Indonesia and Lao PDR Explore Collaboration to Strengthen Nursing and Midwifery Leadership WHOCC
Strengthening leadership capacity among nurses and midwives remains a challenge in many countries. Effective leadership is essential to support workforce governance, policy implementation, and the delivery of quality health services.
On 5 March 2026, representatives from Indonesia and Lao PDR met virtually to exchange experiences and explore opportunities for collaboration in strengthening nursing and midwifery leadership. The meeting brought together representatives from the Poltekkes WHO CC Indonesia, including Dr Anna Kurniati, Director of Health Workforce Provision; the Ministry of Health of Lao PDR, represented by Dr Anousone; and Midori Anami, Regional Nursing Officer from the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office (WHO WPRO), along with representatives from WHO Indonesia and WHO Lao PDR. The discussion highlighted Indonesia’s initiatives implemented through the WHO Collaborating Centre, including the Midwifery Leadership Programme (MLP) and the Nursing Clinical Instructor (NCI) training programme, as well as Lao PDR’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its nursing workforce through the National Nursing Development Plan (NNDP) 2030.
During the meeting, the Indonesia WHO Collaborating Centre shared initiatives aimed at strengthening nursing and midwifery leadership and education, including the Midwifery Leadership Programme (MLP) and the Nursing Clinical Instructor (NCI) training programme. These programmes focus on enhancing leadership capacity among midwives and strengthening clinical teaching and mentorship for nurses.
Representatives from Lao PDR also shared updates on the development of the National Nursing Development Plan (NNDP) 2030 and continuing professional development initiatives for nurses and midwives. The exchange highlighted the importance of leadership development and professional training to support health workforce strengthening.
The discussion also explored potential areas for future collaboration between Indonesia and Lao PDR. Key recommendations emerging from the discussion focused on:
- Clarifying the programme’s purpose, target participants, and potential career pathways
- Establishing a clear and practical assessment framework
- Defining core training content aligned with learning outcomes
Participants also emphasized the importance of standardizing terminology, aligning clinical instructor roles with regulatory requirements, and ensuring clear participant qualifications and appropriate training ratios.
“The Midwifery Leadership Programme provides valuable insights for strengthening leadership capacity among midwives and supporting professional development. Learning from Indonesia’s experience offers important perspectives for strengthening nursing and midwifery development in Lao PDR,” said a representative from the Ministry of Health of Lao PDR during the discussion. – Dr Anousone, representative from the Ministry of Health of Lao PDR.
Strengthening leadership among nurses and midwives plays a critical role in improving health workforce development and health service delivery. By equipping health professionals with leadership and strategic planning skills, countries can strengthen workforce governance, improve policy implementation, and enhance the quality of health services for communities.
Both Indonesia and Lao PDR expressed interest in continuing dialogue to explore potential collaboration in nursing and midwifery workforce development. Future cooperation may include knowledge sharing, technical exchanges, and potential adaptation of leadership training initiatives such as the Midwifery Leadership Programme.