Columbia University Award for Midwives and their Associations

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE AWARD.

Purpose:
To bestow an award to midwives who have demonstrated the potential to act as change agents in their country in the reduction of maternal and neonatal death and disability and have the ability to support the strengthening of the midwifery association.

Awarded:
Every year, 2002 - 2004.
One award per ICM region.
Announced at the International Council meetings in 2002 and 2005
The amount to be awarded: 5000 US$.

Use of award money:
The award money is to be used to strengthen the activities of the midwives' association, for example by providing new IT for the association headquarters, to initiate research, to support the efforts of the International Day of the Midwife, to enable leadership and advocacy training or any other activity which would strengthen the activity and effectiveness of the midwives' association.

Submission date: February 28th 2002

Selection process:
There will be a call for nominations from member associations. A selection will be made from amongst the nominees by the Selection Committee. The selection criteria are printed overleaf.

Selection Committee:
The Board of Management of the International Confederation of Midwives, together with a representative of Columbia University's Averting Maternal Death and Disability programme.

Award process:
A local honorary party is given to celebrate the awarding of the grant and to draw local attention to the work of the awardee.
Announcement is made in the 2002 Council meeting of the first four midwives to receive the award. The Award Ceremony will take place during the Opening Ceremony of the 26th Triennial Congress for Midwives in Vienna, Austria, April 14th 2002.

Awardees of the 2003 and 2004 awards will be announced in the 2005 Council meeting.

These events will be covered in the ICM journal International Midwifery and forwarded to all ICM partners, midwifery journals and other appropriate media.

Report:
A report of activities will need to be submitted to ICM six months after the receipt of the award.

The ICM document on Strengthening Midwifery Associations is attached for reference.