African health ministers have endorsed a new 10-year programme to transform the continent's health workforce, committing to train, employ and retain three million additional health workers by 2035. The decision was taken during the 76th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, where the Health Workforce Management Programme in Africa (2026–2035) — also referred to as the Africa Health Workforce Agenda — was adopted.
The move comes as Africa faces a severe shortage of health workers. According to data cited in the programme, the continent had an estimated 5.72 million health professionals in 2024, yet that represents only about 46 per cent of the workforce needed to meet its population's health needs. Without decisive action, the shortfall could exceed six million professionals by 2035.
At the same time, the continent is experiencing a striking paradox: while health facilities struggle with staff shortages, nearly one million trained health professionals are unemployed, with recent graduates particularly affected. In several countries, more than half of newly qualified nurses, doctors and midwives are unable to find work shortly after completing their training.
The new agenda seeks to address this gap by moving beyond just training more health workers. It focuses on workforce planning, quality education, job creation, sustainable financing and retention, with coordinated action across the health, education, finance, labour and public service sectors. The agenda builds on the Africa Health Workforce Investment Charter and provides countries with a shared roadmap to build a skilled, supported and equitably distributed workforce.
Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, stressed that educating health workers is only the beginning. "We must also create the opportunities, the support and the conditions that enable them to serve, grow and thrive where they are needed most," he said. In a separate statement, he added: "Our Member States have recognised that training health professionals is only the beginning. This programme turns evidence into concrete action and political commitment into sustainable investments for Africa's health workforce and, ultimately, for the health and well-being of our populations."
The potential economic benefits are significant. Closing Africa's health workforce gap is estimated to require an additional US$4–6 per person annually, while every dollar invested in health workers could generate up to US$10 in economic returns and around 30 times its value in broader social benefits.
In addition to the workforce programme, African health ministers also endorsed a new regional strategy to give every child the best possible start in life. That strategy calls for coordinated action across health, nutrition, social protection, water and sanitation, education, finance and other sectors, recognising that no single sector can meet the needs of children alone. At its heart is a commitment to supporting parents, caregivers and communities, who play the most important role in helping children survive, grow, learn and thrive.
The goal, as stated in the programme, is clear: more health workers, more jobs, stronger health systems and millions more Africans able to access quality healthcare when and where they need it.