 2025 is that 24 countries across Africa eliminated at least one NTD. CIFF is proud to be a part of these efforts accelerating progress across the continent. In 2025 alone, the work we supported saw over 175 million mass drug administrations (MDAs) deployed alongside other interventions. Cumulatively, this means approximately 1.6 million people no longer require NTD interventions. Landmark achievements included that Niger became the first country to eliminate river blindness in Africa, supported through the Reaching the Last Mile Fund, and Senegal eliminated trachoma through the Accelerate programme, protecting nearly 3 million people from the risk of blindness. These milestones deliver major health, social, and economic benefits, freeing communities from blindness, disability, and the burden of care.
Looking ahead, CIFF will continue to accelerate the elimination of NTDs across Africa through the Reaching the Last Mile Fund, targeting river blindness and lymphatic filariasis in 34 countries, as well as through the Trachoma Elimination Fund. By sustaining high-impact interventions, maintaining an elimination-focused strategy, and strengthening the broader NTD ecosystem, CIFF is building momentum toward a continent free from NTDs.
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