Zambia

With support from CapacityPlus, the Ministry of Health and Churches Health Association of Zambia developed a Health Worker Retention Scheme, which they rolled out to specified districts in hard-to-reach locations. The package consisted of a rural hardship allowance to top up health worker salaries as an incentive to work in rural locations. As additional incentives, the association provided decent and affordable accommodations for health workers and modernized the health facilities. The scheme has had a positive impact on retention, increasing health workers’ motivation to stay in the rural locations and continue to offer quality health services.