The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) is a non-governmental organization that works with international organizations like WHO and UNICEF to improve maternal and child health globally. It was founded in 1919 by a group of Belgian midwives and has grown to include over 90 member associations worldwide. The ICM's vision is for all birthing women to have access to midwife care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum in order to enhance reproductive and newborn health.

2. International Confederation of Midwives
 The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) is
an accredited non-governmental organization that
works closely with the WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF and
other organizations worldwide to achieve common
goals in the care of mothers and children.
 Its beginnings center around a group of Belgium
midwives in 1919 that decided to communicate with
other countries’ midwives on a regular basis.

3.  ICM has grown to a major confederation of more
than 90 autonomous member associations from
countries in every part of the globe.
 ICM envisions a world where every childbearing
woman has access to a midwife's natural medical
care for herself and her newborn, in order to
enhance the reproductive health of women and the
health of their newborns and their families.
International Confederation of Midwives

4. VISION AND MISSION
VISION
 ICM envisions a world where every childbearing
woman has access to a midwife's care for herself
and her newborn.
MISSION
 To strengthen Midwives' Associations and to
advance the profession of midwifery globally by
promoting autonomous midwives as the most
appropriate caregivers for childbearing women and
in keeping birth normal, in order to enhance the
reproductive health of women, their newborns, and
their families.

5. Main activities
 The Safe Motherhood Initiative was launched by the
World Health Organization and other international
agencies in 1987 and was immediately supported by
ICM.
 At that time the number of women suffering maternal
deaths worldwide was estimated to be at least
600,000 each year - with 99% of deaths occurring in
the developing world.

6. MAIN ACTIVITIES
The following tools for strengthening Midwives
Associations are available:
 Twinning -- a formal and substantive collaboration
between two organizations.
 Capacity Assessment – the process by which the
efficiency and effectiveness of components of an
organization are measured to determine the level of
development.
 Positioning and Profiling midwifery -- an event where
the midwives are guided through the process of
establishing their identity, mission, vision, strategy and
resources.
 Leadership development materials – guides to
strengthen and support member leadership and
advancement of field.

7. Links to the health workforce crisis
 ICM provides linking and learning-enabling
knowledge exchange on midwifery and reproductive
health issues.
 The programs and projects develop and coordinate
action aimed at strengthening midwives
associations, tackling major health issues for child
bearing women to reduce maternal and neonatal
mortality.
 ICM, also, works to professionalize midwifery
through legislation and regulation of practice, as well
as provides advocacy and lobbying for the reduction
of maternal and neonatal mortality.

8. INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF MIDWIVES
Essential competencies for basic midwifery practice
COMPETENCY # 1: Midwives have the requisite
knowledge and skills from obstetrics, neonatology,
the social sciences, public health and ethics that
form the basis of high quality, culturally relevant,
appropriate care for women, newborns, and
childbearing families.

9. COMPETENCY # 2: Midwives provide high quality,
culturally sensitive health education and services to
all in the community in order to promote healthy
family life, planned pregnancies and positive
parenting.
INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF MIDWIVES
Essential competencies for basic midwifery practice

10. COMPETENCY # 3: Midwives provide high quality
antenatal care to maximize health during pregnancy
and that includes early detection and treatment or
referral of selected complications.
INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF MIDWIVES
Essential competencies for basic midwifery practice

11. COMPETENCY #4: Midwives provide high quality,
culturally sensitive care during labour, conduct a
clean and safe birth and handle selected emergency
situations to maximize the health of women and their
newborns.
INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF MIDWIVES
Essential competencies for basic midwifery practice

12. COMPETENCY # 5: Midwives provide comprehensive,
high quality, culturally sensitive postpartum care for
women.
INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF MIDWIVES
Essential competencies for basic midwifery practice

13. COMPETENCY# 6: Midwives provide high quality,
comprehensive care for the essentially healthy infant
from birth to two months of age.
INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF MIDWIVES
Essential competencies for basic midwifery practice

14. COMPETENCY #7: Midwives provide a range of
individualised, culturally sensitive abortion-related
care services for women requiring or experiencing
pregnancy termination or loss that are congruent
with applicable laws and regulations and in accord
with national protocols.
INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF MIDWIVES
Essential competencies for basic midwifery practice

15. THANK YOU