Consultant 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 a workforce of more than 7,000 employees. WHO aims to achieve universal health coverage, address health emergencies, and promote healthier populations through various initiatives and partnerships.

Job Overview:
The consultancy position is focused on supporting the Health Governance and Finance Unit by conducting a regional situation analysis on health financing in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). The consultant will establish a Regional Health Financing Taskforce and provide technical support to countries to advance sustained and equitable health financing. The role is crucial in addressing the pressing challenges of health financing in the EMR, where many households face significant financial burdens due to out-of-pocket health costs. The consultant will be expected to develop methodologies for the situation analysis, conduct literature reviews, and engage with stakeholders to gather insights on current practices and challenges. The overarching goal is to build resilient and sustainable health financing systems that ensure access to essential health services for all populations in the region.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct a Health Financing Situation Analysis in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR): - Design a structured methodology for the analysis, including analytical frameworks and data sources. - Conduct a comprehensive literature review and key stakeholder interviews to identify current practices, challenges, and opportunities in health financing. - Prepare a final situation analysis report that consolidates findings and provides recommendations for strengthening health financing in the EMR.
• Establish a Regional Health Financing Taskforce: - Draft Terms of Reference (TORs) that outline membership criteria, roles, responsibilities, and coordination mechanisms for the taskforce. - Convene the first taskforce meeting to review and endorse the TORs, governance structure, and initial work plan. - Produce a consultation report detailing the discussions and agreed follow-up actions from the taskforce meeting.
• Provide Technical Support to Countries on Sustained and Equitable Health Financing: - Develop tailored country support plans based on the situation analysis results, focusing on specific objectives and deliverables. - Organize capacity-building sessions to enhance technical expertise in health financing reforms among country stakeholders. - Document the technical assistance provided to countries, emphasizing progress related to key health financing indicators.

Required Qualifications:
- Essential: An advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) in public health or health financing.
- Experience: 5-10 years of relevant experience in public health and health financing, with international experience working in various countries. International experience is mandatory for consultants applying from outside the host country.
- Skills: Strong expertise in policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation, situational analysis, stakeholder mapping, engagement, and report writing and presentation.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s level or above) in public health or health financing. This educational background is essential to ensure that the consultant has the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to effectively conduct the required analyses and provide technical support.

Experience:
The position requires 5-10 years of relevant experience in the field of public health and health financing. This experience should include international exposure, particularly in working with different countries and understanding their unique health financing challenges. The consultant should have a proven track record of engaging with stakeholders and implementing health financing reforms.

Languages:
Excellent knowledge of English is mandatory. Proficiency in Arabic is also required, as the position involves working in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Knowledge of French is considered an asset, as it may facilitate communication with additional stakeholders in the region.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is based in Cairo, Egypt, and is a full-time, on-premises position. The selected consultant will need to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work. Travel may be required as approved by the supervisor, with all arrangements made by WHO. The remuneration for this position falls under Pay Band B. Candidates should be aware that this vacancy notice may also be used to identify candidates for similar consultancies at the same level. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted, and a written test may be used as part of the screening process. Candidates must provide scanned copies of their relevant degrees and certificates prior to the interview. WHO is committed to diversity and inclusion in its workforce and encourages applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States.