Addressing Persistent Human Health Workforce Challenges in the Public Sector of Africa with South-South Partnership

ABOUT HaPSNA

The Health and Public Service Network of Africa (HaPSNA) is a regional collaborative platform that is led by Ministries of Health and Public/ Civil Services to tackle systemic and structural barriers in health workforce management across Africa. Launched through South South partnership, HaPSNA began with Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, and is grounded in a shared commitment to health workforce reform. The network focuses on improving governance, strengthening coordination, and driving more efficient and effective service delivery in the health and public sectors. The core focus of the initiative is supporting the integration of certified community health workers (CHWs) into national civil service systems, alongside broader efforts to promote sustainable health and public service development.

OUR MISSION

Enhance workforce governance, professional development, and public sector efficiency and advance human health workforce development through peer-to-peer engagement of countries.

HAPSNA AIMS TO:

Strengthening health workforce governance and efficiency in the public sector

Develop sustainable financing models for health and public services

Establish a coordinated platform for knowledge exchange and policy on human health workforce

Enhance training, professional development, and leadership capacity for health workforce in the public sector

Utilize digital tools for health and public service workforce monitoring, evaluation, and decision-making

Promote e-governance in the health and public workforce

Our Chairperson

Josiah F. Joekai, Jr.

Director-General, Civil Service Agency of Liberia

Chairperson, Health and Public Service Network of Africa (HaPSNA)

Dr. Josiah F. Joekai, Jr. is an accomplished public sector leader with over 16 years of experience in governance, institutional reform, and civic engagement. He currently serves as Director-General of Liberia's Civil Service Agency and Chairperson of the newly established Health and Public Service Network of Africa (HaPSNA).

Dr. Joekai has held key national roles, including Executive Director of the Liberia National Commission on Arms and Director of Civic and Voter Education at the National Elections Commission. His leadership has advanced reforms in national security, education, elections, and democracy in Liberia.

Internationally, he served as Executive Programs Manager at the Connecticut Charter School Collective in the U.S., where he led community engagement and stakeholder partnerships. He also received the prestigious ICARE Award in 2022 for service excellence.

He holds a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Adler University and a Master's in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Liberia. Known for his inclusive leadership, strategic thinking, and commitment to public service, Dr. Joekai is widely recognized for driving innovation and fostering positive change across sectors.

Recent Activities

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Health and Public Service Network of Africa (HaPSNA) launched to advance health workforce through South-South partnership.

In Monrovia, Liberia, from March 4–7, 2025, the Regional Civil Service Agencies and Ministries of Health held a Conference on the Health Workforce, under the theme "Advancing the Human Health Workforce through Public Service Excellence Building Resilient and Innovative Institutions for Sustainable Development". During the conference, the Health and Public Service Network of Africa (HaPSNA) was officially established to address critical health workforce challenges within the health and public service sectors through South–South partnerships. The founding member countries of the Network includes Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Dr. Josiah F. Joekai Jr., Director-General of the Liberian Civil Service Agency (CSA), was appointed as the inaugural Chairperson of HaPSNA.

Upcoming Events

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June 2, 2025 - June 3, 2025

Consultative Meeting on the Integration of Certified Community Health Workers (CHWs) into the Civil Service.

The Health and Public Service Network of Africa (HaPSNA) and the Health Development Partnership for Africa and the Caribbean (HeDPAC) are convening a two-day consultative meeting with Ministries of Health and Civil Service Agencies from Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Rwanda. The meeting will focus on advancing the integration of certified community health workers (CHWs) into national civil service systems. Participants will explore policy measures, frameworks, and mechanisms to strengthen and monitor CHW integration, with the goal of enhancing sustainability, governance, and service delivery at the community level.