In 2023, DGI Consult conducted a detailed Human Resource for Health (HRH) situational analysis in 10 Bill and Melinda Gates (BMGF)-supported states to understand the gaps in HRH policy, financing and management and their implications for workforce optimization, and ultimately service delivery. The analysis also identified existing promising HRH-optimizing interventions and made recommended strategies that will reposition the states’ HRH for optimal performance. The BMGF has prioritized Kaduna, Kano, and Lagos States for the implementation of key HRH interventions; hence, DGI Consult is supporting the Foundation to design a HRH strategy with interventions to be implemented in the three states.

As part of the evidence-based and co-creation approach to designing the BMGF Nigeria Country Office (NCO) HRH strategy, DGI Consult in collaboration with the Kaduna State Ministry of Health organized a 1-day stakeholders’ workshop on 14^th March 2024 to disseminate the findings of the Kaduna State HRH situation analysis and identify priority HRH interventions that will be supported by the BMGF in the state. The 1-day workshop was attended by key stakeholders in the state health sector. These include representatives from the states’ health MDAs, partners, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Ward Development Committee, health training institutions, regulatory bodies, healthcare providers among others. To set the stage for the workshop, the findings of the state’s HRH landscape analysis and recommended interventions was presented to participants. Through a group work session, participants critically examined the HRH recommended interventions articulated by DGI Consult, how they align with the state’s HRH priorities and critical factors to consider during implementation. The HRH recommended interventions were grouped into four categories: (a) optimization-enabling HRH practices; (b) system design and support; (c) capacity building; and (d) accountability. Participants also suggested additional HRH priority interventions that will improve health workforce performance in the State. Lastly, a panel discussion was facilitated to further understand how the recommended HRH interventions will produce the best HRH results in the state.

Engagements with key stakeholders at the national level and in Lagos and Kano states towards co-creating HRH-optimizing interventions are currently ongoing. The evidence gathered from the stakeholders’ engagement meetings and workshops will inform the design of context-appropriate HRH interventions that will be supported by BMGF to improve health workforce performance and ultimately, improve access to quality healthcare services in the states.