Since 2015, Health[e]Foundation collaborated with the Ethiopian Midwives Association (EMwA) in multiple programs on capacitating midwives and midwifery students in order to strengthen healthcare systems and communities in Ethiopia. But how are these programs sustained after the program duration has ended?
Our programs develop and deliver digital health education in the form of blended-learning (workshops combined with e-learning). Over the years, we trained thousands of midwifery professionals who in turn reached their community members with better quality care. Unfortunately, as commonly seen in international development programs, once programmatic funding ends, the continuation of activities is not guaranteed. Therefore, one of the main drivers of the three programs with EMwA that were initiated since 2019 was on continuity, aiming to sustainably embed e-learning within the activities of EMwA.
Inspired by concepts of co-ownership and co-creation, Health[e]Foundation moved to the open source learning system Moodle and (re-)designed their courses to be transferred to local partners. In 2019 – funded by Dioraphte and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and executed by Nuffic – the Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights (SRHR) curriculum for Ethiopian midwifery students was first launched on the Moodle platform, followed by the Pandemic[e]Response course on SRHR and maternal health during health emergencies. Together with EMwA, we trained another 1,100 midwifery professionals and students.
By the end of 2022 the funding for these programs finished, but we can proudly say that both courses are accredited in Ethiopia; transferred to EMwA; and are available for continuous professional development for all Ethiopian midwives.
‘This is what is expected of a good partnership when a project closes and the work of the project should continue.’
Ibrahim Yimer – Deputy Executive Director Ethiopian Midwives Association
Continued collaborations with EMwA will further strengthen our joint efforts, supporting EMwA with the knowledge and tools needed to work on pressing issues and positively change the future of communities in Ethiopia.
