The CHWD defines its scope of work as covering a comprehensive agenda pertaining to health workforce development. The centre provides strategic guidance and capacity strengthening interventions to support countries and institutions in core functions including:

• Health workforce analysis
• Health workforce information systems
• Health workforce policy and strategic planning
• Health professions education
• Health workforce regulation
• Leadership and governance for the health workforce
• Health workforce management
• Health workforce labour market and economics
• Networking and advocacy for the health workforce

The centre will lead on provision of capacity strengthening interventions across these areas prioritizing the key concerns for the EMR member states. The strategy of the centre identifies some key initiatives in line with the pressing health workforce issues in the region and the prospects for a futuristic workforce.