34th International Confederation of Midwives Triennial Congress Press Kit

Lisbon, Portugal | 14-18 June 2026 

 

Lisbon to host global midwifery Congress as midwife shortage reaches nearly one million 

The world is facing a shortage of nearly one million midwives, leaving millions without access to essential care, and global leaders are gathering in Lisbon to respond. 

The 34th ICM Triennial Congress, the largest global gathering of midwives, will bring together global health leaders, policymakers and midwives this June to address one of the most urgent workforce challenges in healthcare today. 

With one million more midwives, evidence shows we could: 

• Prevent 67% of maternal deaths 

• Prevent 64% of newborn deaths 

• Prevent 65% of stillbirths 

• Save up to 4.3 million lives every year by 2035 

 

“This is not a future risk. It is a present reality,” said Anna af Ugglas, Chief Executive of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). 

 

Media accreditation now open 

Media accreditation is now open for the 34th ICM Triennial Congress in Lisbon. We are pleased to provide complimentary media passes to reputable journalists interested in covering the Congress in Lisbon, Portugal, 14-18 June 2026.  All requests for media passes must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the Congress start date. 

Media accreditation includes: 

• Access to Congress sessions 

• Interview opportunities with global experts and midwives 

• Access to media materials and daily highlights 

 

About the Congress 

The ICM Triennial Congress is the largest global gathering of midwives. 

Held every three years since 1954, it brings together midwives, researchers, educators, policymakers and partners from around the world to: 

• Share knowledge and research 

• Discuss global health challenges 

• Strengthen the midwifery profession 

• Advance sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health (SRMNAH) 

The 2026 Congress is co-hosted with APEO (Associação Portuguesa dos Enfermeiros Obstetras), highlighting Portugal’s role in advancing midwifery and global collaboration. 

 

Why this matters in Portugal and Europe 

While the largest shortages are found in low- and middle-income countries, midwife shortages exist across Europe, including in well-resourced health systems. 

In many countries, gaps are linked to: 

• Underinvestment in the workforce 

• Retention challenges 

• Midwives not being enabled to work to their full scope 

Hosting the Congress in Lisbon places this issue firmly on the European agenda, where workforce gaps continue to affect access to care. 

 

The theme driving the Congress 

The theme of the 2026 Congress reflects the urgent need for at least one million additional midwives worldwide. 

New global research estimates: 

• 980,000 midwives are needed across 181 countries 

• These countries represent 82% of the world’s women of reproductive age 

Without urgent action: 

• Health systems remain overstretched 

• Midwives are overworked and under-supported 

• Care becomes rushed and fragmented 

• Women face higher risks of complications and poor-quality care 

“Nearly one million missing midwives means care becomes rushed and fragmented. This is a quality and safety issue for women and babies,” said Anna af Ugglas. 

Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, ICM Chief Midwife, added: 

“In many settings, midwives are educated but not employed or enabled to practise fully, leaving women without access to the care they need.” 

Across regions, midwives report increasing pressure as workforce gaps grow and demand for care rises. 

 

Key global data at a glance 

• Global shortage: Nearly 1 million midwives 

• By 2030: Shortage still projected in the hundreds of thousands 

• Coverage: Midwives can deliver up to 90% of essential SRMNAH services 

• Impact: Universal access could prevent two-thirds of maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths 

Regional highlights 

• Africa: 46% of global shortage; 9 in 10 women affected 

• Americas: Up to 85% of needed midwives missing 

• Eastern Mediterranean: Around 69% of need unmet 

• Europe: Persistent shortages in multiple countries 

 

Story angles for media 

Journalists covering the Congress may explore: 

• The global shortage of nearly one million midwives and its impact on maternal and newborn survival 

• Why workforce gaps are undermining quality and safety of care 

• Persistent midwife shortages in Europe 

• A predominantly female workforce facing underinvestment and limited leadership opportunities 

• Midwives responding to humanitarian and climate challenges 

 

What’s happening at the Congress 

One Million More Midwives March 

Saturday 13 June | 15:30 – 18:30 

Monument of Discoveries to CCL, Lisbon 

A public march bringing together midwives from around the world to call for: 

• More midwives 

• Greater investment 

• Stronger leadership and equality 

The march will feature: 

• Live performance by Abelone Melesse, Ethiopian-Norwegian singer, songwriter and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, presenting her new song Together 

• Headed by Catarina Furtado, Portuguese television presenter, actress and UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador 

• Participation of Carlos Moedas, Mayor of Lisbon 

Open to the public. No registration required. 

 

Important launches and high-level moments 

The Congress will also include several major launches and convenings relevant to media covering health systems, women’s health, workforce policy and SRMNAH: 

• Launch of the Lancet Series on Postpartum Haemorrhage by the PPH Action Network, a global network working to improve prevention, detection and treatment of postpartum haemorrhage. 

• Launch of the Global Professional Association Consortium for SRMNAH, an interprofessional collaboration with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), International Pediatric Association (IPA), Council of International Neonatal Nurses (COIN), International Council of Nurses (ICN) uniting midwives, obstetricians and gynaecologists, paediatricians and nurses to centre care on women and newborns. 

• Parliamentarians’ Forum, bringing together policymakers from across the world to discuss the implementation of midwifery models of care. 

