Global Chief Midwife Community of Practice
Strong, visible midwifery leadership is essential to advancing, protecting, and sustaining the midwifery profession worldwide. The Global Chief Midwife Community of Practice (GCMCoP) strengthens national and global midwifery leadership by connecting, supporting, and amplifying the role of Chief Midwives across diverse country contexts.
The GCMCoP brings together senior midwifery leaders to build shared understanding of the contemporary National Chief Midwife (NCM) role, increase its visibility and influence, and advocate for the establishment of Chief Midwife positions in every country. National Chief Midwives are senior professional leaders for midwifery, typically positioned within Ministries of Health, national health authorities, or equivalent governance structures. They provide strategic leadership, technical expertise, and professional oversight to ensure the availability, quality, safety, and effectiveness of midwifery services at national and subnational levels.
Through collective leadership and peer exchange, the GCMCoP strengthens the capacity of Chief Midwives to shape policy, influence health system design, and lead midwifery workforces that deliver high-quality sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and adolescent health care.
The GCMCoP directly supports the mission and strategic objectives of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and aligns with the ICM Strategic Plan, the ICM Professional Framework for Midwifery (2021), and ICM’s leadership initiatives.
What the Community Does
The Global Chief Midwife Community of Practice provides a trusted, collaborative space for expert exchange, peer support, mentorship, and shared learning. Through this community, Chief Midwives strengthen their leadership, expand their influence, and drive meaningful change within health systems.
The Community focuses on:
- Strengthening the collective voice, visibility, and influence of midwifery leaders globally
- Developing clear, evidence-based narratives that demonstrate the value and return on investment of Chief Midwife roles
- Supporting leadership continuity through mentorship, succession planning, and shadowing opportunities
- Sharing practical resources, tools, education opportunities, and leadership development approaches
- Advancing advocacy for the professional recognition and distinct status of midwifery and midwifery leadership
- Providing guidance on role descriptions, leadership models, and governance structures aligned with ICM standards
- Offering strategic input on midwifery legislation, regulation, scope of practice, quality improvement, and digital health
- Identifying and engaging key stakeholders in line with country-specific priorities
- Undertaking additional activities as guided by ICM governance and regional structures
Membership
The Community brings together midwives who hold a National Chief Midwife or equivalent senior leadership role within a ministry, health system, professional association, or non-governmental organisation. Members bring recognised midwifery qualifications, senior leadership experience, and a commitment to contributing their time and expertise to the Community of Practice.
As members, Chief Midwives engage actively in peer exchange, share leadership insights, and contribute to collective efforts to strengthen midwifery leadership nationally and globally. Members participate through regular collaboration, digital engagement, and a shared commitment to advancing the visibility, influence, and impact of midwifery leadership in their countries and beyond.
