Consultant for Digital Financial Services Implementation

Job Posting Organization:
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) is one of the six regional offices of WHO, established to serve the African Region, which includes 47 Member States. The office is located in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. WHO's mission is to act as the lead health authority within the United Nations system, collaborating with Member States and development partners to enhance health and well-being across the region. This involves translating global health initiatives into regional plans tailored to the specific needs of countries, providing technical and policy advice, developing norms and standards, and facilitating knowledge sharing among health partners. WHO supports countries in achieving better health outcomes through various means, including operational and logistical support for large-scale public health activities, such as mass immunization campaigns against vaccine-preventable diseases. The organization is committed to improving health interventions by digitizing payment processes to enhance transparency, efficiency, and trust in financial transactions related to health services.

Job Overview:
The Consultant for Digital Financial Services Implementation will play a crucial role in supporting WHO Country Offices and Ministries of Health in the African Region to design, set up, and implement systems for digitizing health worker payments. This position is vital in addressing the challenges associated with cash-based payment systems, which have led to delays, lack of transparency, and concerns about fund mismanagement. The consultant will work closely with national task forces, service providers, and health ministries to ensure the successful implementation of digital payment solutions that align with WHO's objectives and the broader goals of Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. The consultant will be responsible for various deliverables, including establishing national task forces, selecting service providers, scoping beneficiary databases, configuring enrollment applications, managing enrollment operations, piloting digital payments, and supporting capacity-building initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide technical support to establish and onboard a National Task Force (NTF) for project management, including drafting terms of reference.
• Assist in the selection and contracting of service providers for digital financial services, including proposal evaluations and contract negotiations.
• Support the Ministry of Health in defining the scope of a comprehensive database for health workers, assessing existing databases, and developing strategies to close information gaps.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to configure and utilize the selected application for health worker enrollment.
• Oversee enrollment operations, including recruitment and training of enrollers, ensuring compliance with timelines and quality standards.
• Facilitate the end-to-end process of operational cost payments, ensuring smooth disbursement and reconciliation of funds.
• Serve as the project focal point, tracking deliverables and maintaining communication with stakeholders.
• Conduct capacity-building activities for WHO and Ministry of Health personnel through training sessions and workshops.

Required Qualifications:
For Band A (P3) level: A first-level university degree in Business Administration, Finance, Project Management, Information Technology, or a related field. For Band B (P4) and Band C (P5) levels: An advanced university degree in the same fields is essential. Candidates must demonstrate a strong understanding of digital financial services and their implementation in sub-Saharan Africa, along with relevant experience working with governments, NGOs, and international organizations.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a first-level university degree for Band A (P3) or an advanced university degree for Band B (P4) and Band C (P5) in disciplines related to business administration, finance, project management, or information technology. Educational qualifications must be from accredited institutions recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED).

Experience:
For Band A (P3) level, a minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in digital financial services implementation is required. For Band B (P4), at least 7 years of experience is necessary, while Band C (P5) requires a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience. Candidates should have a proven track record of working with governments, international organizations, NGOs, or donors in sub-Saharan Africa.

Languages:
Essential: Expert knowledge of English or French, with working knowledge of the other language. Proficiency in both languages is crucial for effective communication and collaboration in the diverse linguistic landscape of the African Region.

Additional Notes:
The position is home-based with some travel required to countries in the WHO African Region. The consultant will work as an independent contractor, not as an employee of WHO, and will be responsible for their own taxes and contributions. The remuneration will be based on applicable experience according to WHO's consultant payment guidelines. This vacancy may also be used to identify candidates for similar consultancies at the same level. Candidates under serious consideration will be contacted, and a written test may be part of the screening process. WHO is committed to diversity and encourages applications from women and nationals of underrepresented Member States.