Consultant for Health Financing

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) was established to promote economic and social development in African countries. It aims to foster regional integration and enhance the capacity of member states to achieve sustainable development. The ECA operates in multiple countries across the African continent, focusing on various sectors including health, finance, and governance. The organization works with governments, regional organizations, and other stakeholders to address pressing economic challenges and promote inclusive growth. The ECA is known for its research, policy analysis, and capacity-building initiatives, employing a diverse team of professionals dedicated to improving the lives of people in Africa.

Job Overview:
The consultant will play a crucial role in strengthening the analytical and institutional capacity of selected African member states to design and implement evidence-based health financing policies. This position involves developing integrated macroeconomic modeling frameworks, socio-economic databases, and policy simulation tools that support informed decision-making and macroeconomic planning. The consultant will contribute to a project aimed at transforming health financing in Africa, addressing persistent health financing gaps, and integrating health financing considerations into broader macroeconomic and fiscal planning frameworks. The role requires a deep understanding of the economic implications of health financing and the ability to develop tools that facilitate data-driven policymaking. The consultant will work closely with various stakeholders, including Ministries of Finance and Health, to enhance the quality and availability of health financing data and support sustainable health financing strategies.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's duties will include developing and maintaining socio-economic databases, contributing to the refinement of ECA’s macroeconomic modeling suite, and updating Social Accounting Matrices (SAMs). They will interpret modeling outputs to assess trends and policy impacts, draft analytical inputs for reports, and participate in meetings to gather information. Additionally, the consultant will contribute to the development of modeling software platforms, design data processing tools, and support the creation of user interfaces for model outputs. They will also be responsible for delivering training workshops on macroeconomic modeling and policy analysis, preparing technical cooperation programs, and performing administrative tasks necessary for project delivery. Continuous learning and producing data visualizations to support decision-making will also be part of their responsibilities.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in mathematics, statistics, engineering, computer science, or a related field. A multidisciplinary background with strong competencies in statistics, applied mathematics, econometrics, and machine learning methods is considered equivalent. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. The position requires a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in economic research, macroeconomic policy formulation, and the application of economic principles in development programs. Hands-on experience in quantitative economic modeling and statistical programming using open-source platforms is essential, along with experience in developing and calibrating macroeconomic models.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in relevant fields such as mathematics, statistics, engineering, or computer science is required. Candidates with a first-level university degree in these fields, combined with additional qualifying experience, may also be considered. A strong academic background in statistics, applied mathematics, econometrics, and computer science is highly valued.

Experience:
The consultant should have at least seven years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, macroeconomic policy formulation, and the application of economic principles in development programs. A minimum of three years of hands-on experience in quantitative economic modeling and statistical programming is required, along with experience in developing macroeconomic models such as IAM, DSGE, or CGE frameworks. Experience in building and maintaining socio-economic databases and constructing Social Accounting Matrices is highly desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English or French, both oral and written, is required as these are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of the other language is desirable, and proficiency in another UN official language is considered an advantage.

Additional Notes:
The position is expected to last for a duration of seven months and is based onsite in Addis Ababa. The consultant will engage in continuous learning and may be involved in various administrative and coordination tasks. The United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, ensuring a transparent and fair hiring process.