Midwife Mentor @Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) France, an international humanitarian medical organization known for delivering emergency healthcare to populations affected by crises, is currently recruiting a Midwife Mentor for its maternal and neonatal health programme in Nigeria. The organization operates on the principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence, providing care regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation.

In Nigeria, MSF France collaborates closely with the Federal Ministry of Health, as well as state and local health authorities, to strengthen healthcare delivery systems in priority intervention areas. Its current medical operations include a Vesico-Vaginal Fistula (VVF) and maternity response project in Jahun, Jigawa State, and integrated malaria and nutrition interventions in Katsina State, coordinated through its Abuja office. The Midwife Mentor position is based in Jahun, Jigawa State, and is designed to strengthen the quality of maternal and newborn healthcare services within MSF-supported facilities.

The role is structured as a six-month fixed-term maternity cover contract, requiring approximately 208 working hours per month. It is a clinical and capacity-building position that combines direct midwifery care with mentorship responsibilities aimed at improving the skills of local midwifery staff and ensuring adherence to MSF clinical protocols.

The Midwife Mentor is primarily responsible for delivering high-quality maternal and newborn healthcare across antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal services. This includes supporting safe normal deliveries, managing obstetric emergencies in line with MSF guidelines, and ensuring timely referral of complicated cases to higher levels of care. The position also plays a critical role in strengthening infection prevention and control (IPC) practices within maternity wards to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.

A key aspect of the role is mentorship and clinical supervision. The Midwife Mentor is expected to coach midwives and maternity staff on best practices, improve adherence to clinical protocols, and support continuous professional development. This includes conducting on-the-job training, providing feedback during clinical practice, and participating in quality improvement initiatives such as maternal and neonatal death reviews and performance monitoring.

In addition, the role contributes to patient education and community health promotion. The Midwife Mentor supports health education sessions for patients and communities, focusing on maternal health, hygiene practices, breastfeeding, immunization, and newborn care. These activities aim to improve health-seeking behavior and strengthen the link between the community and healthcare services.

Operational responsibilities also form part of the position. The Midwife Mentor ensures proper use and monitoring of medical supplies, drugs, and equipment within the maternity unit. Accurate documentation and reporting are essential, particularly during shift handovers and in the management of high-risk cases. The role also requires close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, including doctors, nurses, laboratory staff, pharmacists, and other support departments, to ensure holistic patient care.

The ideal candidate is required to possess a recognized midwifery qualification, with a Bachelor’s degree in Midwifery considered an added advantage. A minimum of two years of professional experience in midwifery practice is required. Strong proficiency in English is essential, while knowledge of Hausa is mandatory due to the local context in Jigawa State. Familiarity with Fulani (Fulfude) is considered an added advantage for community engagement.

The position demands strong professional competencies, including teamwork, flexibility, commitment to humanitarian principles, service orientation, and results-driven performance. MSF offers remuneration in line with its standard salary scale, including a 13th-month allowance equivalent to one month’s gross salary. Additional benefits include structured working conditions aligned with international humanitarian standards.

Applications for the role require submission of a motivation letter, detailed curriculum vitae with at least three professional references, academic credentials, midwifery certification, and relevant work experience documents. Applications may be submitted online or physically at the MSF office in Jahun, Jigawa State.

MSF emphasizes strict ethical recruitment standards and maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption, favoritism, or any form of misconduct during the hiring process. Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply, reflecting the organization’s commitment to gender inclusion and diversity in humanitarian staffing.

Overall, the Midwife Mentor role is a critical position within MSF’s maternal health programme in northern Nigeria, combining clinical expertise with capacity building to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes in a resource-limited and high-need setting.

Application link