Consultant - Healthcare Financing Strategy 2026 - 2030

Purpose of the Consultancy

To support the Ministry of Health (MOH) in pursuing health financing reforms to improve efficiency, equity, accountability and sustainability of health systems in Lao PDR towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by developing the Health Financing Strategy 2026-2030 based on the 10th Health Sector Development Plan (HSDP) and current and future health challenges.

Background

Strengthening sustainable financing is critical in maintaining essential health services while improving the health system’s preparedness and readiness for emerging health threats and challenges in the context of the current dire economic situation and donor transition to strengthen resilient health systems and advance universal health coverage (UHC) and other health-related SDGs. With high inflation rates and kip depreciation, Lao PDR has been facing an unprecedented economic crisis since 2023 and until now. The de facto total government budget allocated for health lost half its purchasing power. The 2023 Law on Health mandates a 9% budget allocation – but – just 4 to 5% has actually been provided. Lao PDR is preparing for donor transition with their plan for graduation from Least Developed Country status by 2026 and Gavi transition and Global Fund in the coming years, requiring a much higher level of domestic funding for health and strategic engagement with donors. Moreover, with the geopolitical situation, decrease in ODA and donor support at the global and country levels will be expected, which will affect health planning and financing and the implementation of the health sector strategies and policies in Lao PDR. In this context, it is critical to strengthen sustainability to maintain essential health services and increase efficiency to maximize values of the limited budget available to advance UHC while increasing domestic resource generation (e.g., health taxes including tobacco taxes). Improving efficiency to avoid duplicated support and identify priority areas for enhanced collaboration is critical, particularly for health planning and financing. The government of Lao PDR has been committed to strengthening primary health care as a core foundation to reach the hard-to-reach population and improve efficiency, resilience and sustainability of the health system in their pathway towards achieving UHC. Strengthening sustainable health financing is core to addressing key challenges and achieving the government’s goals through transformative primary health care for UHC in Lao PDR. With support from WHO, MOH endorsed the Health Financing Strategy 2021-2025 and Vision 2030 on 8 October 2021 and WHO supported MOH in implementing the Strategy, including monitoring the progress of the Strategy through Health Financing Technical Working Group meetings. This Strategy prioritizes primary health care and provides a clear direction to improve efficiency, equity, resilience and sustainability of the health system. The Department of Planning and Finance (DPF), MOH requested WHO to support the review and update of the Health Financing Strategy 2021-2025 and Vision 2030 for the next five years (2026-2030) aligned with the 10th HSDP to reflect ongoing discussions on health financing reforms and current and future health challenges. This consultancy will be important to support urgent requests from DPF/MOH in moving forward with sustainable health financing for the health system in the coming years.

Deliverables

Under the direct guidance of Technical Officer for Health Financing with supervision of the HSD Coordinator at the WHO Lao PDR Country Office. The consultant will provide in-country technical support support DPF in drafting the Health Financing Strategy 2026-2030 based on the review of the Health Financing Strategy 2021-2025 and the comments received from national stakeholders and development partners.

The consultant will be expected to contribute to the achievement of the following output: 

Output 1: Support DPF in drafting the Health Financing Strategy 2026-2030 based on the review of the Health Financing Strategy 2021-2025 and the comments received from national stakeholders and development partners.
Deliverable 1.1: Support the consultations with key stakeholders and partners and develop a summary of the consultations through the consultancy period
Deliverable 1.2: Develop a draft summary of strategic objectives and priority activities for each strategic objective.
Deliverable 1.3: Develop a draft Health Financing Strategy 2026-2030. 
Deliverable 1.4: Finalize a draft Health Financing Strategy 2026-2030 based on the comments from HSD team, national stakeholders and partners The consultant is expected to submit a monthly report including deliverables with an agreed timeline.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Education qualifications

Essential: Advanced degree (master’s level or above) in public health, international development, social sciences, management sciences or other related field from a recognized university.

Experience

Essential: Over ten years’ experience related to health financing, health economics, or social health protection.

Technical skills and knowledge

Sound understanding of health financing, health economics or social health protection in development contexts. 
Quantitative skills, including statistical analysis. 
Excellent writing skills.
Ability to interact with government counterparts.

Language requirements

Excellent speaking and writing skills in English required.

Location

The consultant will be based in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR with potentially having to undertake duty travel to provinces.

Travel

The consultant may be required to travel within Lao PDR.

Remuneration and budget

Remuneration: Payband C, USD 500 (daily)
Duration: 5.5 months, July to December 2026, part-time FTE equivalent to 40 days.

Additional Information:

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