This is the fifth in a series of blog posts from the Ministerial Leadership Initiative for Global Health's Learning Collaborative Forum in Ethiopia.

The art of being a good negotiator is something many crave. For those in Health Ministries, good negotiators can earn better terms in health projects as well as millions of dollars beyond the initial offer, translating into better health care treatment for the population and lives saved.

A team of Nepali health officials told a MLI Learning Collaborative Forum today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, that a series of training in negotiations has resulted in measurable differences.

The training "has already helped senior leaders in Nepal to be better negotiators for the people in Nepal," said Khadka Bahadur Basyal Sarki, State Minister of the Ministry of Health and Population.

I was living in Nepal and had been here several times before, so I knew the circumstances of the health system. But it wasn’t until I took the job as MLI country lead that I really understood the challenges facing Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population. Working with the Ministry on a daily basis for the last two years has given me much more insight into the difficult circumstances the staff has to deal with and still deliver good work. In fact, the health sector’s progress has been so good that Nepal has received awards for its health sector improvements both from the United Nations and from the GAVI Alliance.