SMART-RMC (Respectful Maternity Care)


Reporting Organization:Canadian Association of Midwives
Total Budget ($CAD):$ 2,100,000
Timeframe: November 1, 2021 - April 30, 2025
Status: Implementation
Contact Information: Kariane St-Denis
[email protected]

Partner & Funder Profiles


Reporting Organization


Canadian Association of Midwives

Participating Organizations


  • NGOs

    • Société congolaise de la pratique Sage-Femme (SCOSAF)
    • South Sudan Nurses and Midwives Association (SSNAMA)

Funders (Total Budget Contribution)


Return to top

Location


Country - Total Budget Allocation


Congo (DRC) - $ 1,050,000.00 (50.00%)

South Sudan - $ 1,050,000.00 (50.00%)

Return to top

Areas of Focus


Health - Total Budget Allocation


Health Systems, Training & Infrastructure (40.00 %)

Reproductive Health & Rights incl. Maternal Health (40.00 %)

Sexual Health & Rights (10.00 %)

Other - Total Budget Allocation


Gender Equality (10.00 %)

Return to top

Description


Through the provision of gender-responsive, quality health care by a well-trained midwifery workforce, the SMART-RMC project aims to contribute to the reduction of maternal mortality in both the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Key project activities are grounded in Respectful Maternity Care (RMC), and focus on improving quality and access to clinical services through: 1) training of health care professionals in evidence-based innovations using a gender-responsive rights-based approach, coupled with RMC-focused quality improvement initiatives in health facilities; 2) increasing communities’ awareness of their SRHR to access health services; and 3) strengthening the capacity of midwifery associations to deliver gender-responsive programming and SRHR advocacy.

SMART-RMC is a CAM-led 3-year project supported by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada. The project is implemented in close collaboration with its midwifery association partners, the Société Congolaise de la pratique Sage-Femme (SCOSAF) and the South Sudan Nurses and Midwives Association (SSNAMA).

Return to top

Target Population


Gender and age:
Descriptors: Other
Total Direct Population: 28,073
Total Indirect Population: 110,917
Return to top

Outputs


221 Training
5 Infrastructure & innovation
40 Quality improvement
16 Sensitization
30 Advocacy
Return to top

Results & Indicators


Expected Results


– 220 midwives & nurses trained in RMC and clinical skills, including 45 trainers of trainers

– 5 RMC Centers of Innovation established in project regions

– 40 facilities provided with Quality Improvement plans



– 18 community sensitization events (including mobile clinics) organized in project regions

Achieved Results


To date the project has:

  • Improved the knowledge of RMC and clinical competencies among health care professionals by training a total of 221 midwives and nurses on RMC and clinical skills across the two project countries, ensuring their ability to deliver gender-responsive RMC and basic EmONC services in targeted healthcare facilities. While at baseline, only 11.5% of providers interviewed in South Sudan were able to successfully recall three elements of RMC, at midline 55.3% were able to correctly identify three elements of RMC, demonstrating a marked improvement in understanding and knowledge of the subject matter. 
  • Provided ongoing technical support and assistance to increase the sustainability and impact of trainings through clinical mentorship and facility-based Continuous Professional Development sessions. In the DRC, an average of 275 healthcare providers have been mentored on a monthly basis through these visits and have signalled the usefulness of these technical visits and skills refreshers for the integration of the key tenets of RMC into all clinical acts.
  • Strengthened the enabling environment for RMC at the facility level through the implementation of quality improvement plans and related evaluation tools in 40 targeted healthcare facilities in the DRC and South Sudan, and the establishment of 5 Centres of Innovation to serve as regional models for best practices, research and continuing education in RMC. Suggestion boxes have been used to collect valuable client and healthcare provider feedback, promoting accountability and continued quality improvement at these sites. 
  • Increased knowledge of gender equality and SRHR by women of reproductive age, including marginalized subgroups, in targeted communities through the implementation of community-based activities. In the DRC, 12 community sensitization campaigns consisting of mobile clinics for the delivery of reproductive health services combined with performances of the association’s theatre troupe in the DRC have taken place, through which a total of 2287 girls and women have received FP products and counselling, breast cancer screening, HIV screening, blood pressure measurement, client-centered comprehensive abortion care and general sensitization on the 10 charter rights of RMC. In South Sudan, four Open Maternity Day events were organized, allowing for 806 women of reproductive age and 115 male partners to tour maternity units in targeted health facilities, familiarize themselves with the process of facility-based childbirth, and seek services from medical camps staffed by midwives and offering general and preventative health services to community members. 
  • Produced monthly radio shows following an “Ask the Midwife” format to increase knowledge and realization of RMC among women of reproductive age while generating allyship for women’s SRHR among men and key community stakeholders. Altogether, the shows have reached 20,400 listeners across the project catchment areas in the DRC and South Sudan, and have received high levels of engagement and positive feedback.
  • Supported the national midwifery associations, SCOSAF and SSNAMA, in advancing the advocacy agenda for the midwifery profession and RMC in both countries. In the DRC, SCOSAF successfully led the process for the drafting and adoption of bill N.23/051 of November 30, 2023 on the creation, organization and operation of a national order of midwives in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In South Sudan, SSNAMA released two position statements (one on RMC and one on Family Planning), which were published to the association’s website and disseminated broadly to partners, stakeholders and association state chapters throughout the country. 

Indicators


SRHR-related Indicators
  • # of advocacy and public engagement activities completed which are focused on SRHR
  • # of health care service providers trained in SRHR services
  • # of people provided with modern contraception (by method)
  • # of women and girls (age) provided with access to sexual and reproductive health services, including modern methods of contraception
  • # of women’s rights organizations and networks (international and local) advancing SRHR
MNCH-related indicators
  • # of health facilities equipped with maternal and newborn child health, or sexual and reproductive health equipment
  • %/total of health workers (male/female) trained and using their learned skills
  • %/total of mothers, and %/total of babies, who received postnatal care within two days of childbirth
SDG Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
  • SDG 3.1.1 Maternal mortality ratio
  • SDG 3.1.2 Proportion of births attended by skilled health personnel
Return to top
Return to top

Associated Projects (If applicable)


Return to top
Icon