Dear m2m Family, Friends, and Supporters,
The biggest number at mothers2mothers (m2m) in 2023 was... zero. This zero does not represent nothing, but something we are incredibly proud of. Why? Together with our partners, m2m achieved a 0% mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT) rate among our enrolled clients in 2023.
This achievement is particularly significant as m2m was founded with the goal of ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV. While it is the first time this rate has been 0%, 2023 is in fact the 10th consecutive year that m2m has recorded virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV among our enrolled clients (a rate of 5% or under). Bear in mind that when we were founded, this transmission rate hovered around 40%, and achieving virtual elimination felt like an impossible dream.
How did we unlock this remarkable result? We consistently invested in the power of African women working as paid, professional community health workers, who could understand and meet the exact health needs of their peers. The outcome? Quality health services, delivered at scale, that not only bring families into care, but keep them engaged for the long term. In 2023, m2m again met or exceeded the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets—meaning our enrolled clients know their HIV status, start and stay on any treatment they need, and achieve viral suppression, which are all key components of the journey to end HIV.
While we are proud of this milestone, our determination to deliver for the communities we serve is stronger than ever. Our 2023 results also demonstrate the potential to use our model not only to finish the job on HIV, but also to tackle other, related health challenges. Guided by our five-year strategic plan (2022-2026), m2m today goes far beyond HIV, and delivers integrated primary healthcare services to address our clients’ most pressing health needs. As you’ll read in this report, we achieved positive outcomes in many health areas in 2023, including tuberculosis (TB), childhood immunisations, early childhood development, and sexual and reproductive health. Having achieved one seemingly impossible dream, we’re on a journey to our next milestone—reducing preventable deaths by a third for our clients by 2026.
We could not have achieved this impact without the hard work and dedication of our team, and the unwavering commitment and generous support of our donors, partners, Board Members, and friends. They include Dr. Lynette (Lyn) Denny, to whom this annual report is dedicated. Lyn sadly passed away in June 2024. A member of the Board of m2m South Africa since 2021, Lyn was a friend since our inception—befriending m2m Founder Dr. Mitch Besser when he joined the University of Cape Town, Department of OBGYN faculty in 2000. Her ongoing support and guidance were invaluable in shaping and growing our programmes, ensuring they were both innovative and impactful for countless mothers, children, and entire families.
To find out more about m2m’s “big zero” and how our community-based, peer-led approach is creating greater health and opportunity in the communities we serve, please continue scrolling down to read our 2023 Annual Report.
Asante sana, Dankie, Enkosi, Ke a leboha, Natotela, Ndi a livhuhu, Ndza Khensa, Ngiyabonga, Ngiyathokoza, Nyanja, Obrigado, Siyabonga, Webale nyo, Zikomo, and Gracias…
With deep gratitude…and abrazos y salud,
Frank Beadle de Palomo
President & Chief Executive Officer
Dear m2m Family, Friends, and Supporters,
The biggest number at mothers2mothers (m2m) in 2023 was... zero. This zero does not represent nothing, but something we are incredibly proud of. Why? Together with our partners, m2m achieved a 0% mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT) rate among our enrolled clients in 2023.
This achievement is particularly significant as m2m was founded with the goal of ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV. While it is the first time this rate has been 0%, 2023 is in fact the 10th consecutive year that m2m has recorded virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV among our enrolled clients (a rate of 5% or under). Bear in mind that when we were founded, this transmission rate hovered around 40%, and achieving virtual elimination felt like an impossible dream.
How did we unlock this remarkable result? We consistently invested in the power of African women working as paid, professional community health workers, who could understand and meet the exact health needs of their peers. The outcome? Quality health services, delivered at scale, that not only bring families into care, but keep them engaged for the long term. In 2023, m2m again met or exceeded the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets—meaning our enrolled clients know their HIV status, start and stay on any treatment they need, and achieve viral suppression, which are all key components of the journey to end HIV.
