Advisor, Health Economics and Financing

This requisition is for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)

The subregional level of PAHO/WHO’s technical cooperation (TC) is recognized functionally, programmatically, at organizational level, and in the PAHO Budget Policy. Subregional TC is aimed at meeting the needs of a group of countries in their pursuit of the subregional health development goals within the framework of the Organization’s collective mandates. The Subregional TC encompasses all or some countries belonging to one of the legally established intergovernmental integration mechanisms eg\: The Caribbean Community (CARICOM); the Southern Cone Common Market (MERCOSUR); the Central America Integration System (SICA); and the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO). Subregional TC supports the health agendas of the various integration mechanisms and the strategies for its implementation must be jointly developed. The Subregional Office coordinates PAHO/WHO Technical cooperation with the subregional integration processes for the implementation of the respective Biennial Work Plans (BWP). This is undertaken in close coordination with PAHO/WHO’s Department of Health Systems and Services (HSS) and corresponding technical units. The primary objective of the Department of Health Systems and Services is to strengthen health systems based on Primary Health Care, supporting universal access to health and universal health coverage. Its work encompasses the following areas\: strengthening of health systems governance for social protection in health; strengthening of regulatory frameworks and financial protection for progressive realization of the right to health; organizing people-centered, integrated health service delivery; promoting access to and rational use of quality, safe, and effective health technologies; strengthening national health research systems, and promoting the integration of scientific knowledge into health care, health policies, and technical cooperation; and developing human resources for health.

Under the direct supervision of the Subregional Program Coordinator, Caribbean, (SPC-CRB) and the technical guidance of the Unit Chief, Health Services and Access (HSS/HS), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties\:

1. Design, adapt and promote the use of economic and financial tools in the analysis of health and health sector issues, and in the evaluation of likely impact of public policies to achieve Universal Access to Health and Universal Health Coverage (Universal Health);
2. Create, strengthen and convene subregional partnerships and networks of specialized institutions to advise and provide technical cooperation for improving countries’ institutional capacity in the design, implementation and monitoring of health financing policies, to increase financial risk protection, reduce out-of-pocket expenditures in health, and ensure efficiency gains in the use of resources and in purchasing and service delivery;
3. Promote, implement, and support the analysis and formulation of alternatives for health sector financing in its four sub-functions\: revenue collection, pooling of funds, purchasing of services, and policy on benefits, in particular, with regard to Universal Health;
4. Advise and participate in collaborative activities with Caribbean subregional integration mechanisms, other UN agencies, international organizations, sub-regional entities, health economics units from ministries of health, professional associations, in the field of health financing of health systems oriented toward Universal health;
5. Advise and collaborate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of technical cooperation programs in the areas of health financing geared to the strengthening of national health care systems pursuing Universal Health, in alignment with efficiency and equity goals;
6. Promote and develop collaborative activities with professional and academic organizations to promote the development of financially sustainable comprehensive and integrated models of care;
7. Advise and provide support on the economic, financial, macroeconomic and fiscal implications of public health policies and cost-effective public health interventions to respond to old and new challenges in health (such as noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), risk factors and conditions);
8. Support high level policy dialogues with multi-stakeholder engagement to promote Universal Access to Health and Universal Health Coverage and health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in Caribbean subregional integration mechanisms and relevant political platforms;
9. Disseminate up-to-date knowledge and findings in the various areas of health financing and health economics; provide advice on ways to introduce and transfer experiences and technologies through capacity-building processes and inter-country collaboration;
10. Advise in planning, coordinating, executing and supervising training and research activities (including online) in health economics and financing;
11. Collaborate with the updating and improvement of the Organization’s databases on national health expenditures and financing;
12. Collaborate with Caribbean subregional integration mechanisms, country offices, other UN specialized agencies, multilateral and bilateral agencies and international financial institutions in the development of joint programs for strengthening national capacity in the areas of health economics and financing, economic evaluation and costing of health strategies and plans and cost-effectiveness of public policy interventions, and national health accounts (within both the System of Health Accounts (SHA2011) and the System of Satellite National Accounts (SNA) and/or National Statistical Development Strategies (NSDS) frameworks in countries;
13. Mobilize political, technical and financial resources in support of the programs and/or projects;
14. Participate in the preparation of the Subregional Cooperation Strategies, the Subregional Biennial Work Plan (BWP), budget and technical evaluation reports;
15. Contribute to the identification, documentation, systematization, dissemination and scaling-up of good practices and lessons learned;
16. Promote and support inter-country and inter-subregional cooperation for joint programs, and information and knowledge sharing related to health financing of health systems towards Universal health, to advance the subregional BWP and oriented to economies of scale and reduction of asymmetries among countries;
17. When called upon to directly supervise staff, establish clear work objectives, conduct timely and effective performance appraisals, provide coaching and feedback, and support staff development opportunities;
18. Perform other related duties, as assigned. 

Essential\: A bachelor’s and a master’s degree in economics, public health or related area from a recognized university. Training in health economics and financing essential.

