Senior Finance and Service Delivery Expert

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The objective of the department of Health Systems Governance and Financing (HGF) is to support Member States to develop and sustain health system governance and health financing systems that ensure more equitable access to needed health services while avoiding catastrophic expenditure and impoverishment as a result of seeking care. This will be achieved through development, implementation and monitoring of robust National Health Policies, Strategies and Plans, including development of tools and information to feed into the policy process; with appropriate capacity development activities, development of equitable and efficient forms of health financing that enable countries to sustain progress towards Universal Health Coverage; analyses of health expenditures and financial protection, cost and benefits of public spending subsidy of services; collection, evaluation and introduction of economic evidence into priority setting, resource allocation, health policy, measurementand evaluation of the impact of health financing and other policies onuniversal health coverage, specifically on equity and on financial protection; promoting greater development partner alignment with national health strategies and systems, in line with commitments made in Paris, Accra and Busan.The Health Financing team is one of three units within the HGF Department. It is charged with promoting conceptual clarity on health financing issues, developing and disseminating evidence on the implications of different health system financing mechanisms in different contexts, providing policy support on national health financing policy development oriented to UHC, collaborating and guiding the work of development partners on health financing policy at country, regional and global levels, and promoting national ownership and leadership of health financing policy through appropriate capacity development activities. The Unit increasingly works on promoting better strengthening and tailoring of PFM systems in the health sector to ensure they provide an enabling environment for health financing reform implementation. It does this by working closely with regional focal points in health financing, intercountry offices where they exist, and country office health financing and health system specialists.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The incumbent of the position, under the broad guidance and supervision of the Unit Head, Health Financing, and as part of the overall approach of the Health Systems Governance and Financing Department, will:

1. Provide authoritative advice and guidance to MSs on health financing policy for universal coverage with particular attention to how this influences and supports changes to service delivery;

2. Develop, adapt and provide to MSs relevant technical approaches, models of good practice, and networking opportunities based on the best-available evidence;-

3. Be responsible for collating, analyzing and disseminating country experiences and other sources of evidence about what works and what does not work in the adaptation of health financing mechanisms to support efficient and equitable delivery of public health and clinical services;

4. Take the lead in the development of an Organization-wide approach to supporting service delivery changes via health financing and governance actions, working in collaboration with Regional and Country Office colleagues, other HQ departments, relevant partner agencies, and relevant institutions;

5. Lead and take part of capacity building activities in health financing, public health and clinical services (e.g. WHO courses, webinars, eLearning development);

6. Lead technical engagement with partner agencies (e.g. World Bank, IMF, OECD) to develop joint products and activities in the field of public health, clinical services, health finance and governance;

7. Represent WHO on health financing policy as it pertains to service delivery with high level officials with other international and bilateral agencies and partnerships, and in technical meetings within the UN system and other international bodies.

8. Perform all other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: An advanced universitydegree in economics, health economics, public finance, health policy, public health, medicine, or related field with a concentration in health economics or health financing
Desirable: PhD or Doctorate in one of the above mentioned fields.

Experience

Essential: At least 10 years of experience working with low and/or middle-income countries undertaking health finance and service delivery analysis and related policy advisory work. Demonstrated experience at the international level.
Desirable: Experience working in international agencies, and collaborating with other agencies active in both health financing and service delivery; substantial experience working in low and/or middle-income countries.

Skills

1. Proven ability to apply complex conceptual approaches to health financing and service delivery, and to translate these into understandable language for non-specialists.

2. Proven skills in developing and assessing proposals for health financing reforms to implement changes in service delivery.

3. Proven abilities to provide sound policy and technical advice to institutions and governments, and to engage senior policy makers in constructive dialogue.

4. Demonstrated ability to produce joint work with Development Partners.--> Demonstrated knowledge of key links between health financing, public health, clinical services and governance.

5. Ability to work harmoniously with international and national counterparts from diverse cultural backgrounds, including as part of an inter-disciplinary, multi-cultural team.

6. Proven abilities in the design and delivery of national and international health finance policy seminars, workshops, conferences, and training activities.

7. Excellent communication and language skills, as reflected in a track record of presentations at national and international workshops and seminars.

8. Excellent writing ability, as reflected in a history of high-quality technical reports and publications.

9. Tact, diplomacy and ability to motivate partners.

WHO Competencies

- Teamwork
- Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
- Communication
- Driving the Organization's Position in Health Leadership
- Promoting innovation and organizational learning
- Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of Official WHO Language.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 88,162 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 6384 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test may be used as a form of screening.

• 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/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.

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

• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.