Options provided technical support for the Nepal Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Study 2008/09, which was implemented under the management of the Family Health Division of the Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Population, and funded by USAID and DFID. It was conducted across eight districts and the study components included a community surveillance system, maternal death review, emergency obstetric care morbidity monitoring, facility assessments, staff competency assessments, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The findings offer insight into the current situation regarding maternal health in Nepal. District level maternal mortality ratios support the 2006 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey estimate, providing further evidence that Nepal is on track to meet the Millennium Development Goal for maternal health (MDG-5). The information obtained from this study will help shape future safe motherhood programming in Nepal.