Evaluation of Malawi's Emergency Human Resources Programme

Management Sciences for Health
document. An approximation of the total cost for the four HR TAs over the span of the
contract (2005-2009) is USD 1.48 million. 61
Discussion
Despite the great need for technical assistance in HRM in the health sector, the potential
impact of Element 4 was diminished by the lack of stable national counterparts and the
need for the TAs to provide an extra ‘pair of hands’ in light of the high turnover of staff
and backlogs of routine work. These conditions made it difficult to transfer skills, engage
in joint planning and implement new policies. Even with a stable number of
counterparts, long term TA provided by international consultants, the disparities in
earnings run the risk of de-motivating the counterparts. The results of the HRM survey
make it clear that going forward, there is a critical need to build HR management
capacity at all levels of the MOH, but a more cost effective plan must be developed in
consultation with the key stakeholders within the Ministry, the Department of Human
Resource Management and Development (DHRM&D), the Zonal and District
management teams and local capacity building organisations. Visionary and effective
leadership for HR strengthening at all levels is a critical component of any future HRH
strategy.
ELEMENT 5: STRENGTHENING M&E CAPACITY
Overview of Implementation
Element 5 of the EHRP was intended to establish a robust M&E system for tracking
human resources in the health sector. However, as described earlier, there was no clear
plan for this element at the outset of the EHRP. As a result, few activities have occurred
under Element 5 using EHRP funding. These activities include procurement and
distribution of computers to districts around in the country, provision of database
management training (i.e. using Excel databases), and a study tour prior to the training,
all of which occurred in 2008.
Data and Findings
A. Quantitative Findings
� The Human Resources Management Information System (HRMIS) has not been
rolled out using EHRP funding as planned. Instead, only a limited number of
activities were carried out to build M&E capacity using EHRP funding, as
follows:
- 40 computers were procured and distributed to District Health Offices and
Central Hospitals around the country in 2008.
- A study tour was undertaken prior to the district-level training in database
management.
61 TA costs were reported in GBP and converted to USD using average yearly currency conversion for the
period covered. See Annex P for average conversion rates and Annex Q for total costs in GBP and MK.
EHRP Evaluation Final Report Page 50