Geneva, Switzerland – 20 May 2026 – The Minister of Health of Ethiopia, Dr. Mekdes Daba Feyissa, and the Minister of Health and Wellness of Barbados, Senator the Hon. Lisa Cummins, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a framework for cooperation on health workforce mobility and bilateral recruitment in the health sector. The signing ceremony took place at the offices of the Centre for Health Diplomacy and Inclusion (CeHDI) in Geneva, on the margins of the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA).

The agreement reflects the shared commitment of Ethiopia and Barbados to strengthening South–South cooperation and advancing mutually beneficial partnerships to address global health workforce challenges. Guided by the vision and leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia and Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados, the MoU further deepens longstanding ties of friendship and collaboration between the two countries.

The partnership establishes a structured and government-led framework for the mobility and recruitment of health professionals, while promoting transparency, mutual benefit, and protection of health system resilience in both countries. The agreement supports the managed recruitment of Ethiopian health professionals to Barbados across a range of disciplines, including medical doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, dental professionals, and allied health cadres.

Welcoming the agreement, H.E. Dr. Mekdes Daba Feyissa, Minister of Health of Ethiopia, emphasized the broader significance of the partnership:

“This MoU between Ethiopia and Barbados demonstrates how countries of the Global South can transform shared challenges into shared opportunities through mutually beneficial partnerships. The MOU establishes a framework that strengthens health systems, supports skills and knowledge exchange, and advances universal health coverage in both countries. It reflects our shared commitment to solidarity, sustainable development, and stronger health systems for our peoples.”

Echoing this sentiment, Senator the Hon. Lisa Cummins, Minister of Health and Wellness of Barbados, highlighted the practical benefits and forward-looking nature of the collaboration:

“I am pleased that Barbados and Ethiopia have signed this partnership, which will ensure that our health system is able to benefit from the contribution of doctors from Ethiopia. This initiative is concluded in the true spirit of South-South partnership and solidarity and supports Barbados’s continued cooperation with the African continent. By recruiting doctors with specialist expertise from Ethiopia, we are ensuring continued quality healthcare for our people, and I see this as fundamental to our ongoing investments in the training, deployment, and retention of a high-quality health workforce to meet our evolving health needs.”

Recognizing the growing global demand for health workers and the projected shortfall of approximately 10 million health workers by 2030 — disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) (WHO 2022) — the MoU underscores the importance of well-managed mobility arrangements as an approach to addressing workforce shortages while mitigating the risks associated with irregular and unregulated migration. Through strengthened cooperation, skills exchange, and adherence to ethical recruitment principles, the partnership aims to contribute to sustainable health workforce development and progress toward universal health coverage.

Ethiopia and Barbados Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Health Workforce Mobility