In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO, only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).  The list can be accessed through the link\:  http\://www.whed.net/.  PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation http\://www.chea.org and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https\://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to support the validation process.

Essential\: Nine years of combined national and international experience in advising on financing and health economics as well as conducting economic analysis and applied research on health economics and human development issues. Experience should also include work in the international field on activities in the area of economic and financial analysis and evaluation of health sector projects and policies; health economics and financing, the production of economic information for policy design and decision making, including but not limited to, health accounts and related indicators.

• Intrainstitutional Action\: Leads team efforts toward full understanding of the policies the organization must operate within as well as the Standard of Conduct for the International Civil Service. Leads employees and co-workers toward operating in a fair, consistent and equitable manner, and displays such behavior by example. Behaves consistently in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Organization.
• Analysis, Synthesis, and Forecasting; After analyzing situations on the basis of the available evidence and knowledge, leads one’s area of responsibility toward individual and collective actions. Encourages the importance of continual analysis. Verifies and promotes that action is taken in situations that will require future intervention, based on ongoing analysis. Leads others in decisions needed to implement required actions. Is capable of anticipating the implications of analyzed situations between one and two years ahead.
• Teamwork\: Embraces and leads consensual decision-making, that is, leading the fulfillment of team decisions, even when they may not fully coincide with one’s own opinions or proposals. Knows how to manage difficult team situations and promotes consensus building. Takes responsibility for the team’s successes and failures.
• Devising the budget for interventions and cost optimization\: Demonstrates initiative and managerial capacity in obtaining alternative sources of financing and in mobilizing extra budgetary resources for interventions. Acquires adequate funding, based upon the resources allocated in intervention plans.
• Thinking, planning and the strategic management of technical cooperation interventions\: Selects priority ideas for executing the interventions after anticipating their potential problems and solutions. Participates in the preparation of strategic plans, providing input about their impact, quality, critical points, and risks.
• Evaluation of technical cooperation interventions\: Evaluates criteria for the interventions at the process, management, and outcome level, in addition to technical cooperation evaluation plans, in keeping with the PAHO's strategic direction. 
• Knowledge Management\: Supports and develops networked and community working. Identifies, develops and nurtures networks and communities. Identifies and builds on working networks that enable knowledge and information flow. Designs and implements knowledge and information services. Enables utilization of knowledge and information sources. Delivers relevant knowledge and information in most appropriate form.  Participates in and learns from networked and community approaches.
• Resource Mobilization\: Works in an objective manner to obtain and apportion resources (financial and non-financial) according to need. Supports and advises technical areas to enable best use of resources are aligned with the mission and vision of the Organization. Is able to work in a multicultural environment. Is flexible and has the ability to work well under pressure. Is able to give feedback to partners within and outside the organization about the use of the resources and the results acquired.

• Strong knowledge of conceptual and methodological-linkages between macroeconomic, fiscal and health financing issues and in the areas of health economics and health financing of national health systems.
• Expert skills in measuring and analyzing the relations between health and development, the economic determinants of health and the impact of health investments on national economies.
• Technical expertise in providing technical assistance in the development of financially sustainable national health policies, strategies, plans and/or programs under the primary health care principles and values.
• Expertise in economics, public finances, and in health economics and financing geared toward expanding coverage of public health and social protection programs to reduce the financial risks associated with diseases and accidents.
• Practical experience in providing technical assistance in assessing economic and financial aspects of health sector projects and/or health sector programs or policies; including economic evaluation and costing of health care interventions. 
• Expertise in estimating and monitoring the distributive dimensions of national health expenditures. Excellent knowledge of national accounts including knowledge in the application of the Government Finances Statistics Manual (GFSM) and understanding of conceptual and methodological issues related to health accounts (national health accounts, national health expenditure accounts and health sector/systems satellite accounts).
• Knowledge in the use of global and regional databases on national accounts, government finances, national health expenditures, consumer price indexes, household surveys and other social and economic indicators.
• Strong professional oral and writing skills including the development of reports, oral presentations, and technical/persuasive documents for consideration at the highest levels of the Organization. 

Very good knowledge of English with a working knowledge of Spanish. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset.

Demonstrated ability to effectively use a computer and utilize software programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Other IT skills and knowledge of other software programs such as Visio and Project would be an asset.

Post Adjustment\: 52.8% of the above figure(s). This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.

This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level.

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and e-Manual.

PAHO/WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

PAHO/WHO offers an attractive compensation package including an annual net salary and post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station and exchange rates (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance).  Other benefits include\: 30 days annual leave, dependency benefits, pension plan and health insurance scheme.  Benefits for internationally recruited staff may include home leave, travel and removal expenses on appointment and separation, education grant for dependent children, assignment grant and rental subsidy.

Candidates appointed to an international post with PAHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

All applicants are required to complete an on-line profile to be considered for this post. 

Candidates will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration. A written test and/or interview will be held for this post. The post description is the official documentation for organization purposes.