The Midwifery Programme Guidance has been developed by UNFPA in collaboration with ICM for country offices, programme managers,  partner agencies, and midwifery managers in Ministries of Health, to assist them in developing, ‘scaling up’ and/or strengthening midwifery programmes at the national level. It explains key midwifery concepts, outlines a step by step approach on how to strengthen midwifery Education, Regulation and Association, engage stakeholders, undertake effective policy advocacy and fund raising and references key available resources to do so.

In the developing world, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, progress in reducing maternal and newborn deaths has been slow. One reason for the persistently high maternal and newborn mortality rates is the lack of access to family planning for those women who want to delay or prevent pregnancy. Family planning through eliminating unintended pregnancies reduces maternal and newborn mortality rates and improves the health and well-being of women and their existing children.