Global Health Workforce Network
The Global Health Workforce Network was established in 2016, following a request by select Member States and building on a proposal by the Board of the Global Health Workforce Alliance. The May 2016 adoption of the Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030 and the recommendations of the High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth are the foundation for an ambitious, forward-looking health workforce agenda to progress towards universal health coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Network operates within WHO as a global mechanism for stakeholder consultation, dialogue and coordination on comprehensive and coherent health workforce policies in support of the implementation of the Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health and the recommendations the Commission.
WHO has appointed a 8 member multi-sectoral Strategic Advisory Committee, to provide strategic advice to the Network. David Weakliam (from Ireland, and formerly Chair of the GHWA Board), serves as the chair of the Network.
Global Health Workforce Network
Objectives
- Engagement - To inform and maintain high-level political engagement in support of the implementation of the Global Strategy.
- Dialogue - To provide forum for multi-sector and multi stakeholder agenda setting, best practice sharing and harmonization and alignment of international support to human resources for health (HRH).
- Effective implementation - To foster global monitoring and mutual accountability on international HRH goals, targets and commitments.
GHWN Newsletters
News
Activities and value added
The activities of the Network are aligned with the work of the Heath Data Collaborative (a thematic Network facilitated by WHO) and recently launched UHC 2030 Alliance.
Its activities are fully complementary to the broader work of the WHO, providing it with a platform for enhanced collaboration and dialogue with the key technical agencies (e.g. ILO, UNESCO, WB) with a mandate that goes beyond the health sector focus of WHO. GHWN has a unique role, however, in driving forward the health workforce agenda through leveraging specific activities to which other institutions and constituencies bring expertise, mandate and funding. Its activities focus mainly on inter-sectoral aspects (e.g. education or financing – necessary for effective delivery) and on the HRH information and evidence agenda (in recognition of the current fragmentation of initiatives and multiplicity of partners involved). The value added of the Network will maintain and improve momentum on health workforce issues as a priority global policy agenda item.
HUBS
If you’re interested in learning more about GHWN or engaging in one of the thematic hubs, please write to us at [email protected].
The WHO reserves the right to manage representation and participation in the Network hubs, based on gender balance, geographical representation and appropriate size.
To join the Health Labour Market Hub, please visit: https://extranet.who.int/datacol/survey.asp?survey_id=3941
Products and resources developed by the Hubs
Network action plan (2016-2018)
The table below summarizes the priority deliverables and activities of the Network generated by a consultative process. It presents activities and outputs for the first two years (2016-2018), categorized according to the 4 strategic objectives of the Global Strategy on Human Resources of Health.
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Strategic objectives of the Global Strategy on HRH |
Strategic objective 1:
To optimise performance, quality and impact of the health workforce through evidence-informed policies on human resources for health, contributing to healthy lives and well-being, effective universal health coverage, resilience and health security at all levels. |
Strategic objective 2:
To align investment in human resources for health with the current and future needs of the population taking account of labour market dynamics, to enable maximum improvements in health outcomes, employment creation and economic growth. |
Strategic objective 3:
To build the capacity of institutions at sub-national, national and international levels for effective leadership and governance of actions on human resources for health (HRH). |
Strategic objective 4:
To strengthen data on human resources for health, for monitoring of and ensuring accountability for the implementation of both national strategies and the Global Strategy. |
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Priority work streams for the first 2 years (2016-2018) |
1.Develop and promote competency and performance standards linking SDGs 3 (health & well-being) and 4 (education and life-long learning):
- develop competency framework(s) for technical and vocational education and training within countries;
- inform global guidelines on community-based health workers and catalyse support for their implementation at country level |
2. Develop and promote standards to harmonise and align investments from Global Health Initiatives, multilateral, bilateral and other official development assistance (health, education, employment etc.) for health workforce development
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3.Develop and enable an accredited leadership programme on health workforce
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4.Promote alignment and adoption of National Health Workforce Accounts; linking with the Health Data Collaborative
5.Promote inter-sectoral reporting on SDG Goal 3c with relevant stakeholders
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OUTPUTS (2016-2018):
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Competency framework (x 1) for country policy & planning.
Inter-agency adoption of WHO Guidelines for CBHWs informing country actions. |
Ex-ante impact assessment tool to guide country investments. |
Health workforce leadership programme for national stakeholders (progressing to accredited status) |
Scale-up of country activities on adoption and reporting of NHWA.
SDG3c reporting process |
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Cross-cutting activities:
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- Engage inter-sectoral stakeholders in a Strategic Advisory Committee and the work of the thematic hubs. - Develop and disseminate global public goods, engaging and informing members and stakeholders. |
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