While we are proud of this milestone, our determination to deliver for the communities we serve is stronger than ever. Our 2023 results also demonstrate the potential to use our model not only to finish the job on HIV, but also to tackle other, related health challenges. Guided by our five-year strategic plan (2022-2026), m2m today goes far beyond HIV, and delivers integrated primary healthcare services to address our clients’ most pressing health needs. As you’ll read in this report, we achieved positive outcomes in many health areas in 2023, including tuberculosis (TB), childhood immunisations, early childhood development, and sexual and reproductive health. Having achieved one seemingly impossible dream, we’re on a journey to our next milestone—reducing preventable deaths by a third for our clients by 2026.
We could not have achieved this impact without the hard work and dedication of our team, and the unwavering commitment and generous support of our donors, partners, Board Members, and friends. They include Dr. Lynette (Lyn) Denny, to whom this annual report is dedicated. Lyn sadly passed away in June 2024. A member of the Board of m2m South Africa since 2021, Lyn was a friend since our inception—befriending m2m Founder Dr. Mitch Besser when he joined the University of Cape Town, Department of OBGYN faculty in 2000. Her ongoing support and guidance were invaluable in shaping and growing our programmes, ensuring they were both innovative and impactful for countless mothers, children, and entire families.
To find out more about m2m’s “big zero” and how our community-based, peer-led approach is creating greater health and opportunity in the communities we serve, please continue scrolling down to read our 2023 Annual Report.
Asante sana, Dankie, Enkosi, Ke a leboha, Natotela, Ndi a livhuhu, Ndza Khensa, Ngiyabonga, Ngiyathokoza, Nyanja, Obrigado, Siyabonga, Webale nyo, Zikomo, and Gracias…
With deep gratitude…and abrazos y salud,
Frank Beadle de Palomo
President & Chief Executive Officer
When Ntombikayise met m2m Community Mentor Mother Coordinator Millicent Magwa in the Western Cape, South Africa, she had stopped taking her antiretroviral medications (ARVs) because she believed she would die regardless. She also had stopped going to the health centre for fear she would be judged for defaulting on her treatment. Millicent explained the importance of taking her treatment consistently to protect her health. She also noticed that Ntombikayise had symptoms for TB and referred her for TB testing, which came back positive.
“From that point on, I received constant support and reminders from the Mentor Mothers to take both my ARVs and TB treatment consistently through regular household visits and calls. During these visits, they gave me health education about the importance of adhering to my TB and ARV treatment. They also taught me about safer sex practices, the need for TB contacts to be tested, and how to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Receiving these visits and calls made a huge difference. It felt like someone truly cared about my health, and it gave me hope for a brighter future. Despite becoming pregnant, I continued with my treatment regimen and completed my TB treatment successfully.
I recently gave birth to a healthy baby girl, who is HIV-negative. Now that I’m staying on treatment, I feel confident about my future. I’ll be able to take care of my children and look for employment, and I’m living positively and feeling healthy.”
— m2m client Ntombikayise
“One of the things that sets us apart as community health workers is knowing that there is likelihood that our clients could default on their treatment again, if they had defaulted before. But we give them the same support as though we are meeting with them for the first time, we never get tired, and we never make them feel like failures.”
— m2m Community Mentor Mother Coordinator Millicent Magwa
When Ntombikayise met m2m Community Mentor Mother Coordinator Millicent Magwa in the Western Cape, South Africa, she had stopped taking her antiretroviral medications (ARVs) because she believed she would die regardless. She also had stopped going to the health centre for fear she would be judged for defaulting on her treatment. Millicent explained the importance of taking her treatment consistently to protect her health. She also noticed that Ntombikayise had symptoms for TB and referred her for TB testing, which came back positive.
“From that point on, I received constant support and reminders from the Mentor Mothers to take both my ARVs and TB treatment consistently through regular household visits and calls. During these visits, they gave me health education about the importance of adhering to my TB and ARV treatment. They also taught me about safer sex practices, the need for TB contacts to be tested, and how to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Receiving these visits and calls made a huge difference. It felt like someone truly cared about my health, and it gave me hope for a brighter future. Despite becoming pregnant, I continued with my treatment regimen and completed my TB treatment successfully.
I recently gave birth to a healthy baby girl, who is HIV-negative. Now that I’m staying on treatment, I feel confident about my future. I’ll be able to take care of my children and look for employment, and I’m living positively and feeling healthy.”
