Technical Officer (Health Care Financing and Governance)

Overview

Provide technical assistance in health financing and governance for WHO efforts

You have:

• Master's level university degree in health financing, health economics or health policy and planning from a recognized university.
• Seven years' experience in economics, health economics, and/or health financing related work at national and international levels, including work experience in developing countries.
• High level of expertise and knowledge of health financing policies and strategies and understanding of health systems team mandate.
• Expertise in developing strategies of wide range of health financing issues.
• Expertise in health insurance for the formal and informal sectors.
• Good knowledge of health financing policy-making process at international and national levels.
• Expertise in developing and implementing operations research.
• Knowledge of health systems development and management in low- or middle-income countries.
• Expert knowledge of English.
• Intermediate knowledge of UN languages.

Contract

This is a P-4 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 122,628 USD and 158,103 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

For the Future: Towards the Healthiest and Safest Region outlines a vision for WHO work with Member States and partners in the Western Pacific. Strong, resilient, sustainable health systems are integral to delivering the four thematic priorities. Up to 60% of people living in some countries in the Region do not have access to safe, quality and affordable health services and medicines. One in five families spend 10% of their income on health care. This threatens individuals, families, communities and economies. The Division of Health Systems (DHS) will contribute to taking forward the vision of, and the thematic priorities in For the Future. DHS will support Member States with high quality advice and assistance on health financing, health workforce, medical products, quality and safety, law and governance, women and children, rehabilitation, surgery and health services including primary health care so that they can build resilient, responsive and sustainable health systems.

Health Policy and Service Design (HPS) supports Member States to develop and implement policies, strategies and plans and service delivery design, including primary health care, to strengthen governance, financing, health workforce in order to ensure access to needed promotive, preventative, curative, rehabilitative and palliative services without financial hardship.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Under the supervision of the Coordinator, Health Systems, and guidance of the Head of the WHO Country Office, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

1. Provide and mobilize technical assistance to the Government and especially to the MoH in developing health financing and social health protection policies, including advice on the right strategic purchasing and provider payment mechnisms;
2. Support the MoH and development partners during the process of transitioning to more integrated and domestic financing in identifying ways to improve sectorwide working practices including joint planning, budgeting, policy dialogue, and sector monitoring and evaluation to accommodate the changes resulting from the transition and its implementation, monitoring and reporting;
3. Provide technical support in the design, implementation and monitoring of innovative health financing initiatives to ensure sustainable, efficient and equitable financing and advanced universal health coverage (UHC);
4. Support the harmonization and alignment of health financing policies/strategies/plans and support overseas official development assistance mechanisms for health;
5. Provide technical assistance to the MoH in analysing health financing information, such as through national health accounts, and the use of the information for policy dialogue and policy formulation;
6. Support the Government in cost-effectiveness analysis, equity analysis, public health expenditure reviews, development of medium-term expenditure frameworks, results-based financing, to increase the efficiency of public spending for health;
7. Monitor health sector performance including general financing indicators, by specifically tracking sustainable development goals (SDGs) and UHC indicators; and
8. Provide other technical assistance, as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential: Master's level university degree in health financing, health economics or health policy and planning from a recognized university. Desirable: University degree in public health, health systems strengthening, health management and administration or related field.

Experience

Essential: Seven years' experience in economics, health economics, and/or health financing related work at national and international levels, including work experience in developing countries. Desirable: Work experience related to operational research, cost-effectiveness and equity analysis, expenditure tracking, costing, planning and budgeting. Work experience in collaborating with donors, policy-makers and MoH counterparts, nongovernmental organizations and international agencies.

Skills

-High level of expertise and knowledge of health financing policies and strategies and understanding of health systems team mandate; -Expertise in developing strategies of wide range of health financing issues; -Expertise in health insurance for the formal and informal sectors;-Knowledge of national health policies, health financing strategies and social health protection schemes; -Good knowledge of health financing policy-making process at international and national levels;-Familiarity with international health financing policy debates; -Knowledge of health systems development and management in low- or middle-income countries; and -Expertise in developing and implementing operations research.

Functional Skills and Knowledge:

--> Knowledge of the specific or technical area of public health; --> Ability to contribute to the development of norms and standards, as well as training materials; --> Capacity to plan and conduct operational activities with political and technical elements; --> Ability to establish harmonious working relationships as part of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds, and maintain a high standard of personal conduct; --> Ability to demonstrate gender equity and cultural appropriateness in the delivery of services to Member States.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond Producing results Creating an empowering and motivating environment

Use of Language Skills

Essential: Expert knowledge of English. Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of UN languages.

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 74,913 (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 2166 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 vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

• A written test 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.

• 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.

• For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

• WHO's workforce adheres to the WHO Values Charter and is committed to put the WHO Values into practice.

• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

• WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/. 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.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.

Potential interview questions