PURPOSE:
This presentation shares lessons from research conducted in South Sudan on the roles, experiences, and contributions of midwives in humanitarian settings. It explores how this evidence informed the development and piloting of a midwifery-led model of care (MLMC) for internally displaced persons (IDPs), with the goal of strengthening midwifery’s leadership and responsiveness in crisis-affected communities.

DISCUSSION:
South Sudan gained independence in 2011 after years of internal conflict but continues to experience overlapping crises, including conflict, flooding, displacement, and health system fragility. Midwives, often the only skilled health professionals consistently present in humanitarian contexts, have been central to delivering lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services. Research conducted through interviews with frontline midwives, government, and humanitarian actors reveals that midwives often assume multiple roles, from clinical care to advocacy and coordination, despite systemic and environmental constraints. Building on these findings, UNFPA and partners have launched a pilot of midwifery-led care in IDP camps that centres respectful, person-focused, and continuous care throughout the maternity cycle.

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
Findings from the qualitative research (UNFPA, 2023) underscore midwives’ resilience and leadership in humanitarian response. Midwives demonstrated adaptability, cultural competence, and an ability to integrate social and clinical roles. The emerging MLMC pilot (UNFPA, 2025) translates these insights into a structured care model aligned with ICM and WHO standards, prioritizing continuity, safety, and equity.

KEY MESSAGE:
Midwives in humanitarian settings are more than frontline health workers; they are critical anchors of stability, trust, and continuity in collapsing systems. Their leadership and adaptability make them uniquely positioned to sustain essential maternal and newborn services amid crisis. Investing in midwifery-led models of care is not only cost-effective and scalable, but also a transformative, rights-based strategy that centres dignity, resilience, and local capacity. South Sudan's experience offers practical, context-driven insights that can inform global humanitarian response frameworks and strengthen midwifery leadership in protracted emergencies. Poster session 4 (Group B)