Developing a model of midwifery mentorship for Uganda: The MOMENTUM project 2015–2017

MOMENTUM was a 20 month midwifery twinning project between the Royal College of Midwives UK and the Ugandan Private Midwives Association. It ran from 2015–2017 and was funded by UK-Aid through THET. MOMENTUM aimed to develop a model of mentorship for Ugandan midwifery students. The project achieved its objectives. 41 Ugandan midwives were trained as mentors following a work-based learning curriculum. 142 student midwives from 8 midwifery schools received mentorship in 7 participating clinical sites. All sites showed measured improvement in the clinical learning environment. 7 UK midwives were twinned with Ugandan counterparts and engaged in peer-exchange visits and virtual support via smart-phones. The model is context-specific and may not be replicable in other countries or professions. However it will inform midwifery education in the UK and elsewhere. •Mentorship can enhance competence and contribute to the provision of quality maternity care.•Midwifery twinning projects can support the development of complex health system changes through action research.•Work-based learning is effective for training midwife mentors.•Health partnership projects should plan for sustainability from the outset.•International health professional exchanges within the context of long-term partnerships can be effective.