Strengthening Midwifery Education: A Recap of the ICM and UNFPA Webinar 

On August 20, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), we hosted a webinar focused on strengthening pre-service midwifery education. This event was part of our larger effort to tackle the challenges faced by many countries, particularly in Africa, where midwifery education programs often struggle due to limited resources, inadequate clinical training facilities, and insufficient support systems. We showcased how our Midwifery Education Development Pathway (MPath), a comprehensive suite of resources, can help educators enhance midwifery programs to meet international standards. 

The webinar was moderated by Sally Pairman, ICM’s Chief Executive and midwife educator, alongside Carolyn Levy, instructional design consultant. The panel featured four distinguished midwife educators: Beatrice E. Mwilike from Tanzania, Baboucarr Cham from Gambia, Marie Anne Bigue Sarr Basse from Senegal, and Florence Munoru from Kenya. 

The discussion opened with a critical question from Sally Pairman: “What challenges do midwife educators face in incorporating the ICM competencies and scope of practice into their programs?” The panelists shared personal insights, revealing a number of significant obstacles. Across many African countries, there are not enough midwife educators, and many of those in the role lack formal educational preparation. The lack of resources—such as books, educational materials and simulation labs—hampers the ability to provide hands-on training. Furthermore, outdated curricula and varying standards across regions prevent the uniform integration of ICM competencies, while career development, mentorship opportunities, and research funding for midwife educators are scarce. 

Responding to the second question—“What do you need as midwife educators from ICM to help meet these challenges?”—the panelists emphasised the need for continuing professional development for educators, access to simulation labs, mentorship, consistent midwifery regulation across countries, and the standardisation of training materials. They stressed that midwifery should be recognised as a standardised profession, with more robust regulation and policy support. 

During the discussion, Dr. Beatrice E. Mwilike summed up the key point, saying, “If we had enough well-prepared midwife educators who understood the ICM competencies, we wouldn’t need to rely on other fields in midwifery education. Students would truly get what they need in terms of scope and practice.” 

The webinar concluded with an introduction to MPath, ICM’s comprehensive set of resources, aimed at helping midwife educators align their programs with international standards. MPath starts with self-assessment and provides guidance to support program development, ensuring midwifery education is both locally responsive and globally aligned. Some MPath resources are still under development, you can find the ready to use resources here.  

With 829 registrants, 365 attendees, and over 75 questions asked during the session, this webinar was one of the most engaging events ICM has hosted to date. By fostering these critical discussions and offering solutions through tools like MPath, ICM and UNFPA are committed to working closely with midwife educators across the world to transform and strengthen midwifery education, ultimately improving maternal and newborn health worldwide. 

Watch the recordings available in English and French: