Midwife Shortage in Africa Deepens Amid Conflict and Funding Crises

Research by the multi-country EQUAL consortium reveals a worldwide shortage of 980,000 midwives, with Africa responsible for roughly half of the deficit. Although Africa holds 19% of the global reproductive-age female population, it provides only 3.2 midwives per 10,000 residents, well under the 4.4 global benchmark. Conflict-affected areas—including South Sudan, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Mali and Burkina Faso—experience the most acute gaps, as midwives contend with power outages, lack of essential medicines and unsafe working conditions.

Funding cuts and damaged health facilities further limit training capacity and job availability, while low wages, burnout and security threats push many professionals away. Experts such as Shatha Elnakib and Caroline Tatua urge governments and NGOs to improve salaries, hazard pay, security escorts, reliable supplies and mental-health support, and to expand mobile clinics that bring care to displaced populations.