Human Resource for Health (HRH) Program | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - USAID Human Resource for Health (HRH) Program

1) What is the USAID Human Resource for Health (HRH) Program?

The USAID HRH Program is a large, five-year cooperative agreement intended to help partner countries strengthen health systems and broader economies by addressing health workforce challenges in a comprehensive way.

2) What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The program aims to make measurable progress on health workforce goals by helping countries develop a workforce that is both sufficient in size and also "fit for purpose" and "fit to practice" (the right people with the right skills, available where they are needed), supported by appropriate policies, financing, and management systems.

3) What does USAID mean by "fit for purpose" and "fit to practice"?

Based on the opportunity description, "fit for purpose" and "fit to practice" emphasize that workforce success is not only about increasing numbers. It is about ensuring health workers have the right skills and competencies, and that they are positioned and supported to deliver needed services effectively in the places where they are most needed.

4) Does the program only focus on training more doctors and nurses?

No. The program is explicitly designed to go beyond simply producing more doctors or nurses. It is built to address workforce challenges comprehensively, including distribution, skill mix, competencies, performance, and the enabling systems that support recruitment, training, deployment, management, and retention.

5) How broadly does USAID define the "health workforce" for this program?

USAID uses an intentionally broad definition. In addition to traditional clinical professions (such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, midwives, and community health workers), the program recognizes newer clinical cadres and many non-clinical roles that keep health systems functioning.

6) Which types of non-clinical or less traditional roles are included under the HRH definition?

The opportunity specifically notes roles such as medical shopkeepers and traditional healers, health facility and district managers, supply chain and logistics personnel, and parts of the social welfare workforce.

7) Why does the opportunity use such a broad definition of the health workforce?

The stated intent is to reflect how care is actually delivered and supported across both public and private sectors, particularly in developing country contexts where informal and mixed delivery models are common.

8) Is the program global, country-specific, or both?

Both. The program is structured to work at global and country levels. Globally, it seeks to advance technical and policy dialogue on HRH and support implementation of a globally defined HRH strategy. At the country level, it will provide tailored technical assistance aligned with local priorities and context-specific needs.

9) What are the global-level activities expected under this program?

Globally, the program is expected to advance technical and policy dialogue on HRH and support the implementation of a globally defined HRH strategy.

10) What are the country-level activities expected under this program?

At the country level, the program is expected to provide tailored technical assistance that responds to local priorities and context-specific workforce and health system needs, addressing HRH issues across all levels of the health system (community, facility, and national policy/planning).

11) Which service areas or health priorities are referenced for alignment?

The opportunity notes alignment with priority service areas such as family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH), HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health (MCH), and other key health areas in USAID priority countries.

12) What does the opportunity say about the "enabling environment" for health workers?

The enabling environment is highlighted as a major emphasis. The opportunity calls out leadership, governance, and financing as cross-cutting issues that shape planning, recruitment, training and professional development, deployment and distribution, and ongoing support and retention of health workers.

13) What workforce outcomes does the program emphasize beyond headcount?

The opportunity emphasizes distribution (for example, rural versus urban staffing), skill mix (appropriate blend of cadres), competencies and performance, and workforce-supporting systems such as management and accountability structures.

14) What does USAID say about sustainability and country ownership?

Sustainability and country ownership are repeatedly emphasized. USAID signals that the program should build national capacity so that planning and implementation increasingly sit with country institutions rather than external partners, strengthening accountability for HRH locally and globally.

15) What results does USAID expect within the five-year period?

Within five years, USAID expects demonstrable, measurable progress toward workforce goals and clear contributions to broader health outcomes, including advancing universal health coverage and helping countries move toward targets such as ending preventable child and maternal deaths by 2035, increasing access to modern contraceptive methods, and achieving and maintaining an AIDS-free generation.

16) What type of funding mechanism is this?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity issued by USAID under a cooperative agreement mechanism.

17) What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

As described in the opportunity, a cooperative agreement means USAID anticipates substantial involvement during implementation compared with a standard grant.

18) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-OAA-15-000021.

19) How many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity anticipated one award.

20) What is the estimated total funding amount and the award ceiling?

The estimated total funding amount is up to USD 145,000,000, and the award ceiling is USD 145,000,000.

21) Is there an award floor listed?

No award floor is listed in the information provided.

22) Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required.

23) Is the competition restricted to certain types of applicants?

The competition is described as fully competed and unrestricted.

24) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is open to U.S. and non-U.S. organizations that are registered and working in developing countries, provided they are responsible entities with organizational, financial, and technical capacity (or the ability to obtain it) to carry out the program.

25) Are individuals eligible to apply?

No. Applications from individuals are not eligible.

26) Does USAID encourage first-time applicants or organizations new to USAID?

Yes. USAID encourages applications from organizations that have not previously done business with the agency.

27) Can for-profit entities apply?

For-profit entities may apply only if they waive profits and fees. The opportunity notes that profit is not allowable under assistance instruments, though entities can recover allowable, reasonable, and allocable costs under applicable federal cost principles and regulations.

28) What kinds of capacity or compliance checks might USAID require?

USAID notes that a pre-award survey may be required to assess systems such as accounting, internal controls, experience, and operational capacity.

29) When was the opportunity posted, and when was it archived?

The opportunity was posted May 21, 2015, and the archive date is July 24, 2015.

30) What was the application closing deadline?

The listing shows an initial closing date of June 22, 2015 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time, later updated to a current closing date of June 24, 2015 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

31) When were questions due?

Questions were due by June 4, 2015 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

32) Who are the USAID contacts listed for access issues or questions about the full announcement?

The listing provides USAID contacts including Agreement Officer Chris Egaas (cegaas@usaid.gov) and Agreement Specialist Albert Asante.