Consultant - Health Financing Progress Matrix and Political Economy Analysis

Purpose of consultancy

To provide technical expertise to a number of countries at different stages of the implementation process.

To develop a “How to guide” that lays out how to incorporate political economy analysis and related issues into a reform strategy based on the output of the Health Financing Progress Matrix.

Background

In response to a demand for clearer, more directive guidance to countries on health financing policy, and to improve monitoring of progress in country health financing systems, WHO developed the Health Financing Progress Matrix (HFPM). The HFPM systematically assesses a country’s health financing systems against a set of nineteen desirable attributes, a set of hypothesized causal relationships between policy action and health system performance, building on the WHO health system framework for UHC. This is done in 4 phases:

• Preparation
• Conducting the assessment
• External review
• Report finalization and publication

Once all four phases of the HFPM are completed, the next step is to discuss how to implement the technical recommendations, for which a further process is required. WHO’s programme of work on the Political Economy of Health financing Reform: Analysis and Strategy to Support UHC explicitly recognizes the importance of political economy factors in influencing health financing reform trajectories. The objective of incorporating political economy analysis into technical reform analysis is to support a strategic approach that increases the likelihood of implementation and ultimately progress towards UHC.

Deliverables

a) Provide technical expertise to selected countries under the guidance of the HF team in Geneva. The specific role will vary depending on the deliverable (see below) but will involve a number of iterative discussions with the WHO Health Financing team both in Geneva and in the Country Office, the Principal Investigator leading the HFPM assessment, as well as with the core team involved.

• Review ongoing assessments (HFPM Phase 2 in two countries: Rwanda, Zimbabwe)
• Conduct external review (HFPM Phase 3 in two countries: Zambia, Tajikistan)
• Contribute to report writing (HFPM Phase 4 in 3 countries: Ethiopia, Mauritius, Uganda)

b) Develop a targeted “How to guide” in close consultation and collaboration with the HF team in Geneva. This will involve adapting and distilling WHO’s political economy of health financing reform framework, along with a review of other political economy frameworks. The guide will focus on providing a clear step-by-step guide as to how to analyze political economy dynamics to support and analyze implementation dynamics associated with specific areas of health financing reform, identified in part through the application of the HFPM. This guide will be adaptable and easy to use.

• Draft outline/inception report laying out structure and approach for “How to Guide”
• Final draft of “How to Guide”
• Application of “How to Guide” in two HFPM countries above to provide example and guidance for application

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

Advanced degree in Public Health or Health Economics, Public Policy, Political Science, Medicine

Desirable:

Doctoral degree in Health Economics or advanced social science or medical training

Experience

Essential:

Over 15 years’ relevant experience, out of which at least 10 years at international level in health financing policy development and evaluation, including related political economy analysis.

Desirable:

Experience collaborating with WHO and other development partners in supporting health financing reform evaluation and related political economy analysis at country level.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Excellent understanding of health financing, health economics and political economy analysis
• Evaluation expertise including country-level assessment
• Excellent writing skills

Languages required:

Essential:

Expert knowledge of English

Location

Offsite – Home-based

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel.

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

Remuneration:

Band level D: USD 626 – 720 per day

Living expenses: N/A

Expected duration of contract (Maximum contract duration is 11 months per calendar year):

80 days over an 11-month period.

Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for 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.
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• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
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