Health Specialist (Health Financing), P-3 Job at UNICEF

Health Specialist (Health Financing), P-3 Job at UNICEF
Job no: 556629
Contract type: Temporary Appointment
Duty Station: Dar-es-Salaam
Level: P-3
Location: United Republic of Tanzania
Categories: Health

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, health

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is the reason why, the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nation.

How can you make a difference?

The United Republic of Tanzania (URT) has renewed its commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and adopted Primary Health Care (PHC) as a main pillar for its action to achieve its UHC goals. Optimal Public Financial Management (PFM) in the health sector is a key prerequisite for effective and efficient use of scarce resources. The Health Specialist (Health Financing) will provide support to UNICEF Tanzania CO, Health Section in the area of health financing. This includes leading costing exercises (e.g. PHC services delivery, human resources for health planning, integration of COVID vaccines within the national EPI, Malaria vaccines introduction), health planning and budgeting efforts at national and sub-national level, promote key budgetary reforms (e.g. introduce PHC grants, streamline financing for community health services), identify and address key PFM bottlenecks affecting services delivery, conduct fiscal space analysis to identify efficiencies within the existing resources envelope. The ultimate objective is to contribute to health system strengthening (HSS) to achieve UHC with a focus on PHC. The Health Financing Specialist is expected to develop close collaboration with other key partners at national and sub-national level, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance and Planning, the President’s Office Finance and Planning, the President’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government, selected regional authorities, other UN agencies and International Financial Institutions. Additionally, the Health Financing Specialist will work closely with the UNICEF Tanzania CO Social Policy section on assessing design and implementation of health insurance schemes at community and state level. The ultimate objective of UNICEF’s work in health financing is to influence the size, composition, equity, efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of health spending at national and subnational level.

KEY FUNCTIONS, ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RELATED DUTIES/TASKS

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Data-driven health financing and spending
Improving use of health sector public financial resources
Advocacy, networking and partnership building
Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building
1. Data-driven health financing and spending

• Prepare timely economic and financing analysis of health services delivery to provide UNICEF Tanzania with evidence for national dialogue in improving efficiency in health spending.
• Guide UNICEF Tanzania on the analysis of PHC financing mechanisms at sub-national level to identify opportunities to realise efficiencies.
• Undertake selected health sector budget analysis (e.g., identification of PFM bottlenecks affecting services delivery) inform UNICEF’s advocacy and technical engagement with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance and Planning, the President’s Office for Finance and Planning, the President’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government to leverage and prioritize resources for sustainable PHC services delivery.
• Provide technical support in the design, implementation and monitoring of innovative health financing initiatives to ensure sustainable and equitable financing and UHC in collaboration with other key development partners (e.g., WHO, GAVI, Global Fund, the World Bank, the Global Financing Facilities, International Monetary Fund, Health Basket Fund partners).

2. Improving use of health sector public financial resources

• Provide technical assistance to Ministries of Health Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar in developing the health financing strategy, expand the coverage of and optimise pool of the National Health Insurance Fund and establish the Zanzibar Health Insurance Fund.
• Participate in and provide technical inputs to the national and sub-national PFM discussions, with a focus on streamlining funding for PHC services and community-based services delivery and increase transparency of expenditure reporting, addressing challenges related to direct facility financing (DFF) and introduce such payment mechanism in Zanzibar.
• Work with sector colleagues to build capacity to undertake costing and cost effectiveness analysis on priority interventions to help inform policy decisions on child-focused investments.
• Carry out analyses on fiscal space, with a focus on realising efficiencies within the existing resources envelope.
• Support the Government to regularly monitor and measure the equity, efficiency, and effectiveness of public health expenditures.

3. Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with health sector government counterparts, national stakeholders, as well as global partners, allies, donors, and academia for active networking, advocacy and effective communication to improve health planning, budgeting and financial flows at federal and sub-national level.
• Prepare communication and information materials to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances, and support national efforts on fundraising for health programmes (PHC, UHC and HSS).
• Participate and/or represent UNICEF in appropriate inter-agency discussions and planning on health-related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on PFM in the health sector related discussions; and on UNSDCF planning and preparation of health financing programmes/projects.
• Support compelling use of finance data and evidence in advocacy materials and campaigns, including designing visually attractive infographics and data analysis on health planning, budgeting, and expenditures.
• Collaborate with WHO, World Bank, other UN agencies and implementing partners to support country-level technical assistance on public financing, with a focus on revising the rules governing the Health Basket Fund funds utilisation.
• Advocate, during strategic discussions with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance and Planning, the President’s Office for Finance and Planning, the President’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government

Health Specialist (Health Financing), P-3 Job at UNICEF

Innovation, knowledge management and capacity building

• Review other countries experiences around priority topics (e.g., GAVI transition, financing health emergencies preparedness and response).
• Document and disseminate lessons learned from national efforts in strengthening health systems and expanding health coverage for UHC with a focus on PHC and routine immunization, and to improve partnerships for sustainable health systems strengthening.
• Provide technical leadership and coordination of relevant operational research around costing and funding specific health interventions and programmes, thus contributing to the knowledge base in health systems.
• Disseminate relevant research findings, publications, presentations and reports.
• Develop and conduct capacity building activities on health financing for UNICEF staff and government officials.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in health economics, health financing or public financial management or closely related field is required.
• A minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in a public finance or economic development role within the national/international health sector.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have demonstrated knowledge of and professional experience in at least two of the following areas: Public Financial Management in health, health economic analysis, strengthening health financing and governance.
• Experience working in developing countries, especially in Sub-Saharan African is considered as an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization, or in a global health initiative (TGF, GAVI, GFF) or development bank is considered as an asset.
• Fluency in English is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1), Works Collaboratively with others (1), Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1), Innovates and Embraces Change (1), Thinks and Acts Strategically (1), Drives to achieve impactful results (1). Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable candidate from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, are encouraged to apply.

The UN system in Tanzania provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, diversity, integrity, a healthy balance of work and life and equal opportunities for all, including persons with disabilities. Qualified persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply for UN vacancies and are protected from discrimination during all stages of employment

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF 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 at http://www.whed.net/

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