The Maternal Mortality Survey and Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care Needs Assessment in South Sudan, a UNFPA-UNICEF joint programme, culminated in the 2016 Expanded Maternal Mortality Survey, the first of its kind conducted since the country’s independence. 

The survey provides reliable data that will inform health services and programming in the country and establish a baseline to help monitor progress for women and children, including on key SDG indicators of immunization coverage, access to water, and gender equality, among others. The survey was undertaken by the National Ministry of Health and the National Bureau of Statistics, with technical guidance and support from UNICEF.