Technical Officer (Economic Evaluations & Priority Setting) Mid level

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The overall objective of the HFI programme is to provide leadership and action in supporting Member States to adopt sustainable and pro-poor health financing systems in order to enhance progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The Programme works to achieve this by supporting countries to design and implement sound resource pooling arrangements and pre-payment mechanisms that ensure financial risk protection; improve allocative efficiency of health resources and ensure more efficient and equitable use of resources through the formulation of results-oriented health budgets and alignment of health financing reforms with public financial management systems. The Programme supports and builds the capacities of countries in the following areas: development and implementation of robust health financing policies, strategies and reforms; promoting pro-health (such as on tobacco, alcohol and added sugar) and pro-poor fiscal policies; designing, implementing and monitoring strategic purchasing mechanisms, linking health financing to sector results and aligning payment systems with benefit entitlements; and conducting and institutionalizing health expenditure tracking, utilizing the evidence generated in policy dialogue and decision making; generating high quality evidence, including assessing equity and efficiency in the health sector for monitoring financial risk protection. It also countries to undertake costing, economic evaluation and analysis of the impact of changes in health status on economic growth; and to mobilize increased and sustainable funding for health through the development and promotion of the use of investment cases. The goal is to enable countries in the WHO African Region ensure evidence-based policies and strategies are in place to achieve universal access to high-quality, integrated, health services, increase the coverage and quality of effective interventions, and to create mechanisms to measure the impact of those strategies and interventions.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

• In collaboration with multi country assignment teams (MCATs), the incumbent will guide and support countries with technical expertise in health economic analyses, through the following tasks:
• Provide technical support to AFR countries on expenditure tracking including conduct of health accounts exercises, institutionalisation of health accounts process and use of results in decision making.
• Provide technical support to and build capacity of AFR countries to analyze information on financial risk protection with a focus on equity, and use of results for decision making.
• Contribute to update of regional and global databases on health expenditure and financial protection, generate regional analyses and trends, and support dissemination of regional and global reports.
• Support institutional capacity building in countries to generate evidence for sound decision making and priority setting, using health technology assessment for benefit package design or the costing of national plans.
• Support efforts to mobilize resources for health including the development of investment cases, funding proposals and evidence-based advocacy papers.
• Support countries for undertaking economic analyses including efficiency monitoring, economic evaluations or analyses of the socio- economic impact of diseases on the economy.
• Support planning and implementation of joint activities with other ULC units and other departments in the Regional Office.
• Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, including replacing and backstopping for others as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Advanced university degree in Health Economics, Social Statistics, Quantitative Economics as related to Public Health or Social Science.
Desirable: An advanced degree or a PhD in Statistical Methods, Health Economics or Econometrics.

Experience

Essential: A minimum of seven years’ relevant experience in health economics, econometrics, financial analysis, and evaluation of health projects, including experience in economic and financial analysis, data collection and management and conducting National Health Accounts exercises in resource-limited countries at the national and international levels.
Desirable: Experience in and deep understanding of the UN System or intergovernmental agencies.

Skills

• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles and methods of health economics, health financing and social protection assessments and analyses;
• Proven ability to synthesize evidence, summarize findings and produce clear and accurate reports with proposals for recommended actions;
• Strong organization and interpersonal skills and ability to establish consensus, communicate progress and results, and resolve issues in a proactive manner, while ensuring effective work practices and ethics, diplomacy, and courtesy.

WHO Competencies

1. Teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Communication
4. Producing results
5. Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English or French with intermediate knowledge of the other language.
Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of Portuguese.
The above language requirements are interchangeable.

REMUNERATION

WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 77,326 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 3338 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This temporary assignment is for parental leave cover only and will end as indicated and at the latest at the end of the parental leave period. This appointment carries no expectation of extension or conversion to another appointment type.
• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar Temporary positions at the same grade level.

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test and/or an asynchronous video assessment may be used as a form of screening.

• In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.

• According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible.

• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual.

• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.

• The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits and employs staff regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics.
• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its staff. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to reasonableaccommodation@who.int

• An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice.

• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates.

• Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with WHO and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world.

• WHO also offers wide range of benefits to staff, including parental leave and attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work-life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully.

• The statutory retirement age for staff appointments is 65 years. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete the term of appointment will normally be considered.

• Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at shws@who.int.

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