ICM and FIGO Commit to Interprofessional Collaboration 

Midwives and obstetrician-gynaecologists (ob-gyns) and their respective associations are committing to interprofessional collaboration at the global and national levels, with the goal of improving women’s access to sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health (SRMNAH) services.

The first collaboration meeting, held last month in Nairobi, Kenya, was an opportunity for ICM’s Chief Executive Anna af Ugglas and Chief Midwife Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent to meet with the current FIGO President Anne Kihara, and incoming President Frank Louwen, as well as leadership from member associations from five countries. Together, they committed to using a gender transformative approach in their collaboration, and support their members to organise joint trainings, and share advocacy and research opportunities.

This was the first time ICM and FIGO have organised a high-level meeting at the leadership level, and have prepared a Joint Statement on Interprofessional Collaboration, which is expected to be published in early 2026. The statement will provide a vision of impact, workforce optimisation, clarity of competencies to ensure health services are sustainable and women can access the care they need.

The global situation is challenging, and it is critical that midwives and ob-gyns join in a spirit of respectful, professional collaboration with one voice for women. Here are some key takeaways from the participants:

“Every day, in every country, midwives and obstetricians and gynaecologists work side-by-side… this goal can only be achieved when our collaboration is built upon respect, trust and complementarity. Women’s health is not only the responsibility of one profession. It requires shared responsibility, joint leadership, and a willingness to learn from each other.” Anna af Ugglas, Chief Executive, ICM 

“Competitiveness and hierarchical leadership will never get us anywhere. It’s a no-brainer, the midwife and the doctors must collaborate. Can we become that generation that will be recognized as transformative leaders who embraced being together, working together?” Anne Kihara, FIGO President  

“FIGO was delighted to strengthen its collaboration with ICM in Nairobi recently. OBGYNs and midwives encounter each other every day in hospitals worldwide. To best serve women, they must move beyond working side by side to working truly together as a team committed to safeguarding access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including contraception and safe abortion.” Frank Louwen, FIGO President-Elect
 

Special thanks to the WHO Human Reproduction Programme and the Government of Canada for championing a gender-transformative approach to women’s health.