"There are a number of reasons why health ministers would find this initiative helpful...in order to harmonize health programs, this person who is minister of health must increase their knowledge. You need so many skills, you need training, and you need evidence,"

- Professor Eyitayo Lambo, Nigerian Minister of Health, 2003-2007

The Program

The Ministerial Leadership Initiative (MLI) has created an exciting program for health ministers and their teams to obtain tailored technical assistance and leadership support in the areas of health financing for equity, donor harmonization and alignment, and women's health, emboldening Ministers of Health to be pioneers of fundamental change in health policy.

The program - launched in Spring 2008 and extending through April 2011 - awards technical assistance to select countries.

Ministries of Health are often under-resourced, understaffed, caught up in responding to daily demands, and lacking the practical strategies needed to advocate for po