UNFPA's Maternal Health Thematic Fund, initiated in early 2008, represents a focused effort to accelerate progress towards saving women's lives and achieving universal access to reproductive health, as outlined in Millennium Development Goal 5. This report outlines the activities, results and achievements from 2009 and looks ahead at future challenges.

It also features results from the Campaign to End Fistula and the ICM-UNFPA midwifery project  and illustrates that significant progress can be made by adopting proven strategies — including family planning, skilled care during childbirth, and expanded access to and utilization of emergency obstetric and newborn care — combined with partnerships for better coordination under national leadership.