Are Midwives Prepared, Protected, and Supported?

Join us on 30 June, from 14:00–15:30 CEST for a webinar co-hosted by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and the EQUAL Research Consortium, focusing on the critical transition from midwifery education to early practice in fragile and humanitarian settings.  In many crisis-affected contexts, early-career midwives face significant barriers, even before they begin practicing— ranging from under-resourced training and difficult workforce entry to navigating professional environments shaped by insecurity, violence, and burnout. The webinar will feature speakers from Afghanistan, Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, and other contexts, offering valuable insights into what happens after graduation and how midwives can be better prepared, protected, and supported as they step into some of the world’s most complex health systems.  Aligned with the Midwifery Accelerator’s pillars—Commit and invest; Educate, deploy, and retain; Advocate and empower—the session will highlight research, lived experience, and practical strategies to help strengthen the early-career journey of midwives working in crisis contexts. Simultaneous interpretation will be available in English and French.

Webinar Moderators:

Pandora Hardtman and Shatha Elnakib

Confirmed Speakers:

• Charity Maina, Institute of Human Virology of Nigeria
• Hawa Abdullahi, Somali Research and Development Institute
• Majid Elnour, UNFPA Sudan
• Massoma Jafari, University of Toronto
• Neha Mankani, International Confederation of Midwives