The RISE Network is a cornerstone program of the Nursing and Midwifery Development Foundation (NMDF). It connects experienced nurses, midwives, and healthcare professionals from around the world with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to strengthen healthcare education, mentoring, and clinical training. RISE supports sustainable improvements in healthcare systems by building local capacity and advancing professional development.

• Reach: We reach beyond borders to connect global health professionals with communities in need, fostering collaboration and shared learning

• Inspire: We inspire healthcare providers to pursue excellence in education, practice, and service.

• Support: We support local partners, offering them mentorship, resources, and expertise.

• Empower: We empower local nurses, midwives, and healthcare professionals so they can sustain progress, lead in their fields, and improve health outcomes in their own communities.

RISE welcomes licensed healthcare professionals—especially registered nurses, midwives, and nurse educators—with teaching, training, or clinical experience. Participants must be eligible to practice in their home countries and committed to sharing their knowledge with local providers where they are sent.

Volunteers work alongside the staff of the Nursing and Midwifery Development Centre (NMDC) to strengthen clinical and teaching skills of local healthcare workers. Activities may include classroom instruction, bedside mentoring, curriculum development, or capacity-building workshops, depending on local needs and volunteer expertise.

RISE currently operates in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, where volunteers partner with hospitals, universities, and training centers in collaboration with the Nursing and Midwifery Development Centre (NMDC). As the program grows, NMDF plans to expand RISE’s reach into additional countries, bringing sustainable healthcare education and capacity-building to other regions in need.

Placements vary depending on the volunteer’s availability and program needs. Opportunities include short-term assignments (4 weeks) and longer-term placements (up to 12 months or more).

RISE is a volunteer-based program. Volunteers generously contribute their time and expertise to strengthen healthcare education in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. While volunteers are not paid, the Nursing and Midwifery Development Foundation (NMDF) covers all major travel and living expenses to ensure participation is financially accessible.

Each volunteer placement is funded by NMDF and includes:

• Airfare to and from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq

• Lodging and ground transportation during the assignment

• Some meals

• Cultural experience activities to enhance community engagement

• Program materials and administrative support provided by NMDF and NMDC

This support allows volunteers to focus fully on teaching, mentoring, and building capacity without personal financial cost.

RISE creates lasting change by building the capacity of local nurses, midwives, and healthcare educators—ensuring that knowledge and skills remain within the community long after each volunteer’s service ends. Each provider trained through RISE becomes a multiplier, passing on what they’ve learned to future generations of caregivers. The result is stronger healthcare education, improved outcomes for patients of all ages, and resilient healthcare systems that continue to grow from within.

Please see this page for our current opportunities.

You can support RISE in the following ways:

• Volunteer: Apply to join the program and work alongside local healthcare providers.

• Donate: Your contributions help cover travel, lodging, training materials, and other program costs, making this vital work possible.