Monrovia, Liberia – The Government of Liberia, through the Liberia Board for Nursing and Midwifery (LBNM), and partners have officially launched the updated Registered Midwifery Curriculum.

The new curriculum aims to improve the quality of midwifery education and strengthen the health workforce.

The launch received technical and financial support from Expertise France, under the HEALTH project, with funding from the French Development Agency (AFD).

The ceremony was attended by LBNM leadership, officials from the Health Ministry, representatives from all midwifery schools, faculty members, and development partners.

The updated Registered Midwifery Curriculum is the result of an inclusive, evidence-based, and participatory process that reflects Liberia’s specific maternal and newborn health priorities while aligning with International Confederation of Midwives (IM) global standards.

It marks a significant milestone in Liberia’s commitment to reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and advancing universal health coverage.

Speaking at the launching ceremony on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, the Registrar of Liberia Board for Nursing and Midwifery, Cecelia C. Kpangbala-Flomo, said the curriculum has been fully revised to close the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical clinical skills, ensuring that graduating midwives are competent, confident, and ready to serve communities across all fifteen counties.

“This curriculum is not just a document – it is our shared commitment to producing competent, confident midwives who will save lives across every county”, Madam Kpangbala-Flomo asserted.

The curriculum was developed over twelve months through a Liberia-led process.

A 24-month Memorandum of Understanding between Expertise France and LBNM was signed in February 2025, and a Technical Working Group (TWG) was formed.

A Training Need Assessment was completed across five institutions: Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts (TNIMA), Bushrod College of Science and Technology – Nakita D. For Midwifery School, Cuttington University Junior College, Nimba University College of Health Sciences, and Deannie Kay Isaacson School of Midwifery (DISM).

Joint simulation lab assessment with the MoH Infrastructure Unit produced equipment and refurbishment plans for all five schools.

A content analysis identified gaps in practical skills, ethics, and technology.

Two intensive workshops – in September and November 2025 – brought together over thirty participants from LBNM, MoH, and faculty to review and consolidate the curriculum, resulting in Draft 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 reviewed by the technical work group and finally board validated Draft 4.0, considered a final document in early 2026.

The updated curriculum strengthens practical skills and clinical simulation, closing the theory-practice gap.

It adds modules on clinical surgery, menopause, midwifery informatics, and the “We Are All Patients” approach.

Course sequencing has been improved for logical academic progression, and ethical standards, cultural safety, and referral guidelines are now fully integrated.

The curriculum aligns with Liberia’s National Health Policy, Health Sector Strategic Plan, and the 2025 National Health Summit commitments.

The success of this initiative rests on a clear division of roles and strong mutual accountability.

The LBNM provided overall leadership, TWG coordination, regulatory oversight, and final approval.

The Ministry of Health’s Nursing and Midwifery Unit offered technical guidance and policy alignment.

The five midwifery and nursing schools participated actively in every phase, from assessment and content analysis to curriculum workshops.

Expertise France provided technical and financial support, expert facilitation, and logistics.

International and national consultants contributed methodological expertise in training needs assessment, content analysis, and curriculum drafting.

The Program Manager at Expertise France, Bijay BHARATI, emphasized that Several mechanisms have been embedded to ensure the curriculum remains a living, sustainable asset.

“This curriculum is a testament to what Liberian institutions can achieve when they lead, and partners support. We have built a process that is sustainable, transparent, and fully owned by the country’s midwifery regulatory body.” Bijay BHARATI noted.

With the official launch completed, the focus now shifts to implementation. Printing and distribution of the finalized curriculum to all ten schools will take place in May 2026.

The student intake in March 2026 will be using the updated curriculum.

Post-training supportive supervision will continue on an ongoing basis from July 2026, led by LBNM and the Ministry of Health.

With the updated curriculum launched and a clear implementation roadmap in place, the Government of Liberia – through LBNM and the Ministry of Health – is now positioned to produce a new generation of highly skilled midwives.

This will directly contribute to reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, strengthening the health workforce, and advancing universal health coverage across all fifteen counties of Liberia.

Expertise France is France’s public agency and interministerial actor in charge of international technical cooperation, the second-largest in Europe.

As a subsidiary of Agence Française de Développement Group (AFD Group), it designs and implements projects that sustainably strengthen public policies in developing and emerging countries.

Expertise France works in key areas of development: governance, security, climate change, health, education, and more.