Health Financing Officer (SSA, NO-C)

Job Description

.Objectives of the Programme and of the immediate unit or field activity (Overview of the programme):

In the context of the General Program of Work, the WHO Ethiopia Country Office collaborates with the Government of Ethiopia and relevant stakeholders within the framework of the collaborative Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS), to actively support the development and implementation of national policies, strategies, and plans in health systems strengthening.

The WHO Country Office (WCO)-Ethiopia supports the Government of Ethiopia:

• Provide technical expertise in developing national policies, strategies, and activities for health systems strengthening, including health financing.
• Support reforms and improvements in health service delivery, primary health care, and service quality.
• Advocate for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and build federal and regional capacity in UHC-related areas.
• Facilitate adoption of evidence-based public health interventions and reforms to promote equity and accelerate progress toward UHC.

Purpose of the Post:

This purpose of the Health Financing Officer position is to provide technical support and policy advice to the national government to develop and implement sustainable health financing strategies aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and ensuring financial risk protection for the population.

Organizational Context

Under the overall guidance of the WHO representative to Ethiopia and the Coordinator (Strategic Health Policy & Planning), and the direct supervision of the Country Health Economist, the Health Financing Officer will work as part of the WCO-Ethiopia Health Systems team.

GRADE

• NO-C

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Technical Support & Policy Advice

• Provide expert advice to the Ministry of Health and other national institutions on health financing strategies, including resource mobilization, pooling, strategic purchasing, provider payment mechanisms, financial protection, and public financial management (PFM).
• Coordinate work on design and revision of benefit package.
• Coordinate quantitative analyses for related to various health insurance and financing schemes of national and regional levels in Ethiopia with specific focus on claim analysis, equity analysis, costing of benefit package and the expected utilization of services from health insurance schemes (e.g., CBHI).
• Support work in the country on developing and institutionalizing National Health Accounts
• Support the development, implementation, and monitoring of national health financing policies and reforms aligned with WHO Africa Region priorities.
• Facilitate the integration of health financing within broader health system strengthening initiatives.
• Identify additional technical assistance requirements and organize relevant expertise and support sun-national institutions (e.g., Regional Health Bureaus, EHIS, etc.) in planning for the implementation of NHPS/NHFS.

Capacity Building & Knowledge Management

• Plan, support, and participate in capacity building activities in the areas of health financing, health economics and related health policy issues.
• Organize and deliver training, workshops, and seminars for government officials and partners on health financing concepts and tools.
• Develop and disseminate technical guidance, best practices, and lessons learned from Ethiopia and other African countries.
• Contribute to regional knowledge-sharing platforms and communities of practice.

Data Analysis & Evidence Generation

• Assess requests received from the regions for possible action by WHO and advise regions on generating relevant health financing evidence and strategies.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret health financing data to inform policy decisions.
• Support the design and implementation of studies, surveys, and evaluations related to health financing and universal health coverage.
• Prepare technical reports, policy briefs, and presentations for federal and regional audiences.

Coordination & Partnership

• Liaise with government agencies/institutions, development partners, civil society, and others take holders to ensure harmonized health financing interventions.
• Represent WHO in national and sub-national health financing forums and working groups.
• Engage in policy dialogue on health financing and insurance with government and other relevant stakeholders specially to support the Ethiopian Health Insurance Services at national as well as sub-national level (regional/woreda).

Monitoring & Reporting

• Track progress of health financing initiatives and report on achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.
• Contribute to WHO Ethiopia and Africa Region reporting requirements, including donor reports and strategic reviews.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned by supervisors.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential:

• University degree in public health or health sciences or equivalent.

Desirable:

• Post graduate degree in health financing or health economics or equivalent

Experience

Essential:

• At least five (5) years of progressively responsible professional experience at the national/sub-national level in health policy; health financing; economic analysis of health financing systems; and health systems planning, monitoring and evaluation, information and management or relevant experiences.

Desirable:

• Relevant experience in WHO, or other UN agencies/international organizations.

FUNCTIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Demonstrate alignment with WHO’s core values.
• Possess in-depth knowledge of Ethiopia’s health financing landscape, health system, national policies, and strategies, as well as global and national UHC commitments and social health insurance concepts. Understand the workings of government institutions, agencies, and key partners in Ethiopia.
• Exhibit strong technical and policy advisory skills, public health leadership, and the ability to collaborate effectively with government and team members at national and sub-national levels. Communicate technical information clearly, build networks across sectors, and adapt to evolving environments.
• Apply modern management skills in planning, evaluation, and contract management. Convey information and options credibly, with proficiency in computer applications and report writing.
• Familiarity with WHO/UN agency programs and practices is an asset

WHO COMPETENCIES

1. Teamwork
2. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
3. Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
4. Communication
5. Ensuring the effective use of resources
6. Producing Results
7. Creating an empowering and motivating environment.

USE OF LANGUAGE SKILLS

Essential: Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and knowledge of Amharic.

Desirable: Working knowledge of other WHO official language would be an asset.

OTHER SKILLS (E.G. IT SKILLS)

Excellent knowledge of MS office software applications, especially Excel computer skills for making high quality data analysis and technical presentation. Skills in analysis tools would be considered as an asset.

REMUNERATION

This is a Special Service Agreement (SSA) contract at NO-C, with a monthly remuneration of $3,598.00 paid in local currency equivalent.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

1)    The duty station for this position is Addis Ababa.

2)      This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level

3)      Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

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

5)      In the event 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.

6)      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.

7)      Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and E-Manual.

8)      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.

9)      The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce . 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.

10)   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.

11)   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 (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) into practice.

12)   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 short-listed candidates.

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

14)   For information on WHO’s operations please visit: http://www.who.int.

15)   This post is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station.