The Ethiopian Midwives Association (EMwA) and Health[e]Foundation continue their successful collaboration on blended learning programs to strengthen the Ethiopian health system. Recently, we commenced two new tailor-made-training programs with Nuffic, funded by the Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Orange Knowledge Programme
The Orange Knowledge Programme is a Dutch global development programme managed by Nuffic, a Dutch non-profit organisation for internationalisation in education. From 2019 to 2022, EMwA and Health[e]Foundation implemented the SRHR[e]Education and Pandemic[e]Response programs in collaboration with Nuffic. With the Gender[e]Quality and Emergency[e]Response programs we will build on these successful programs and aim to further enhance sustainability, scalability, and local ownership.
Gender[e]Quality
The Gender[e]Quality program aims to equip staff members of EMwA’s chapter offices with the necessary knowledge and skills to facilitate equal opportunities for women in the working environment – both within and outside of EMwA – thereby promoting gender-balanced leadership and gender equality within the Ethiopian health system.
Over the next three months the blended learning curriculum will be co-developed by EMwA and Health[e]Foundation. Existing content of Health[e]Foundation on gender equality, women empowerment, and advocacy – developed as part of the Nuffic SRHR[e]Education curriculum – will be reviewed and updated. Additional modules on workplace challenges and leadership, as well as membership and social media will be newly developed. In November 2023, we will start with training a total of 35 chapter office staff members in Addis Ababa, Oromia, Amhara, Benishangul Gumuz, and Tigray.
Emergency[e]Response
The Emergency[e]Response program aims to strengthen the capacity of midwifery instructors of five Ethiopian higher education institutes to improve the quality of education that is delivered to midwifery students and to actualize the midwifery curriculum with humanitarian sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) knowledge.
The learning curriculum will consist of nine modules. Four modules are aimed at improving teaching skills of midwifery instructors, including: gender-responsive pedagogy; problem-based learning; clinical teaching skills; and licensure exam development. The remaining five modules are focused on emergency SRHR, including: minimum initial service package; female empowerment; clinical management of rape survivors; gender-based violence; and mental health and psychosocial support. In January 2024, we will start with training a total of 90 midwifery instructors from Woldia University; Bahir Dar University; Ambo University; Bulehora University; and Dire Dawa University.
We are grateful to Nuffic and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their continued support and look forward to continuing making positive impact in Ethiopia!