International Development Grant
Midwives Save Lives
Project Number: CA-3-D001972001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $11,035,586.00
Start Date: April 01, 2016
End Date: March 31, 2020
Duration: 4.0 years
Project Description
The project aims to improve the reproductive maternal newborn and child health services delivered through midwives in its four target countries of Benin the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Ethiopia and Tanzania. The project activities include: (1) training midwives and health professionals to increase their skills; (2) educating communities on the dangers of poor health care for new mothers and babies; and (3) addressing the gender barriers that keep pregnant women from accessing appropriate and timely healthcare. The project draws upon the unique Canadian model of midwifery which supports midwives to work independently and in remote areas and is implemented through a consortium led by CUSO International with the Canadian Association of Midwives. Local partners for the project are the national midwifery associations in each country.
Expected Results
The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved delivery of environmentally-sound and gender-responsive quality respectful health services for women of reproductive age mothers pregnant women and newborns in target regions; (2) improved utilization of quality gender-responsive and environmentally-sound health services by empowered women of reproductive age mothers pregnant women and newborns in target regions; and (3) strengthened influence and accountability of midwives and recognition of midwifery as a cost-effective high-quality path to improved reproductive maternal and newborn health and rights in target countries.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of the end of the project (March 2020) include: (1) the percentage of newborns in targeted health facilities put to their mother’s breast within one hour of birth increased as follows: from 36.9% to 88.8% in Benin; from 51.3% to 98.6% in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from 48.6% to 67.9% in Ethiopia and from 30.1% to 91.2% in Tanzania; (2) the percentage of women seeking modern contraceptive methods at targeted health facilities increased in all four project countries (from 14% to 43.8% Benin; from 29.4% to 70.9% in DRC; from 34.5% to 78.6% in Ethiopia and from 40% to 67.4% in Tanzania); and (3) all targeted midwifery association representatives increased their ability to initiate and lead policy dialogues with key actors in reproductive maternal child and adolescent health (from 20% to 40% in DRC from 40% to 81.8% in Ethiopia and from 40% to 100% in Tanzania).
Key Information
Executing Agency:
Cuso International
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
YFMInternaAssistPartnershp&Programing Br
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Project-type interventions
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Call for Proposals