— m2m client Ntombikayise
“One of the things that sets us apart as community health workers is knowing that there is likelihood that our clients could default on their treatment again, if they had defaulted before. But we give them the same support as though we are meeting with them for the first time, we never get tired, and we never make them feel like failures.”
— m2m Community Mentor Mother Coordinator Millicent Magwa
m2m is grateful to the many partners and donors who support our work. Their generosity in 2023 helped improve health and opportunity for nearly one million women, children, adolescents, and men across sub-Saharan Africa. Thank you!
m2m is grateful to the many partners and donors who support our work. Their generosity in 2023 helped improve health and opportunity for nearly one million women, children, adolescents, and men across sub-Saharan Africa. Thank you!
In each African country where we deliver health services, m2m is locally registered. At a global level, the m2m family is made up of three separate legal entities—mothers2mothers South Africa, mothers2mothers (U.K.) Limited, and mothers2mothers United States. Each of these entities is committed to our shared mission and governed by a set of independent Board of Directors/Trustees. Our Directors/ Trustees are a diverse group of individuals committed to ensuring health and opportunity for all.
Jolly Mokorosi
Chair, m2mSA
Financial Services Professional and Business Owner
Frank Beadle de Palomo †
President & Chief Executive Officer, m2m
Dr. Mitch Besser
Founder, m2m
Dr. Lynne Cornelissen
Research Clinician, Stellenbosch University’s Family Centre for Research with Ubuntu
Dr. Lynette Ann Denny
Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Cape Town
Dr. Samukeliso Dube
Executive Director, FP2030
Peggy Grueninger (through March 2023)
Head of Corporate Donations and Philanthropy,
F. Hoffmann-La Roche
Tom Kagerer †
m2mSA Board Observer
Partner, LGT Venture Philanthropy
Derek Lubner
Chair and Co-Founder, Izinga Assist
Musa Makhunga
Founding Managing Director, HR Matters Holdings
Herschelle Milford
Organisational Development Consultant
Gillian Mthandi
Director of Human Resources, m2m
Chad D. Rathner
Secretary, m2mSA
Chief Operating Officer, m2m
Boitumelo Semete-Makokotleta
CEO, South African Health Products Regulatory Authority
Dr. Tim Tucker
Founder and CEO, SEAD Consulting
Afua Basoah
Chair, m2mUK
Head of Healthcare Strategy, Rapp
Carolina Manhusen Schwab
Vice-Chair, m2mUK
Social Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, and Economist
Souleymane Ba
Partner, Co-Head of Climate Strategy, LeapFrog Investments
Kerry Evans
Global Head of Makeup Category,
AVON Cosmetics Ltd
Dr. Tim Evans
Medical Doctor
Peggy Grueninger (beginning March 2023)
Head of Corporate Donations and Philanthropy,
F. Hoffmann-La Roche
Andrea Hartley
Founder and CEO, Skating Panda
Keith Kibirango
Director of Philanthropy and Private Sector Engagement, Crown Agents
Derek Lubner
Chair and Co-Founder, Izinga Assist
Charles McGregor
Trustee, University of Cape Town Trust
Daphne Metland
Director, Thrive
Colin Freund
Chair, m2mUS
CEO, MODRA Pharmaceuticals
Laura Bartlett
Vice-Chair, m2mUS (through March 2023)
Retired Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operations Officer
Meena Ravella
Vice-Chair, m2mUS (starting March 2023)
Advisor & Consultant
Frank Beadle de Palomo †
President & Chief Executive Officer, m2m
Dr. Mitch Besser
Founder, m2m
Leslie Brunner
Chief People Officer, Devoted Health
Katy Digovich ††
Co-Founder and CEO, Minutia
Colleen Hancock
Advisor & Mentor
Loretta Kelly
Director of Strategic Marketing
Blue Diamond Growers
Ariel Knowles
Finance Professional & Consultant
Karin Norington-Reaves
Founder and Former Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
Modupe Odusote ††
Visual Artist & Human Resources Consultant
Neena Patil
Chief Legal Officer and Senior Vice President, Corporate and Government Affairs, Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Terry Peigh
Marketing Communications Consultant, Advisor, Development Organisations Board Member
Kate Schachern
Consultant
Robin Smalley
Co-Founder, m2m
Officers of the Corporation
Chad D. Rathner
Secretary, m2mSA
Chief Operating Officer, m2m
Muhammad Salie
Treasurer, m2mSA and m2mUS
Director, Finance and Administration, m2m
Sarah Sheldon
Secretary, m2mUS
Head of Risk & Compliance, Operations, m2m
† Non-voting Member
†† On hiatus, inactive
In each African country where we deliver health services, m2m is locally registered. At a global level, the m2m family is made up of three separate legal entities—mothers2mothers South Africa, mothers2mothers (U.K.) Limited, and mothers2mothers United States. Each of these entities is committed to our shared mission and governed by a set of independent Board of Directors/Trustees. Our Directors/ Trustees are a diverse group of individuals committed to ensuring health and opportunity for all.
