Health Specialist - Health Economist ACT-A/COVAX (P-4), FT # 00115306, Health Section, PD - NYHQ

The Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) was launched in April 2020 with the aim of accelerating development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines. ACT-A brings together governments, scientists, businesses, civil society, philanthropists and global health organizations. UNICEF plays a substantial role in all three ACT-A pillars (diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines), and in the Health Systems connector.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

The Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) was launched in April 2020 with the aim of accelerating development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines. ACT-A brings together governments, scientists, businesses, civil society, philanthropists and global health organizations. UNICEF plays a substantial role in all three ACT-A pillars (diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines), and in the Health Systems connector.

For every child, a hope….

You will provide guidance on economics and financing for UNICEF activities within the three ACT-A pillars and the Health Systems connector.  You will also lead health economic activities within ACT-A. In addition, you will provide data and evidence on costs and financing of ACT-A interventions. Activities range from providing global level cost estimates to support fundraising efforts to designing and managing health economic implementation research studies.

How can you make a difference?

Contribute to global level efforts for ensuring optimal allocation of ACT-A resources

• Participate in multi-agency ACT-A working groups for economic analysis on COVID-19 interventions
• Co-ordinate work related to economic analysis of COVID-19 interventions across UNICEF (both Programme and Supply Division)
• Contribute to estimating the costs of delivering COVID-19 interventions according to different settings and target groups
• Undertake analyses assessing the impact of COVID-19 on health expenditures
• Prepare cost estimates needed for COVID-19 fundraising efforts
• Contribute to global monitoring systems on costs and financing of COVID-19 interventions 

Enhance planning and budgeting for COVID-19 interventions at country level

• Develop tools and guidance for estimating the costs of delivering COVID-19 interventions
• Provide technical guidance on public financial management for COVID-19 interventions
• In collaboration with partners and Regional and Country Offices, evaluate the costs and financing of COVID-19 health interventions

Undertake health systems analysis

• Collaborate with economic experts to studies and surveys on how COVID-19 interventions can be optimally embedded into the overall health system. Topics can include health systems impact of COVID-19 vaccine introduction, private sector engagement, health workforce planning, role of community health workers in COVID-19 diagnostics, expansion of digital health solutions, supply chain optimization

Advisory services and technical support

• Participate in strategic programme discussions and planning to provide technical advice and to contribute to policy discussions and agenda setting to promote health and COVID – 19 development issues.
• Prepare strategic programme materials for management use, information and/or consideration.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in health economics or in Public Health with a focus on health economics or health financing, or an advanced degree in economics or financing with a focus on Health Systems Strengthening and/or other related field is required.
• A minimum of 8 (eight) years of experience at the national and international levels in a relevant discipline, such as international public health or global development is required.
• Prior experience working with a global health partnership, such as GAVI, the Global Fund, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), etc – particularly in areas of economic analysis an asset.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have:
• Knowledge and experience of health economic analysis, especially cost analysis
• Knowledge of and experience with Public Financial Management in Health
• Knowledge of global health financing issues and trends
• Strong communication and relationship building skills in the global health community, particularly among donors, multilateral partners, and implementers
• Experience with Health Systems Strengthening applications and programs
• Experience in strengthening public health financing and governance
• Fluency in English (written and verbal) is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respective, Integrity, Trust and Accountability.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

For more information on remuneration and benefits, please visit UNICEF’s Entitlements’ page.  If you would like to find estimates for entitlements, you may use the online Salary Estimate Calculator

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, race, sexual orientation, nationality, culture, appearance, socio-economic status, ability, age, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

“UNICEF 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 at http://www.whed.net/”