Our Impact
ICM’s impact is reflected in measurable changes across government policies, professional recognition and midwives’ working conditions. Grounded in our Theory of Change, these indicators show how ICM’s work shapes the policy and health system environments that enable midwives to practise to the standard of the ICM Essential Competencies for Midwifery Practice and the Global Standards for Midwifery.
Measuring impact in sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health is long-term work, and while these figures do not capture all change, they show how ICM is contributing to shifts across the SRMNAH landscape. The indicators below reflect outcomes of ICM’s work in 2025.
Long-Term System-Level Change
These indicators reflect large-scale outcomes at policy and system level that ICM contributes to over time through standard-setting, advocacy, partnerships and technical leadership.
98 |
Countries where national policies recognise midwives as a distinct occupation, reflecting long-term advocacy and Global Standards promoted by ICM and partners |
66 |
Countries where midwives are authorised to provide modern contraceptive methods within their scope of practice, reflecting the implementation of ICM Global Standards and the Essential Competencies for Midwifery Practice |
91 |
Countries with at least 3 midwives per 10,000 population, reflecting progress toward ensuring more women have access to quality care provided by midwives
|
This is an excellent opportunity to have ICM, as the experts, establish a standard global definition, scope of practice, and training curriculum for what we mean when we use the term midwife… and by doing so, we hope the rest of the humanitarian sector will be able to deliver better quality baseline humanitarian care.
Intermediate Change and Global Influence
These indicators show how ICM’s advocacy, partnerships and normative leadership are contributing to policy implementation, professional recognition, mobilisation and global influence.
38 |
Policy or legislative changes supporting midwives which ICM and/or ICM member associations have contributed, reflecting ICM’s advocacy reach for enabling policy environments |
601 |
Published research articles citing ICM Global Standards, guidance or resources, reflecting the use of ICM-generated resources in research, advocacy and policy discussions |
20 |
Countries with a national Chief Midwife role, reflecting long-standing advocacy by ICM for midwife leadership in governments and health systems |
2.1M |
Midwives represented through ICM member associations, reflecting the scale and legitimacy of ICM as the global voice of midwives |
Being recognised by ICM helps us greatly at national and international levels. Through ICM, we can access more opportunities with other organisations, such as WHO and embassies.
ICM’s Direct Contribution and Delivery
These indicators track the actions, services and investments delivered directly by ICM in 2025 to drive the changes described above.
18 |
ICM resources updated or developed to strengthen regulation, education and practice, including Global Standards for Regulation and Faculty Development, position papers and joint statements |
35 |
Midwives’ associations participating in ICM strengthening initiatives, reflecting ICM’s support to build strong and sustainable professional organisations |
126 |
Midwives participating in ICM leadership initiatives, reflecting ICM’s commitment to strengthening midwife leadership |
815 |
Individuals and partner organisations supporting the PUSH Campaign, reflecting global mobilisation for woman-centred care and midwives |
122K |
Total followers across all ICM communications platforms (including the PUSH Campaign), reflecting the reach of ICM’s evidence-based digital advocacy |
5 |
New partnership agreements signed, reflecting expanded collaboration to advance midwifery |
13 |
Governments and partners supported through ICM’s technical assistance, reflecting ICM’s role in enabling policy uptake and system strengthening |
Now more than ever, working together and relying on each other is absolutely critical. Developing strong partnerships, like Women Deliver has with ICM, is really the only way forward to unite against opposition.