Strengthening Health Workforce Performance
Ensuring health workers with the right skills, at the right place, at the right timeHealth services don’t exist without health workers. The World Health Organization estimates a projected shortfall of 18 million health workers by 2030, mostly in low- and lower-middle income countries. MSH helps countries develop the right training, tools, and resources needed for a successful health workforce.
How MSH Strengthens Health Workforce Performance
MSH offers expertise in working with counterparts to improve health workforce policy and planning and develop effective recruitment, deployment, retention, and performance management processes.
Investment in community health workers
Through policy, advocacy, and resource planning, we support countries to increase investments in their community health workforce to extend essential health services into remote, underserved areas.
System foundations for a high-performing health workforce
We assist countries to assess health workforce needs and design and implement recruitment, capacity development, and retention strategies to enable high-performing health workforces.
Innovative capacity strengthening tools
From hands-on mentorship to supportive supervision and recognition to eLearning and educational apps, we help health workers get the skills and support they need to deliver high-quality, people-centered services.
Health workers leading the way
MSH has pioneered strengthening the leadership and management skills of health workers and program managers—enabling them to set goals, design locally relevant solutions, mobilize resources, and lead teams to achieve impactful results for their communities.
Results and Highlights
Access to antenatal care increased for Indigenous communities
In Guatemala, health workers trained in culturally respectful maternal health care are building trust with communities and increasing access to services for Indigenous pregnant women.
Integrated community case management of childhood illnesses strengthened
With improved skills and reliable access to health commodities, community-based health workers in Nigeria are helping to treat malaria as well as pneumonia, diarrhea, and other common childhood illnesses.
Professional development opportunities expanded for health workers
Online learning platforms in countries such as Madagascar and Mali are providing a low-cost, high-impact mechanism for health workers to gain updated knowledge and skills to deliver lifesaving care.
Health professionals hone skills to effectively manage health emergencies
Local teams—from Uganda to Peru—trained in leadership and management are helping their countries improve infectious disease surveillance, increase immunization for vaccine-preventable disease, and optimize emergency response operations.
Areas of Expertise
Explore Our Impact
April 20, 2026Resource
February 9, 2026Story
December 11, 2025Resource
Partner with Us
MSH works alongside governments and partners to strengthen health workforce systems that ensure health workers have the skills, support, and resources they need to deliver high-quality services.