March 1, 2026
In Sudan’s rural villages and displacement camps, solar-powered lanterns are enabling midwives to better care for mothers and helping women and girls navigate life after dark with greater safety and dignity.
Midwives are not only the ones who deliver babies, they are trusted caregivers providing antenatal and postnatal support, counseling, and vital health information that help families thrive. Yet in rural areas and humanitarian settings, the lack of reliable electricity causes daily struggles for midwives.
“We frequently had to hold a mobile flashlight steady in our mouths to support women giving birth at night,” shares Midwife Awatef from West Darfur. “It was especially challenging when complications arose, and we had only seconds to act quickly and efficiently to save her life and that of her child.”
Signify Foundation partnered with UNFPA to donate over 5,000 solar-powered lanterns in conflict-affected states such as West, North, and South Darfur, as well as North Kordofan, Blue Nile, and Gedaref. These portable lights enable midwives to safely navigate night-time journeys, conduct deliveries in better conditions, and continue providing critical care even during power outages.
“When there is no electricity, we carry women in labor during the night out of their tents, lighting a fire in an open space so we can operate,” explains Midwife Hawa from West Darfur. “The open space delivery theater exposes women to the risk of infections.
