Senior Health Economist

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

All Member States of WHO in the European Region share the common value of the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental human right.All of WHO actions are based on this and rooted in the underlying value of equity as described in the General Programme of Work. The 13th General Programme of Work defines the mission of WHO as one to promote health, to keep the world safe, and to protect the vulnerable. The GPW calls for heightened accountability, prioritising impact and outcome at country level, and to improve the lives of three billion people, through universal health coverage, through addressing health emergencies, and promoting healthier populations.

 

WHO's mandate revolves around six core functions\:

(i) providing leadership on global health matters;

(ii) shaping the health research agenda;

(iii) setting norms and standards;

(iv) articulating evidence-based policy options;

(v) providing technical support to countries; and

(vi) monitoring and assessing health trends.

 

The European Region (EURO) of WHO is made up of 53 countries, with over 880 million people. The diversity of people and health situations requires, on the demand side, a solid understanding of the emerging socio-economic, epidemiologic and demographic patterns and trends at both aggregate as well as national and sub-national levels, with due sensitivity to disadvantaged populations and vulnerable segments of the society. On the supply side, it is equally crucial to have a solid understanding of the commonalities and divergences of the health systems, the circumstances and political economy under which they have evolved and operate and, more specifically, how these bear upon the way the health system stewardship function of health ministries is carried out.

 

The objective of the Division of Health Systems and Public Health is to develop in the WHO European Region the strategic capacity to assist Member States to design, establish and promote comprehensive health and health systems policies; to enable countries to benefit from international experience in reforming their health systems and public health services stressing quality, accessibility and efficient use of resources. The Division contributes to the development and promotion of the European Health Policy and National Health Policies, Plans and Strategies, and the knowledge base in the broad thematic areas of health systems governance, financing, organization, service delivery and resource generation, in collaboration with other relevant international, regional, national and non-governmental partners.

 

The WHO Barcelona Office for Health Systems Strengthening (Barcelona GDO) is a part of the Division of Health System and Public Health and contributes to the above objectives under the guidance of the Director of the Division. It hosts the Health Financing (HFI) programme of the Division and focuses on providing technical support to Member States on health financing policy for universal health coverage and health systems strengthening through analysis and capacity building to improve decision making processes and related institutional development. Its objective is to promote better performing health systems by applying a comprehensive, functionally coherent and results-oriented approach in the implementation of the 13th General Programme of Work Outcome 1\: Strengthened health systems in support of universal health coverage without financial hardship, including equity of access based on gender, age, income, and disability. The HFI programme is to foster development of equitable and efficient forms of health financing that enable countries to sustain progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The programme is responsible for monitoring financial protection in the European Region based on regional and global mandates including the monitoring of the SDG target of 3.8 on UHC. The Barcelona GDO has an established portfolio of training activities (WHO courses on health financing for universal health coverage and health systems strengthening) which contribute to capacity building across all countries of the European Region and supports the country-specific technical work in Member States as agreed in the biennial collaborative agreements and country cooperation strategies.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The purpose of the post is to provide comprehensive health financing policy guidance and high level technical advice to Member States on developing, implementing, analysing and evaluating health financing policies in the context of health system strengthening strategies for Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The incumbent will lead selected country and intercountry work on health financing for UHC and contribute to high profile regional training and capacity building activities of the WHO Barcelona Office for Health Systems Strengthening (Barcelona GDO).

 

Under the broad guidance and supervision of the Head of Office/Programme Manager (Health Financing) the incumbent will have the following responsibilities\:

1. Provide evidence-informed policy advice to Member States in designing the overall health financing system and its functions of revenue collection, pooling, strategic purchasing and benefit design, with a focus on countries of the former Soviet Union (FSU) and South-eastern Europe (SEE);

2. Produce country-specific analytical reports on health financing systems and reform proposals;

3. Coordinate the health financing component of technical support to selected countries participating in donor-funded large-scale health system transformation projects with the aim of making progress towards UHC;

4. Lead policy dialogue with high-level officials from health and finance ministries on health financing policy and collaborate with partner agencies (European Commission, OECD, The World Bank etc.) to ensure synergy and greater policy impact;

5. Support the development and delivery of capacity building and training activities of the Barcelona GDO including the regional, sub-regional and country-specific courses on (i) health financing for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and (ii) health system strengthening for improved health outcomes in specific disease areas;

6. Contribute to the regional monitoring of financial protection using the methodology and approach developed for the European Region including support to policy dialogue in countries of FSU and SEE to foster implementation of policy recommendations to sustain progress towards UHC;

7. Collaborate within DSP and with other technical divisions as well as WHO headquarters to promote a comprehensive and aligned support to Member States on health financing;

8. Participate in the preparation of the work plan, budget, implementation reports and perform other related duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

Essential\: University degree (Master's level or equivalent) in economics, health financing, health economics, health systems management or health policy.
Desirable\: Doctoral (PhD) degree in any of the above-mentioned areas.

Experience

Essential\: At least ten years of relevant work experience at national and international levels providing technical assistance and advice on the following areas\: health financing and health systems strengthening; analysis and implementation of health financing policies with particular emphasis on strategic purchasing; delivery of capacity building activities and policy dialogue events on health financing.At least three years of relevant work experience with/in countries of the former Soviet Union.
Desirable\: Relevant work experience in a (public) health insurance organization and/or relevant department of the Ministry of Health responsible for health financing. Relevant work experience with WHO or other UN agencies in the WHO European Region.

Skills

1. Demonstrated knowledge of WHO recommendations and policy guidance in the areas of strengthening health systems and health financing policies for countries of the WHO European Region.

2. In depth knowledge of political, social and health systems of countries of the former Soviet Union and countries of South-eastern Europe including direct work experience in these countries on specific health financing policy issues.

3. Proven skills in health expenditure analysis and experience in costing of and budgeting for health services, and contracting providers of health services.

4. Demonstrated ability to work effectively with health and finance ministries, health insurance funds, purchasing agencies, and key national or international stakeholders or partners.

 5. Excellent communications skills including the ability to communicate complex concepts in a clear and accessible manner.

WHO Competencies

Teamwork
Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
Communication
Producing results
Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond

Use of Language Skills

Essential\: Expert knowledge of English.
Desirable\: Intermediate knowledge of Russian.

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 87,108 (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 1938 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 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.