On September 23, the Capacity Project presented its end-of-project event, "It Takes a Workforce: Improving Global Health Services," at the World Bank in Washington, DC.

Project leadership and staff joined Pape Gaye, president and CEO of lead partner IntraHealth International, and key representatives from USAID, global partners, ministries of health and other organizations. Scott Radloff, director of USAID’s Office of Population and Reproductive Health, acknowledged the Project as a good example of health systems strengthening, an area that figures prominently in President Obama’s Global Health Initiative, and cited examples of the Project’s success in increasing access to family planning. Robert Clay, director of USAID’s Office of HIV/AIDS, emphasized the need for donors and partners to work together effectively. “This project represents the new way forward in terms of integration,” he said, and discussed examples of the Project’s positive impact on HIV/AIDS services.

The morning plenary highlighted aspects of the Project’s work in planning, developing and supporting the health workforce, while breakout sessions focused on four areas in more depth. Dr. Susan Brems, deputy assistant administrator of USAID’s Bureau for Global Health, presented the keynote address. “The Capacity Project has made significant contributions that have laid the groundwork for future work in health systems strengthening,” she affirmed, and cited seven major examples.

The afternoon plenary brought to light the unfinished agenda in human resources for health, with insights from Kate Tulenko of the World Bank, Samuel Mwenda of the Christian Health Association of Kenya, Allison Foster of the Pan American Health Organization and Estelle Quain of USAID and the Global Health Workforce Alliance. A well-received expo and a photography exhibition will remain on view through October.

October 2009