Jolly Mokorosi
Chair, m2mSA
Financial Services Professional and Business Owner
Frank Beadle de Palomo †
President & Chief Executive Officer, m2m
Dr. Mitch Besser
Founder, m2m
Dr. Lynne Cornelissen
Research Clinician, Stellenbosch University’s Family Centre for Research with Ubuntu
Dr. Lynette Ann Denny
Professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Cape Town
Dr. Samukeliso Dube
Executive Director, FP2030
Peggy Grueninger (through March 2023)
Head of Corporate Donations and Philanthropy,
F. Hoffmann-La Roche
Tom Kagerer †
m2mSA Board Observer
Partner, LGT Venture Philanthropy
Derek Lubner
Chair and Co-Founder, Izinga Assist
Musa Makhunga
Founding Managing Director, HR Matters Holdings
Herschelle Milford
Organisational Development Consultant
Gillian Mthandi
Director of Human Resources, m2m
Chad D. Rathner
Secretary, m2mSA
Chief Operating Officer, m2m
Boitumelo Semete-Makokotleta
CEO, South African Health Products Regulatory Authority
Dr. Tim Tucker
Founder and CEO, SEAD Consulting
Afua Basoah
Chair, m2mUK
Head of Healthcare Strategy, Rapp
Carolina Manhusen Schwab
Vice-Chair, m2mUK
Social Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, and Economist
Souleymane Ba
Partner, Co-Head of Climate Strategy, LeapFrog Investments
Kerry Evans
Global Head of Makeup Category,
AVON Cosmetics Ltd
Dr. Tim Evans
Medical Doctor
Peggy Grueninger (beginning March 2023)
Head of Corporate Donations and Philanthropy,
F. Hoffmann-La Roche
Andrea Hartley
Founder and CEO, Skating Panda
Keith Kibirango
Director of Philanthropy and Private Sector Engagement, Crown Agents
Derek Lubner
Chair and Co-Founder, Izinga Assist
Charles McGregor
Trustee, University of Cape Town Trust
Daphne Metland
Director, Thrive
Colin Freund
Chair, m2mUS
CEO, MODRA Pharmaceuticals
Laura Bartlett
Vice-Chair, m2mUS (through March 2023)
Retired Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operations Officer
Meena Ravella
Vice-Chair, m2mUS (starting March 2023)
Advisor & Consultant
Frank Beadle de Palomo †
President & Chief Executive Officer, m2m
Dr. Mitch Besser
Founder, m2m
Leslie Brunner
Chief People Officer, Devoted Health
Katy Digovich ††
Co-Founder and CEO, Minutia
Colleen Hancock
Advisor & Mentor
Loretta Kelly
Director of Strategic Marketing
Blue Diamond Growers
Ariel Knowles
Finance Professional & Consultant
Karin Norington-Reaves
Founder and Former Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
Modupe Odusote ††
Visual Artist & Human Resources Consultant
Neena Patil
Chief Legal Officer and Senior Vice President, Corporate and Government Affairs, Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Terry Peigh
Marketing Communications Consultant, Advisor, Development Organisations Board Member
Kate Schachern
Consultant
Robin Smalley
Co-Founder, m2m
Officers of the Corporation
Chad D. Rathner
Secretary, m2mSA
Chief Operating Officer, m2m
Muhammad Salie
Treasurer, m2mSA and m2mUS
Director, Finance and Administration, m2m
Sarah Sheldon
Secretary, m2mUS
Head of Risk & Compliance, Operations, m2m
† Non-voting Member
†† On hiatus, inactive
2023 was a year of resilience and adaptation. Political and economic instability continued and intensified around the world, significantly impacting both budget availability and donor priorities.
