Capacity building to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality

In sub-Saharan Africa midwifery educators are in short supply and opportunities to pursue advanced education are severely restricted. Postgraduate programmes that encourage critical thinking and strategic planning in midwifery education, practice, management and research are required to empower midwives to lead their profession. A unique user-led distance learning programme was developed by adopting a participatory approach to developing a curriculum for a Masters in Midwifery and Women's Health. Midwives from the East Central and South Africa (ECSA) region and the UK participated along with a representative from the Commonwealth Secretariat and International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). The curriculum was based on shared goals but adaptable to cultural and local context. Brainstorming sessions, informal workshops and formal consensus methods were used to reach decisions regarding modules and subsequent content. This article describes the process of developing a shared curriculum, the challenges faced in working across and within regions, and participants’ views of contributing to the end product. </jats:p