WHO Consultant International Health Policy Advisor

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 aims to achieve universal health coverage, protect people from health emergencies, and ensure that everyone can enjoy better health and well-being.

Job Overview:
The position of WHO Consultant International Health Policy Advisor is crucial for enhancing health systems in the Central African Republic. The consultant will work closely with national stakeholders to provide expert advice on the design, implementation, and evaluation of health policies and strategies aimed at strengthening the health system. This role is pivotal in guiding the country towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by addressing bottlenecks in health service delivery and aligning with national health priorities. The consultant will coordinate with regional technical focal points and WHO headquarters to ensure that the health system is responsive to the needs of the population and that health services are effectively delivered. The overarching goal is to foster a shared understanding of health systems and to develop sustainable health services that can withstand future challenges.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for a variety of tasks, including but not limited to: enhancing the capacity of national stakeholders to engage in effective health policy dialogue and reform implementation; developing a unified vision for service delivery to strengthen public health and primary healthcare services; transforming health financing modalities to achieve universal health coverage, including improving governance and accountability; evaluating costs and budgeting for national health policies and strategies; aligning essential system functions such as human resources, access to medicines, and governance; improving and implementing a monitoring and evaluation framework for health system strengthening; demonstrating the impact of reforms on health outcomes and UHC; and executing any other related tasks assigned by the WHO Representative.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a higher education degree in medicine with a specialization in public health, health systems/services administration, health policy, health planning, primary healthcare, or related social sciences. A PhD in public health, social sciences, or health policy is desirable, along with postgraduate training or specialization in health systems or health planning, management, or economics. Candidates should have a minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience, particularly in policy development, strategy formulation, and planning within the health sector, with significant international experience. Specific experience in health financing is required, and at least five years of experience in a governmental or international organization serving low-resource or middle-income countries is essential.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a higher education degree in medicine with a specialization in public health or related fields. A PhD in public health or health policy is highly desirable, as well as postgraduate training in health systems or health planning. Candidates should have a strong foundation in health services administration and related disciplines to effectively contribute to the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of professional experience related to health policy development, strategy formulation, and planning. Candidates should have substantial international experience, particularly in health financing, and at least five years of experience in a governmental or international organization that serves low-resource or middle-income countries. Experience in health sector evaluation, analysis, and reporting is also desirable, along with a proven track record of consensus-building and collaboration with diverse national stakeholders.

Languages:
Expert knowledge of French is essential for this position, as it is the primary language of communication in the Central African Republic. Intermediate knowledge of English is desirable, as it may facilitate communication with international stakeholders and enhance collaboration with global health initiatives.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last for six months, with the possibility of extension based on performance and organizational needs. The position is based on-site in the Central African Republic, and the consultant may be required to travel within the country as necessary for the job. Remuneration is based on the pay band level P4, and living expenses will be provided for internationally recruited consultants. The advertisement duration is two weeks unless otherwise informed, and the hiring manager will receive a notification when the consultancy has been posted.