PSC launches SHEFA provincial health women in Leadership Programme – Cohort 3

Apr 28, 2025 | Initiatives and Projects | 0

The Public Service Commission (PSC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the University of the South Pacific (USP), has officially launched the SHEFA Provincial Health, Cohort 3 Women in Leadership Programme (WILP).

The programme runs from 23 April to 6 June 2025 and forms part of an ongoing initiative aimed at strengthening leadership capacity within the health sector.

Since 2023, PSC and MOH have led this initiative with funding support from the Australian Government. The WILP is a locally driven programme under the Vanuatu–Australia Health Partnership (VAHP), delivered through the combined efforts of MOH, Vanuatu Institute of Public Administration and Management (VIPAM), and the Australian Government. It is designed to support leadership development—particularly for women—across Vanuatu’s health workforce.

WILP offers culturally appropriate, high-quality leadership training and coaching sessions. The programme recognises that improving service delivery and health systems requires stronger leadership from both women and men at all levels of the health sector.

Acting Director Manager of VIPAM, Mr. Pierrick Lesines, welcomed the new cohort on behalf of both PSC and VIPAM. He thanked the programme’s stakeholders and spoke on the importance of partnership in delivering such capacity-building efforts. Lesines noted that this is a tailored VIPAM leadership training programme designed specifically for provincial health leaders. He added that the training, which will conclude in June, is expected to build closer working ties between health centres and key stakeholders.

“This is a special training introduced to bridge the gaps in coordination and governance within the health sector,” Lesines said.

Director General (DG) of the Ministry MOH, Ms Shirley Tokon, also acknowledged VIPAM’s role in leading the programme. She recalled that the first cohort began in 2022 and noted the programme’s steady growth since then. Tokon said that by 2025, the initiative is expected to expand further into other sectors. She added that such programmes contribute directly to the daily work of health professionals and their partner institutions.

Key leaders selected to participate in Cohort 3 include the Assistant Secretary General of SHEFA Province, the Provincial Health Manager and Administrator, the Public Relations Officer from Port Vila City Council, Area Administrators for North Efate and Nguna Pele, the Principal Education Officer for SHEFA, the Allied Health Manager at Vila Central Hospital (VCH), and other emerging leaders.

The leadership team has been carefully chosen to strengthen the coordination of health services across SHEFA’s rural areas, the Port Vila Municipal Council, and the offshore islands of Efate. Leadership and governance remain core areas of attention for SHEFA Provincial Health. The selected participants will work together to improve health service delivery under the Soupia maritime pilot initiative while also supporting the Government’s decentralisation efforts.

A total of 20 participants were selected for the Cohort 3 programme—eight women and twelve men—reflecting a balanced and inclusive approach to building leadership within the health sector.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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PSC launches SHEFA provincial health women in Leadership Programme – Cohort 3

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PSC launches SHEFA provincial health women in Leadership Programme – Cohort 3

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