Technician for Health Financing

Job Posting Organization:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on April 7, 1948, WHO's mission is to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. The organization operates in over 150 countries and has more than 7,000 employees worldwide. WHO focuses on various health issues, including disease prevention, health systems strengthening, and emergency response, aiming to achieve universal health coverage and improve health outcomes globally.

Job Overview:
The position of Technician for Health Financing is crucial for supporting the WHO's efforts in Burundi to enhance health financing systems and achieve universal health coverage. The role involves providing technical assistance and guidance to the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders in developing, implementing, and monitoring health financing strategies. The technician will work closely with the WHO representative and the country office to ensure that health financing policies are effectively integrated into the national health system. This position requires a deep understanding of health economics, public health policies, and the ability to analyze and interpret health financing data to inform decision-making processes. The technician will also be responsible for identifying innovative financing solutions and addressing barriers to health access for vulnerable populations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the Ministry of Health and partners in defining and implementing health financing options, focusing on resource generation, allocation, and utilization within health systems to move towards universal health coverage.
• Provide technical support to finalize and implement the health financing strategy in alignment with the universal health coverage roadmap.
• Assist in reviewing and analyzing public expenditures and budget allocations for health activities, establishing national health accounts, and consolidating legal instruments necessary for health financing strategy implementation.
• Validate, analyze, and document health financing data in relation to the deployment of universal health coverage in collaboration with the Ministry of Health.
• Advise and collaborate on technical cooperation programs in health financing, a key pillar for achieving universal health coverage.
• Identify ways to generate equitable health revenues at national and local government levels in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Finance.
• Facilitate the review and reform of health financing institutions to ensure effective revenue management and guide appropriate health service purchasing agreements.
• Document emerging best practices in revenue generation, management, and purchasing as observed by national governments and committees.
• Develop social protection systems and other institutional and non-governmental sectors in support of the Ministry of Health, assisting governments in developing tools and strengthening capacities for strategic sector planning. 1
• Execute any other related tasks assigned by the direct supervisor and the WHO representative.

Required Qualifications:

• Essential: A university degree in health economics, health policy, political science, medicine, or a related field with evidence of content covering health financing policy.
• Desirable: A master's degree in health economics or another field related to health financing. Training in public health is an asset.
• Essential: At least 2 years of experience providing advisory and analytical services to developing countries on health financing and social protection at national and international levels, with a minimum of four years in Africa.
• Desirable: Relevant experience in African countries, understanding of WHO's mandate in health policies, strategies, and plans, and experience with international organizations such as WHO, UN, or other bilateral/multilateral organizations would be an advantage.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a university degree in health economics, health policy, political science, medicine, or a related field. A master's degree in health economics or a related field is preferred. Training in public health is considered an asset, as it provides a broader understanding of health systems and policies.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience in providing advisory and analytical services related to health financing and social protection, particularly in developing countries. Candidates should have at least four years of experience working in Africa, with a strong understanding of the health financing landscape and challenges faced by low-resource settings. Experience with WHO or similar international organizations is highly desirable.

Languages:
Essential: Proficiency in French is required. Desirable: Practical knowledge of English is preferred, as it may facilitate communication with international partners and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted. A written test may be used as a form of screening. If selected for an interview, candidates must provide scanned copies of the required degrees/diplomas/certificates. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications from accredited institutions recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED). Applications from women and nationals of non-represented Member States are particularly encouraged. WHO is committed to workforce diversity and maintains a smoke-free environment, not recruiting smokers or tobacco users. The organization has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct.