A review of non-financial incentives for health worker retention in east and southern Africa
Regional Network for Equity in health in eastern and southern Africa (EQUINET), East, Central and Southern African Health Community (ECSA-HC), University of Limpopo, South Africa, Report
This paper, authored by Yoswa Dambisya, was based on a desk review of non-financial incentives for health workers' retention in eastern and southern Africa.
Main types of non-financial incentives include training and career-path opportunities, incentives that address social needs (housing, schooling, food, etc), improved working conditions and management, access to HIV care and services. Monitoring and evaluation of incentive schemes was limited, constraining the evidence base on which the review was conducted.
Countries should strengthen their HRH information systems and personnel management systems.
Evidence suggested that factors associated with a successful implementation of the non-financial incentive schemes include:
- proper consultative planning;
- long-term strategic approach embedded in national health sector planning framework;
- sustainable financing, e.g. through national budget or sector budget support (SWAP).