Against this backdrop, we are proud to report total revenue and support of $25.8 million. While this is a decrease compared to 2022, through prudent financial management, strategic cost optimisation, and ongoing collaboration with key partners, we minimised the impact of reduced funding on our country platforms and spent 83% of our expenses directly on programmatic costs. In 2023, we also continued to benefit from steadfast partnerships, including critical support from the United States Government through PEPFAR, USAID, and CDC. Their commitment underpins much of our work, and we remain deeply grateful. Longstanding donors such as Cartier Philanthropy, LGT Venture Philanthropy, and Jasmine Social Investments also continued to support our work this year, and we were delighted to begin working with new partners, including GlaxoSmithKline and the World Food Programme.
We continue to be prudent in the use of resources to further our 2022-2026 Strategic Plan goals and objectives. These strategic investments include refining our models to maximise impact and exploring innovative funding streams to diversify our revenue base. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, and a renewed drive to diversify funding sources while carefully managing costs, we are well-positioned to meet both the challenges and opportunities ahead. We ended the year with reserves of $38.2 million, including $32.8 million in unrestricted funds. This provides a solid foundation for operational sustainability, and we continue to deploy our reserves cautiously and strategically given ongoing economic uncertainty.
View Detailed Financial Statements for m2m South Africa
View Detailed Financial Statements for m2m United Kingdom
View Detailed Financial Statements for m2m United States
2023 was a year of resilience and adaptation. Political and economic instability continued and intensified around the world, significantly impacting both budget availability and donor priorities.
Against this backdrop, we are proud to report total revenue and support of $25.8 million. While this is a decrease compared to 2022, through prudent financial management, strategic cost optimisation, and ongoing collaboration with key partners, we minimised the impact of reduced funding on our country platforms and spent 83% of our expenses directly on programmatic costs. In 2023, we also continued to benefit from steadfast partnerships, including critical support from the United States Government through PEPFAR, USAID, and CDC. Their commitment underpins much of our work, and we remain deeply grateful. Longstanding donors such as Cartier Philanthropy, LGT Venture Philanthropy, and Jasmine Social Investments also continued to support our work this year, and we were delighted to begin working with new partners, including GlaxoSmithKline and the World Food Programme.
We continue to be prudent in the use of resources to further our 2022-2026 Strategic Plan goals and objectives. These strategic investments include refining our models to maximise impact and exploring innovative funding streams to diversify our revenue base. With a focus on innovation, sustainability, and a renewed drive to diversify funding sources while carefully managing costs, we are well-positioned to meet both the challenges and opportunities ahead. We ended the year with reserves of $38.2 million, including $32.8 million in unrestricted funds. This provides a solid foundation for operational sustainability, and we continue to deploy our reserves cautiously and strategically given ongoing economic uncertainty.
Global HQ: mothers2mothers South Africa
33 Martin Hammerschlag Way, 5th Floor, Foreshore
Cape Town, South Africa 8001
office: +27 (0)21 466 9160
contact: [email protected]
Europe: mothers2mothers U.K.
office: +44 (0) 203 867 7120
contact: [email protected]
North America: mothers2mothers U.S.
office: +1 323 312 3450
contact: [email protected]
To engage with us or support us, please contact:
Tricia Cassidy
Senior Director Business Development
[email protected]
Dillon Mann
Chief Communications and Advocacy Officer
[email protected]
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References
1 Disclaimer: mothers2mothers (m2m) strives to provide accurate performance data. Our data quality and routine monitoring and evaluation systems are regularly reviewed and updated. We benchmark and validate internal data though external evaluations and data quality assurance processes. National and site comparisons often rely on public domain data; m2m has no control over the quality of such data. As m2m tracks mother-baby pairs, each pregnancy is catalogued as a new client in our PMTCT programme, potentially cumulatively leading to a higher count for adult women clients.
3 https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/2023-unaids-global-aids-update_en.pdf
4 https://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/UNAIDS_FactSheet_en.pdf
7 https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-021-11466-5
8 https://mics.unicef.org/
9 Ibid.
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