BACKGROUND:
Life-saving skills are essential to improve maternal and newborn survival, but preventing complications and creating supportive environments is equally important. In The Gambia, professional midwives play a key role in reproductive, maternal, and newborn health, yet the country continues to face challenges in maternal and neonatal health and the gaps between theory and practice must be addressed.

OBJECTIVES:
To develop and test an innovative professional development model aimed at strengthening: a) clinical midwives’ competence and confidence in managing birth emergencies and supporting physiological birth, b) midwifery educators’ teaching capacity in critical midwifery skills, and c) midwifery leaders’ ability to support these efforts.

METHODS:
A pilot intervention was designed, implemented, and evaluated with clinical midwives (n=46), educators (n=17), and leaders (n=6). Focus group discussions informed the intervention development. Evaluation included pre- and post-tests with closed/open questions and observations. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis.

RESULTS:
The training program significantly improved midwives’ knowledge and confidence in managing shoulder dystocia and postpartum hemorrhage, and in promoting normal birth and dynamic birth positions. Participants appreciated the situation-background-assessment-recommendation (SBAR) communication tool and emphasised the importance of knowledge sharing, routine updates, and integrating content into education.

CONCLUSIONS:
This pilot project demonstrated the feasibility and value of a comprehensive, team-based approach to strengthening midwifery skills in The Gambia. The integration of emergency care and preventive strategies increased confidence and knowledge. National scale-up could improve maternal and newborn care through sustainable, evidence-based practices. Strengthened leadership is essential for long-term impact.

KEY MESSAGE:
- A collaborative training model enhanced midwives’ and educators’ competence and confidence in both emergency care and physiological birth support. - Leadership support and system-wide integration are crucial to strengthening maternal and newborn care in The Gambia. Poster session 1 (Group A)