the next generation of frontline health workers

Nursing Scholar Program

kamuzu college of nursing malawi scholarship inauguration

The Need

Malawi faces a chronic shortage of healthcare workers, with only 7 nurses per 10,000 people. Nationwide, the healthcare provider shortage is most acute in the public sector, where 47% of nursing positions remain vacant.

Nurses are the backbone of healthcare delivery in Malawi. This gap undermines the country's response to critical health threats and gravely affects accessibility, quality of care and progress toward health, social and economic development outcomes.

Our Response

Launched in 2005 with support from the Gruber Family Foundation, GAIA’s Nursing Scholar Program (NSP) builds long-term health infrastructure by funding the next generation of frontline health workers. Working with communities, the Ministry of Health and Population, and local universities, GAIA supports the education and deployment of health worker cadres where they are needed most.

GAIA’s NSP provides wrap-around support for economically disadvantaged nursing students so that high quality health workers are trained, immediately licensed, and able to secure long-term, fulfilling careers as nurses.

Scholarships, psychosocial support, monthly stipends, clinical supplies, preparation and payment for licensure exams, ongoing follow-up, and a post-graduation service commitment ensures students complete their studies on time and are retained in the local health workforce.

Our Impact

GAIA has an impressive footprint. The NSP has supported 864 scholars in Malawi and Liberia with 532 graduates deployed to the far corners of Malawi and Liberia to date. In Malawi, GAIA Scholars represent 10% of public sector registered nurses who have served across 27 of Malawi's 28 districts.  

GAIA Nursing Scholars graduate on time and consistently achieve national licensing exam passage rates equal to or above the national average, closing the gap between economically disadvantaged students and their better-resourced classmates. To date:

  • 97% complete their academic program.
  • 99.6% receive licensure after their first exam attempt.
  • 100% complete their service commitment.
  • 99% remain working in Malawi, with 76% working in the public sector, serving the most vulnerable.

GAIA’s locally-led NSP employs an evidence-based, rigorously tested model, incorporating key components to ensure the program is successful, sustainable and scalable:

Women's Education and Empowerment: Education is critical to ensuring that young people have the agency and opportunity to thrive. Yet, opportunities for women and girls in Malawi severely lag behind those of their male peers; fewer than 3% have attained post-secondary education.

For girls who are orphans or from poor families, it is particularly challenging to stay in school. They face huge obstacles to pursue and stay in education, including supporting and caring for younger siblings, heading households without parental care, and navigating the complex realities of living in extreme poverty.

Since 2005, 74% of GAIA nursing scholarships have been awarded to disadvantaged young women. Through the NSP, recipients are empowered with the skills, tools and confidence to stay in school, secure quality employment, serve as role models for their communities and break out of intergenerational cycles of poverty.

Service Commitments: When receiving a GAIA nursing scholarship, students make a service commitment, agreeing to work at Malawi health facilities upon graduation for the same number of years that they were sponsored through the program. This commitment incentivizes qualified health professionals to remain in-country, helping to rebuild Malawi’s health infrastructure. It is estimated that each GAIA nurse graduate will provide high-quality care to 300k patients over the course of their career – representing sustainability for the long term.

Ongoing Follow-Up: One of the key distinguishing elements of the NSP is GAIA’s commitment to ongoing follow-up to ensure students overcome challenges of staying in school, passing exams and transitioning to careers as nurses. GAIA program staff check in with scholars and their respective universities regularly to monitor academic progress and coordinate additional tutoring and support as needed. This has resulted in on-time graduation, improved pass rates and improved clinical competency and readiness for practice upon graduation.

Alumni Support Networks: GAIA’s NSP fosters a vibrant alumni community of graduated scholars. After graduation, GAIA encourages scholars to join regional Alumni Chapters. These networks provide professional and moral support for young nurses as they transition into the field and over the long term as they become experts in providing care within challenging conditions in overcrowded district hospitals and high-need rural facilities. The vast majority of GAIA Scholars remain connected to the alumni network well beyond graduation and completion of their 3–5 year service agreements.

women carrying water pales