THE LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Changing the organization of maternal and newborn care (MNC) is not simply a matter of implementing guidelines or expanding successful pilots. It requires navigating complex transitions —where culture, power dynamics, and relationships often matter more than policy. By the end of this workshop, you will be able to: Recognize how transitions in complex systems unfold, using the X-curve model Identify where you are in the process Identify concrete next steps to support organizational change in your local context.

THE PROCESS/ACTIVITIES:
This 90-minute interactive workshop combines brief theory with participatory learning. We will begin with an exercise designed to stretch your perspective and loosen fixed ways of seeing reality. A concise introduction to transition theory and the X-curve framework follows, focused on relevance to MNCs. You then explore real-world examples and apply the model to your own professional context. In small groups, you identify where your organization currently sits in a transition, what patterns of resistance or momentum you observe, and what roles you can play. The session concludes with guided action planning.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION:
You will be actively engaged through group work, peer dialogue, and reflective exercises. You will map transitions in your own setting and share insights with others, gaining fresh perspectives on your influence and agency. Visual materials (e.g., flipcharts, markers, handouts) and round table settings support participation and co-learning. No prior knowledge of systems thinking is required. Additional reading Meadows DH. Thinking in Systems: A Primer. Chelsea Green Publishing; 2008. Loorbach D. Transition management for sustainable development. Int J Sustain Dev World Ecol. 2010;17(1):1-11. World Health Organization. Transitioning to Midwifery Models of Care: A Global Position Paper. World Health Organization; 2024.