The Africa Health Workforce Investment Charter – Promoting Sustainable Investments
- Healthcare Infrastructure and Assets
- October 14, 2024
Highlights
- Investments in the health workforce are essential for enhancing health, economic, and social outcomes through smart and sustained strategies
- Health workforce investment decisions prioritise long-term integration, continuity, and future generations’ consideration, focusing on mechanisms for integration and continuity
The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has introduced the Africa Health Workforce Investment Charter in its bid to cut health worker shortages by half. The charter was signed at the Africa Health Workforce Investment Forum in Windhoek, Namibia on May 06, 2024.
The charter was developed in collaboration with the World Health Organisation and African Member States along with the Global Fund. It aims to stimulate sustainable investment in health workforce education and employment through a common national investment plan. The initiative will reduce duplication as well as inefficiencies, mobilise resources for universal health coverage, and reduce health worker shortages in African countries by 2030.
The Africa Health Workforce Investment Charter is a significant milestone for the health workforce in Africa along with investors. Shunsuke Mabuchi, Head of Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health and Pandemic Preparedness and Response, praised the partners’ endorsement of the Charter’s principles while expressing eagerness to support its implementation.
The Global Fund is investing USD 634 million in Africa’s Human Resource Health (HRH) sector to specifically support community health workers. The allocation represents 70% of global investment in the segment. The investment enables the staff to receive training, remuneration, and integration into primary healthcare teams. It also supports advocacy efforts to secure legal protection and recognition for the staff for receiving appropriate pay and working conditions.
The Global Fund endorses the Monrovia Call to Action, advocating for community health worker professionalisation. It also promotes the Lusaka Agenda, urging increased investments in resilient health systems.
The Africa Health Workforce Investment Charter highlights the expected outcomes:
The Health Workforce Investment Charter aims to promote sustainable and coordinated investments to accelerate the implementation of national strategies and global commitments. It brings together all stakeholders, including national governments, the private health sector, civil society, external financing institutions, and development partners in Africa.
Collaborations and Partnerships:
The Africa Health Workforce Investment Charter is supported by various partners and stakeholders, including the United States Agency for International Development, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the World Bank and the International Labour Organisation. Additional partners include the Southern African Development Community, the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community, the African Centre for Health and Social Transformation, the African Foundation for Research and Education in Health, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency as well as the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.
