While skilled health workers represent the most critical component of any health system, there exists a considerable personnel shortage worldwide. An estimated 4.2 million health workers are needed, with 1.5 million in Africa alone. This scarcity is one of the most serious constraints to achieving progress on health initiatives and to obtaining development-related goals.

The Global Health Workforce Alliance was created in 2006 to serve as a platform for addressing this crisis, and represents a partnership among national governments, civil society, international agencies, finance institutions, researchers, educators, and professional associations. All stakeholders are dedicated to identifying, implementing, and advancing solutions to help resolve problems related to an inadequate number of skilled health workers.