The Universal Health Coverage Partnership (UHC-P) aims at supporting WHO Member States in the development and implementation of health system strategies for Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The UHC-P started in 2011 with seven countries and progressively expanded to sixty six countries in 2018, and more than one hundred fifteen countries are being supported through the 4^th round of UHC-P; this round spans from July 2019 to end of 2022 and has the following priority areas\: i) strengthening health systems through improving governance, access to medicines and health products, distribution and skills of health workforce, health financing, health management information systems and service delivery; ii) enabling health systems to integrate and improve performance of all levels of non-communicable disease prevention, management and care with focus on areas mentioned under (i); (iii) supporting the International Health Partnership for Universal Health Coverage 2030 (UHC2030) to coordinate policy dialogue and alignment between all stakeholders at country, regional and global levels; (iv) strengthening health systems to ensure durable capacities for risk reduction, surveillance and management of health risks.

In line with WHO’s Thirteenth General Programme of Work 2019–2023, Vision 2023 Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) has identified expanding UHC as a top strategic priority for the Region and focuses on implementing the recommendations of the Salalah Declaration on UHC of September 2018 to ensure that at least 100 million more people benefit from UHC by 2023.

Vision 2023 acknowledges the socioeconomic diversity, opportunities and challenges facing the Region and calls for solidarity and action to promote “Health for All by All”

Ministers of health and heads of delegations from the countries of the EMR have collectively signed the UHC2030 Global Compact, making the Region the first among WHO’s six regions to do so. The signing of the UHC2030 Global Compact demonstrates a high level of commitment to act and make progress towards UHC by the countries of the Region. Furthermore, WHO’s Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean in its 65th Session endorsed a resolution urging Member States to formulate a national vision for UHC and a roadmap towards its realization, considering country-specific health system challenges, the economic situation and people’s preferences.

Several countries in the EMR are being supported through the 4^th round of UHC-P program, which draws on WHO's convening role, institutional capacity and experience to guide countries in making progress towards UHC.

1. Job Description

To provide policy advice and guidance to the Ministry of Health to strengthen its health system with the aim of moving towards Universal Health Coverage for improving the health of the population, reducing financial burden associated with illness, and ensuring access to high quality health services. Under the direct supervision of the WHO Representative and the overall guidance of the Director UHC/Health Systems, the incumbent will assume the following responsibilities\:

1. Partnering with stakeholders (both international and national) to ensure alliance and result-oriented National Health Policies, Strategies and Plans (NHPSP)
2. Organizing regular bottom-up participatory mechanisms to assess strengths and weaknesses of the health system and promote the priority setting process.
3. Supporting the development of National UHC Roadmap, health systems analytical report, and political economy analysis of UHC in the country
4. Formulating strategic recommendations for health system components, including but not limited to governance, access to medicines and health products, distribution and skills of health workforce, health financing, health management information systems and service delivery
5. Leading and designing the country health policy dialogue process, its schedule and its agreed mechanisms including the provision of public information on health policy matters and organize annual reviews, at the critical stages of the national planning cycle
6. Partnering with governments (at federal and state levels) and national stakeholders on the production of strategic intelligence on the policy environment (stakeholders' positions and interests, their capacities for meaningful sector policy dialogue) and on a regular policy assessment for the annual reviews.
7. Supporting alignment between all stakeholders at country level for health systems strengthening and when required, harnessing the tools, approaches, and knowledge exchange done by the UHC2030 multi-stakeholder platform
8. Leading the discussion between Ministries of Finance, Social Welfare, Labor regarding health financing reforms and the budgeting of health policies in the macroeconomic and fiscal environment ensuring involvement of financial experts and partners in these discussions.
9. Developing and assimilating consensus on a monitoring and evaluation framework for the NHPSP agreeable for all stakeholders and develop mechanisms to effectively and regularly monitor its indicators including annual reviews preparation and inter-country peer-reviews.
10. Advocating for alignment of international partners with the NHPSP, the national planning and budgeting cycles, the agreed country health policy dialogue mechanisms and schedules and with the established national monitoring mechanisms.
11. Collaborating with program managers for non-communicable diseases management and mental health services, reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health services, emergency response and recovery, and ensure cross-programmatic synergies, integration across the levels of care, and alignment with NHPSP goals
12. Leading and overseeing the production of quarterly and annual implementation reports as essential components of the progress reviews.

1. Recruitment Profile

1. Ensuring the effective use of resources.

2. Creating an empowering and motivating environment.

3. Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond.

Functional Knowledge and Skills

1. Excellent skills in planning, monitoring and evaluating health systems.
2. Excellent skills in health policy analysis for universal health coverage.
3. Demonstrated ability to provide sound methodological and technical advice and guidance to multiple stakeholders and partners in countries.
4. Demonstrated ability to analyze political contexts and interact and negotiate effectively with multiple interests at the political level at the regional, inter-country and country levels. Demonstrated ability to innovate, integrate, synthesize and communicate complex concepts and ideas verbally and in writing.
5. Ability to plan, analyze data and design studies.
6. Ability to monitor and communicate progress in terms of process and results.

Advanced university degree in medicine or public health or health-related field

At least 10 years' experience, at the national and international levels, in policy, planning, managing or developing health systems, including at least 5 years' experience at international level, and at least 5 years' experience in low- or middle-income countries.

Relevant work experience with UN or other international organizations.

1. Use of Language Skills

Read\: Expert knowledge [Yes] Required