The Capacity Project, in collaboration with Realizing Rights’ Health Systems Strengthening for Equity (HSSE) Project, convened a high-level round table discussion in Washington, DC on September 10-11.

The Project’s paper, Human Resources for Health: Tackling the Human Resource Management Piece of the Puzzle, served as a substantive foundation piece for the meeting. The event sought to increase awareness of the importance of HR management systems strengthening, and identify specific ways to advocate for change.

Stakeholders’ recommendations included the need to use a new generation of country-level studies, such as HSSE’s study on the role of mid-level providers and task shifting, that have produced valuable data on motivation and retention that can inform the planning, development and management of the health workforce. Stakeholders also recommended supporting a more predictable, sustainable donor funding supply, and working to include implementation in policies to advance the human resources for health agenda at the country level.

September 2009