The seminal role of human resources for health (HRH) in the attainment of health-related goals has long been recognized and was recently reaffirmed by the United Nations General Assembly, which identified the need for “an adequate, skilled, well-trained and motivated workforce” to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage (UHC). ¹ Yet, under existing affordability and sustainability constraints, countries at all levels of socioeconomic development are confronted with challenges in trying to match health worker supply and demand. Against this backdrop, the Third Global Forum on Human Resources for Health, which will take place in Recife, Brazil, from 10 to 13 November 2013, seeks to set out a contemporary and forward-looking HRH agenda and to bolster political commitment to support its implementation.