Introducing Real Talk: A Series of Conversations on Challenging Questions
About the Series:
AlignMNH is introducing a new series, Real Talk, that tackles the challenging questions that keep MNH practitioners up at night through authentic dialogue between experts who don’t always agree. Think podcast-style conversation meets structured debate – no polished presentations, just honest exchanges about the complex realities of maternal and newborn health work.
Upcoming Events
Crystal Clear or Clear as Mud? MNH priorities in 2026 and beyond
January 27, 2026
07:00 AM EST / 2:00 PM EAT
As countries seek to reduce reliance on external funding, conversations about prioritization and efficiency are everywhere but are they actually helping or adding to the confusion? With mounting evidence for many ways to reduce maternal and newborn mortality and stillbirths, countries are under increasing pressure to decide where to spend scarce resources. The concept of “best buys” promises clarity yet often oversimplifies the complex realities of health systems at different stages of development.
This Real Talk will explore what really works by grappling with the tensions countries face every day:
- How do we honor evidence-based prioritization while respecting local contexts?
- How do we promote cross-country learning without imposing one-size-fits-all solutions?
- When do “best buys” support better decision-making, and when do they fall short?
When countries face impossible choices with limited budgets, they need actionable strategies and practical tools that reflect real-world complexity. Join us to hear from global leaders, interrogate the promise and limits of “best buys,” and explore how countries can make smarter MNH investment decisions.
Previous Events
Innovations like AI are revolutionizing healthcare, but who should pay for them?
November 18, 2025
07:00 AM EST / 2:00 PM EAT
While breakthrough technologies promise to transform how we save mothers’ and babies’ lives, the harsh reality is that most innovations fail to scale where they’re needed most. In low and middle-income countries, limited resources collide with the high costs of new technologies, creating an innovation graveyard of pilots that never reach the communities they’re designed to serve.
This Real Talk brought together diverse perspectives from innovators, donors, investors, and government representatives to move beyond the hype to address some uncomfortable questions:
- Who bears responsibility for funding innovation?
- How do we break the cycle of dependency on traditional donors
- What new financing models could actually work?
This was an honest, solutions-focused dialogue about forging collaborative partnerships and dynamic approaches to ensure life-saving innovations reach every mother and newborn.
The workforce gap cannot be closed—what now?
Tuesday, 21 October, 2025
07:00 AM EDT / 2:00 PM EAT
We’re running out of people to care for mothers and babies, and the solutions on the table range from revolutionary to downright controversial.
From task-shifting and telemedicine to the emerging role of artificial intelligence, we explored how new approaches are reshaping who provides care, how it’s delivered, and what support practitioners need to make it work.
On our blog, read a recap and key takeaways from the discussion.