PURPOSE:
Global humanitarian crises increasingly threaten women and girls, exacerbating maternal mortality and limiting access to essential Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services. Midwives are consistently on the frontline in challenging contexts to deliver life-saving care, particularly the Minimum Initial Service Package for Sexual and Reproductive Health (MISP). UNFPA's guidance for midwives in humanitarian response aims to support countries to strengthen midwifery's role in humanitarian settings. This presentation highlights concrete, replicable country-level experiences in strengthening midwife capacity and deployment in humanitarian contexts. By showcasing successful models, we aim to provide actionable insights for other countries to enhance their SRH preparedness and response through midwives.

DISCUSSION:
1) Expanded Scope of Practice (DRC, Syria, Bangladesh): Countries have successfully expanded midwives' scope of practice through policies, enabling them to provide the full MISP interventions. This includes emergency obstetric and newborn care, family planning, HIV/STI prevention/treatment, and clinical management of rape. 2) Effective Deployment Modalities (Sudan, Mali): Successful experiences feature deployment modalities including roaster systems, managed by governments, midwifery associations or private sectors. These systems facilitate rapid, efficient deployment to affected areas, ensuring immediate access to care. 3) Capacity Building and Maintenance (DRC, Bangladesh): Countries have demonstrated effective strategies for equipping and maintaining midwife capacity to provide MISP. This involves integrating MISP skills into curricula and providing continuous professional development.

EVIDENCE WHERE RELEVANT:
The presented insights are drawn from successful country initiatives, serving as the recommendations in the guidance which other countries consider to apply to their context. The shared experiences also demonstrate the full potential of empowering midwives in humanitarian responses.

KEY MESSAGE:
Through policy alignment, strategic deployment, and sustained capacity building of midwives, countries can significantly improve SRH outcomes during emergencies and build more resilient health systems. Poster session 4 (Group B)