Community Health Workforce Program | Mastercard Foundation

Community Health Workforce Program

Strengthening Africa's community health workforce.

A young woman, wearing a dark green short sleeve blouse, speaking into a microphone at the Community Heath Workforce Program convening in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, February 26-27, 2026.

Status

active

Period

Countries

Kenya Tanzania Burkina Faso Ethiopia Côte d’Ivoire Cameroon Niger Democratic Republic of Congo Zambia Zimbabwe Nigeria Sierra Leone Malawi Egypt Ghana Mali Uganda

Focus Areas

Health

The Community Health Workforce Program is a flagship initiative of the Mastercard Foundation that aims to enable 600,000 community health workers across Africa to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030, strengthening primary health care systems while contributing to stronger health outcomes.

The initiative contributes to a broader continental effort to deploy up to two million community health workers by 2030. It also advances the Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy, which aims to enable 30 million young people, especially young women and those from underserved communities, to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030.

A staff member of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) interacts with parasocial workers in Mukono District as part of UNICEF Uganda’s Mpox humanitarian cash transfer program. With support from the Mastercard Foundation, the initiative emphasizes community

A staff member of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) interacts with parasocial workers in Mukono District as part of UNICEF Uganda’s Mpox humanitarian cash transfer program. With support from the Mastercard Foundation, the initiative emphasizes community engagement to strengthen support for households with children affected by the outbreak.

The Program Is Anchored In Three Interconnected Pillars

  • A black line illustration of a briefcase with a Health worker symbol of a cross on the front of the briefcase.

    Health Employment

    Focused on training, professional development, and career pathways for community health workers.

  • A black line illustration of a simplified cityscape with three arrows pointing clockwise surrounding the buildings.

    Health Livelihoods

    Connects trained young people to dignified employment: transition pathways, primary healthcare deployment, employer engagement, and labor markets.

  • A black line illustration of the globe with a leaf wrapping around the globe.

    Health Ecosystem

    Focused on strengthening enabling policies, health systems integration, and sustainable domestic financing for community health workers programs.

Community Health Workforce Program Convening Report

From Alignment to Action: Strengthening Africa’s Community Health Workforce

Learn about the outcomes of the Community Health Workforce Program convening in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the actions needed to strengthen primary health care systems and support community health workers in accessing dignified and fulfilling work.

Read the Community Health Workforce Program convening report
Community Health Workforce Program convening, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 2026.

Learn More About the Community Health Workforce Program

Asha Sadi, U-Reporter and Young Champion, raises awareness among students at La Colombe school about preventive measures to combat the mpox epidemic in Bukavu, South Kivu province, DR Congo, on 11 September 2024.

Financing and Sustainability Roadmap

This roadmap provides a framework for strengthening the long-term financing and sustainability of community health worker programs across Africa.

Read the roadmap
Odeta, 8, and her brother Manassé, 12, stand on their doorstep in Mugunga, near Goma, North Kivu province in DR Congo on December 3, 2024.

Community Health Workforce Program Common Implementation Guidance

Learn about the Common Implementation Guidance for partners implementing the Mastercard Foundation’s Community Health Workforce Program in Africa. This practical guidance outlines standards to support high-quality program delivery.

Learn more about the Common Implementation Guidance