Impact Report 2024 Accelerating Impact

2024 was a pivotal year for Max Foundation. We celebrated 20 years of working to ensure every child gets a healthy start in life. It was a milestone year, one in which we further deepened our focus on accelerating impact through evidence and innovation.

Validated Impact: From Evidence to Acceleration

A peer-reviewed study by Karolinska Institutet, published in the journal Children, confirmed that our integrated Healthy Village programme halved child undernutrition in Bangladesh within four years, much faster than the national trend. We’re applying these results to expand our reach. Our adapted Healthy Village model is now active in rapidly growing urban and peri-urban areas where child health risks remain high.

Innovation in Action: Navigating Complexity

2024 tested our adaptability. In Ethiopia, we resumed operations in Tigray after two years of conflict-related disruption, working closely with the Government of Ethiopia through the Seqota Declaration, the national roadmap to end stunting. In Bangladesh, we adapted to ongoing political transitions. These challenges reinforced the importance of adaptive management. We’ve learned that if solutions don’t scale through local systems, they risk becoming isolated successes. That’s why we’re doubling down on cost-effectiveness, government partnerships, and community-led change.

Innovating and Scaling Through Market Systems

Innovation means putting communities in the lead. In 2024, we supported 830 entrepreneurs to expand access to health products and services in their own neighbourhoods. These entrepreneurs are not just distributors, they are local innovators building sustainable market systems.

Max TapWater, our social enterprise, continues to demonstrate how business models can accelerate health impact. With over 50 water grids now operational, it’s providing safe water to more than 12,000 people. Each connection saves women and girls 1.5 hours a day that was previously spent fetching water, time they can now use for income generation, education or caring for their families.

Royal Recognition

This special year was crowned with royal recognition for our founders, Joke and Steven Le Poole, an honour that celebrates the shared commitment driving Max Foundation’s mission.

Click on the image below to explore our full Impact Report 2024!