International Development Grant
Support to Zambia's Human Resources for Health Strategy
Project Number: CA-3-A033994001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $5,000,000.00
Start Date: March 26, 2009
End Date: December 31, 2009
Duration: 1.0 years
Project Description
Update 1: As of June 2009 CIDA has not made any further disbursements to the Zambia Ministry of Health. This measure will remain in effect until the Agency is satisfied with corrective measures. This project is supporting the development of the Zambia National Health Strategic Plan and its Human Resources component which aims to address the crucial shortage in human resources in the country's effort to strengthen the health system. In Zambia this shortage has reached crisis proportion. The public health sector is currently operating at less than half the expected number of health workers.There are shortages at every level of health service delivery so that some areas of the country are grossly under-served. The highest cause of the attrition is due to death (38%) mainly by AIDS. This project follows on the heels of a two-year $20 million pilot Strengthening Health Systems in Zambia (SHSZam). It is expected to provide cost effective quality health services as close to the family as possible in order to ensure equity of access in health service delivery.
Progress & Results Achieved
Update 2: A full audit was completed in April 2011. Remaining funds already dispersed for this project were used to train students to acquire training school infrastructure and to pay for health workers as part of the Ministry of Health’s overall retention scheme. Results achieved at the end of project (June 2013) include: 1) Immunized 990 364 children against measles 288 496 children against polio supplemented 1 308 972 children with Vitamin A and de-wormed 1 137 294 children; 2) Recruited 265 more doctors 1573 nurses and 398 midwives for work in the public health sector; 3) Established a national health workers retention scheme; 4) Developed a Governance and Management Capacity Strengthening Plan for the Ministry of Health. All of these results contributed to the improved coverage of and increased more equitable access to assured quality cost-effective and affordable health services and preventive health measures for Zambians.
Key Information
Executing Agency:
Government of Zambia - Ministry of Health
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
WGM Africa
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Basket funds/pooled funding
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Pre-APP