Impact Bond: Cameroon Kangaroo Mother Care Development Impact Bond (KMC DIB)
Stage of development: Implementation
Policy sector: Health
Intervention: The KMC DIB’s objective was  to identify a path to scale for and expand quality KMC to five regions in Cameroon to reduce infant mortality levels. Kangaroo Mother Care is a proven and globally recommended health practice for babies born early or small, which involves holding the baby skin-to-skin on the mothers or other caregivers chest, ideally feeding them only breastmilk, minimising time in hospital and having close follow-up of the mother and baby once they return home. It aimed to achieve this in two ways: 1. Roll out KMC in 10 hospitals across five regions in Cameroon, with the ultimate outcome of significant and verifiable improvements in LBW infant health. Intermediate outcomes include  extended periods of skin-to-skin care for LBW and pre-term neonates, high rates of exclusive breastfeeding, and above-average weight gain by 40 weeks gestational age. 2. Integrate high-quality KMC into Cameroon’s public healthcare system to ensure the DIB investment’s long-term sustainability, including further expansion to hospitals nationwide.
Date outcomes contract signed: 2018-12
Start of service provision: 2019-02
Anticipated end of service provision: 2021-03
Actual end of service provision: 2021-09
Dates notes: It was extended by 6 months due to Covid 19.
Total investment commitment currency: USD
Total investment commitment: 800000
Total investment commitment (USD): 800000
Maximum potential outcome payment: 2430000 USD
Maximum potential outcome payment (USD): 2430000
Finance notes: $3.1 million dollars (USD) of programme outcomes were delivered , of which $2.43m were paid due to the contract cap.
Target population: The project will be implemented across five regions in Cameroon targeting low birth weight (LBW) or preterm newborns. Those regions were chosen based on needs (i.e. newborn mortality rate level) and volume of infants admitted in hospitals.
Targeted number of service users or beneficiaries: 2200