Midwife – Afar

Mission and project context

Médecins du Monde (MdM) is an international humanitarian organization providing medical care and supporting access to health services for people affected by vulnerability and crisis. MdM-France has worked in Ethiopia since 1986. Under the EHF-funded response in Afar Region, the Midwife will support the quality, continuity and accessibility of maternal, newborn, reproductive and sexual health services at designated health centers, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and facility teams.

• Position:                               Midwife
• Project:                                 Ethiopian Humanitarian Fund (EHF) project
• Duty station:                      Afambo or Amibara, Afar
• Reports to:                          Medical Supervisor, with technical support from Medical    Coordinator
• Contract / duration:        Until Oct 14, 2027
• Number of positions:      1(one)

Overall purpose of the position

To strengthen the quality and availability of maternal and newborn health (MNH), reproductive health and family planning services at supported health centers, with particular attention to basic emergency obstetric and newborn care (BEmONC), early identification and management of complications, timely referral, respectful care, and capacity-building of health workers in line with national protocols and MdM standards.

Key duties and responsibilities

A. Clinical and program support

• Support health center teams to provide safe, evidence-based and respectful antenatal, intrapartum, postnatal, newborn, reproductive health and family planning services within the midwife’s professional scope of practice.
• Support the availability and appropriate delivery of the seven signal functions of BEmONC, in line with national guidelines, facility capacity and the authorised scope of practice.
• Recognize and initiate timely management of obstetric and newborn complications, stabilize patients within available capacity, and arrange timely referral to a facility providing comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care (CEmONC).
• Promote correct use and review of the partograph and other approved MCH registers, clinical tools and protocols.
• Provide or support comprehensive abortion care, including safe abortion care and post-abortion care as permitted by Ethiopian national law, Ministry of Health protocols, the provider’s competencies and MdM clinical guidance.
• Ensure confidential, non-discriminatory and survivor-centered care for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), including safe clinical support and referral in accordance with established pathways and informed consent.
• Support infection prevention and control (IPC), safe delivery practices, rational use of supplies and adherence to clinical quality standards.
• Coordinate with the Health Centre Head and relevant departments, including pharmacy, EPI, nutrition and other MCH services, to improve continuity and integration of care.

B. Mentoring, coaching and capacity-building

• Assess the capacity-building needs of health-center staff in BEmONC, partograph use, maternal and newborn care, family planning, comprehensive abortion care (CAC), IPC and respectful maternity care.
• In collaboration with the Health Centre Head and Medical Supervisor, develop and implement practical training, on-the-job mentoring and coaching plans, followed by supportive supervision and skills follow-up.
• Promote the use of national guidelines, standard operating procedures and evidence-based clinical practices, identifying gaps and escalating issues requiring technical support.
• Support facility teams to identify service-delivery gaps in equipment, medicines and consumables, and follow up with the responsible facility and project staff on appropriate corrective action.

C. Supplies and service readiness

• Conduct periodic assessments of MCH and family planning equipment, medicines and consumables, and report stock-outs, shortages, expiry risks or equipment gaps promptly.
• Work with the Health Centre Head and pharmacy staff to support appropriate storage, stock monitoring and rational use of project-provided medicines and supplies, following facility and MdM procedures.
• Monitor service readiness for routine maternity care and BEmONC, and promptly report limitations that may affect safe care or require referral.

D. Referral, monitoring and reporting

• Identify patients who require referral for CEmONC or other specialized services, communicate promptly with the receiving facility and relevant focal persons, and support safe, timely referral in accordance with the established pathway.
• Maintain or support complete, accurate and confidential records for MCH, newborn, family planning, abortion-related and referral services, using approved registers and reporting tools.
• Track referrals and, where feasible, document referral completion and outcomes; submit monthly referral outcome reports to the Medical Supervisor.
• Compile and submit monthly activity reports, including service statistics, training and mentoring activities, referral data, and medicine/consumable needs or consumption, within agreed deadlines.
• Immediately report maternal or neonatal deaths and participate in facility- or woreda-level maternal and perinatal death surveillance and response/audit processes, as applicable, while maintaining confidentiality and a learning-focused approach.
• Review service data regularly with facility staff to identify trends, service gaps and practical improvement actions, and contribute to project monitoring and reporting.

Required qualifications and experience

• BSc degree in Midwifery from a recognized institution and valid professional registration/license to practice in Ethiopia.
• At least four years of clinical midwifery experience, preferably in emergency, humanitarian or resource-constrained settings.
• Working knowledge and practical experience in BEmONC, infection prevention and control, comprehensive abortion care (CAC), and integrated management of newborn and childhood illness (IMNCI), as relevant to the position.
• Good written and spoken English. Knowledge of local language is an asset.
• Good computer skills and the ability to maintain accurate clinical records and prepare clear reports.
• Strong communication, teamwork, organization and prioritization skills; ability to work independently while seeking support when required.
• Flexibility, adaptability and the ability to work and live in a remote setting with demanding conditions and limited resources.

Desirable qualifications and competencies

• Experience working in Afar Region or familiarity with the project implementation area and local health system.
• Previous experience in mentoring, coaching, supportive supervision or clinical training of health workers.
• Additional training in BEmONC, CAC, respectful maternity care or survivor-centered SGBV response.
• Commitment to humanitarian principles, professional ethics, confidentiality, safeguarding, accountability and respectful treatment of all service users.

Professional conduct and safeguarding

The postholder must respect patient rights, confidentiality, informed consent, non-discrimination and professional boundaries; comply with MdM’s code of conduct, safeguarding and prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment requirements; and report concerns through established channels. Clinical care must remain within the provider’s competencies and applicable Ethiopian laws, national protocols and MdM procedures.

Performance and accountability

The Midwife is accountable to the Medical Supervisor for day-to-day performance and reporting and will maintain a technical working relationship with the Medical Coordinator. Specific targets and reporting formats will be agreed with the supervisor in line with the approved EHF project workplan and monitoring framework.