SORDI Co‑Hosts EQUAL Research Dissemination Event to Advance Midwifery Employment and Community MNH Scale-Up in Somalia
On April 15, 2026, the Somali Research and Development Institute (SORDI) co‑hosted the EQUAL Research Dissemination Event at the Peace Hotel in Mogadishu. Organized in partnership with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health, and funded by UK International Development, the event brought together key actors committed to strengthening maternal and newborn health (MNH) in Somalia.
Themed “Unlocking Public-Private Partnership Pathways for Midwifery Employment and Community MNH Scale-Up,” the half‑day gathering convened policymakers from the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), private health associations, academic institutions, researchers, and community representatives. The goal was clear: translate five years of EQUAL research into actionable strategies that can shape Somalia’s health policies and programs.
Participants engaged in structured group discussions to examine evidence generated through the EQUAL consortium since 2021. These conversations focused on identifying practical pathways for collaboration between Somalia’s public and private health sectors—particularly in scaling up midwifery employment and expanding community-based MNH services.
Discussions centered on four priority areas essential for improving MNH outcomes in fragile and conflict-affected settings:
Strengthening midwifery education and workforce development to ensure a skilled, resilient cadre of midwives capable of serving high-need communities.
Expanding community-based MNH services through Community Health Worker-led models that bring lifesaving care closer to households.
Building sustainable public-private partnerships to support the absorption of midwifery graduates into the health system and address workforce gaps.
Improving governance and financing arrangements to ensure MNH services are adequately supported, coordinated, and resilient in fragile contexts.
As Somalia’s leading independent health research institute and a core implementing partner of the EQUAL consortium, SORDI has played a central role in generating this evidence. Since 2021, SORDI has led implementation research on Community Health Worker-delivered MNH services, midwifery workforce development, and health policy analysis across Benadir and Galgaduud. This body of work has contributed significantly to understanding what works—and what is needed—to strengthen MNH services in conflict-affected communities.
With the EQUAL consortium concluding its five-year mandate, the dissemination event marked a pivotal moment. It ensured that research findings do not remain confined to reports but instead inform real-world policies and programs that directly impact Somali mothers and newborns.
SORDI extends its appreciation to its co-hosts—the International Rescue Committee and the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health—and to UK International Development for their continued partnership and commitment to advancing maternal and newborn health in Somalia. Together, these collaborations are helping to build a stronger, more equitable health system for all.