• Launch of the Sample Curriculum for Midwifery, a joint publication by UNFPA and ICM setting out what a midwifery curriculum should include. The curriculum includes programme guidance, programme overview and module content, and is designed for contextualisation. It includes 140 unassigned hours to support contextualisation and 140 hours assigned to self-directed study, with both a direct-entry and post-nursing programme. 

• Launch of the first Global Competencies for Midwifery Leadership. 

• Presentation of the Luc de Bernis Award, recognising midwives working in crisis settings. 

 

Programme at a glance 

The Congress features a wide range of sessions and contributions from across the globe: 

• 408 oral presentations showcasing latest research and innovations 

• 684 poster presentations highlighting emerging ideas and regional perspectives 

• 67 skills workshops offering hands-on learning 

• 51 three-minute presentations delivering concise, high-impact insights 

• 4 plenary sessions and 8 ICM-led workshops 

• 34 partner-led sessions with specialised expertise 

 

Plenary sessions (media highlights) 

Plenary 1 – One Million More Midwives: How Midwives Drive Health Systems Forward 

Monday 15 June | 09:00 – 10:30 

Speakers:  

• Magda Robalo, President and Co-Founder, IGHD Guinea-Bissau 
• Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, Chief Midwife, ICM 
• Inderjeet Kaur, Director of Midwifery, Fernandez Hospitals 
• Jama Egal, Executive Director, Somaliland Nursing and Midwifery Association 
• Jaki Lambert, Director, RCM Scotland 
• Sylvia Hamata, Midwife, Lawyer, and Health Systems Governance Expert 

 

Plenary 2 – Midwives in Crisis 

Tuesday 16 June | 09:00 – 10:30 

Speakers: 

• Paola Salwan Daher, Senior Director, Collective Action, Women Deliver 
• Sanjana Bhardwaj, Deputy Director, Women’s and Child Health & Primary Health Care, Global Policy & Advocacy, Gates Foundation 
• Neha Mankani, Humanitarian Engagement and Climate Advisor, ICM 
• Soo Downe, Professor of Midwifery Studies and Associate Dean, University of Lancashire 
• Macarena Martinez, Assistant Professor and PhD candidate, University of Chile 
• Nicole Reece-James, President, Trindad and Tobago Association of Midwives 

 

Plenary 3 – Midwifery Models of Care 

Wednesday 17 June | 09:00 – 10:30 

Speakers: 

• Janhavi Nilekani, Founder, Aastrika Midwifery Centre 
• Ulrika Rehnstrom Loi, Technical Officer for Midwifery, WHO 
• Roa Altaweli, Assistant Professor of Midwifery, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University in Saudi Arabia 
• Nicolle L. Arthun, Founder, Changing Women 
• Doreen Kaura, Professor, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, Univesity of Western Cape, South Africa 
• Emma Swift, Midwife and Associate Professor, Iceland 

 

Plenary 4 – Midwives: The Original Innovators 

Thursday 18 June | 09:00 – 10:30 

Speakers: 

• Hege Ersdal, Professor in Simulation and Global Health, Stavanger University, Norway. 
• Amy Weaver, CEO, Direct Relief 
• Maika Daoud Elias, Midwife, Lactation Consultant and Content Creator 
• Jennifer A-Boateng, Senior Program Officer, Gates Foundation 
• Anna Frellsen, CEO, Maternity Foundation 

 

 

Closing: Handover of Our Global petition 

ICM is calling for urgent investment in midwives through a global petition. 

The Congress will close with the formal handover of the petition after eight months of global campaigning for One Million More Midwives. The petition will be handed to the Midwifery Accelerator Consortium, a global partnership including WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF and Jhpiego working to accelerate investment in midwifery worldwide. 

The aim is to build political pressure on governments to invest in midwives through fair pay, safe working conditions, professional recognition and deployment models that enable them to work to their full scope. 

Explore and share: 

https://millionmore.org/petition/ 

 

Speakers and attendees 

The Congress will bring together global leaders, policymakers, researchers and frontline midwives. 

Featured speakers include: 

• Anna af Ugglas, Chief Executive, ICM 

• Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, Chief Midwife, ICM 

• Dr Diane Keita, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 

• Dr Pascale Allotey, Director, Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization (WHO) 

• Professor Frank Louwen, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 

• Dr Magda Robalo, President and Co-Founder, Institute for Global Health and Development 

• Catharina Furtado, Portuguese television presenter, actress and UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador 

A full speaker list is available upon request. 

 

Media opportunities 

• Interviews with global and regional experts 

• Access to frontline midwives from different regions 

• Coverage of high-level sessions and discussions 

• Public events and mobilisation moments 

 

Media assets 

Available for download: 

• High-resolution images of midwives working around the world 

• Congress visuals and graphics (upon request) 

• Daily Congress highlights posted on our website (starting on 12 July 2026) 

• Speaker list on request 

 

 

About ICM 

The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) is the global voice for midwives, representing more than 135 midwives’ associations across over 115 countries. ICM envisions a world where every woman, newborn and adolescent has access to an autonomous and competent midwife’s care, and every midwife is enabled to provide equitable and rights-based sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health care.  

 

Media contact 

Ana Gutierrez Fernandez 

[email protected] 

+34 684147713 

Daniela Drandic  

[email protected]