Imagine being a midwife in a remote, fragile context, like the Afar region in Ethiopia. This hot, low-land and desert like area has been affected by conflict, driving up the headcount poverty rate to 30%. This has worsened food insecurity for Afar's population, who mostly make a living as livestock farmers and are often dependent on government support already. The conflict conditions have also damaged thousands of healthcare facilities in the northern part of the country. Most maternal deaths happen in poor and fragile settings, but the majority can be prevented with access to quality care. However, many of the midwives working in Afar's local health centres lack the necessary skills and knowledge to manage birth in the best and safest way possible. They often have to refer women with birth complications to larger hospitals that are far from their homes. Through a national flagship catchment-based mentorship programme, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health is seeking to improve the...
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