Health (Financing) Specialist

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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 favouritism. 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 a 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 prerequisite for effective and efficient use of scarce resources. The ultimate objective of UNICEF’s health financing work is to contribute to health system strengthening (HSS) to achieve UHC focusing on effective PHC service delivery. The Health Specialist (Health Financing) is expected to nurture close collaboration with other key partners at the national and sub-national level, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, the President’s Office Finance and Planning, the President’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government, selected regional authorities, other UN agencies, development partners and International Financial Institutions. The Health Specialist (Policy, Planning and Financing) will also work closely with the UNICEF TCO Social Policy, Nutrition, and HIV/AIDS sections to effectively drive the health financing agenda.

Under the direct supervision and guidance of the Chief of Health, the incumbent will lead UNICEF’s work with the government and implementing partners to influence the size, composition, equity, efficiency, and effectiveness of health spending at the national and sub-national levels.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

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

1. Data-driven health financing and spending

• Prepare timely economic analysis of expenditure on PHC to inform the national dialogue on efficient and effective health spending.
•  Undertake selected health sector budget analysis to inform UNICEF’s advocacy and technical engagement with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, 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 the Universal Health Insurance Scheme and the Zanzibar Health Services Fund 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. Improve the use of health sector public financial resources

• Provide technical assistance to Ministries of Health Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar in designing the purchasing arrangements and pooling resources under the Universal Health Insurance scheme and the Zanzibar Health Insurance Fund.
• Provide technical guidance around key PFM reforms in the health sector (e.g. streamlining funding for PHC and community health services) and establish a system linking expenditure with outcomes using routine data systems and monitoring spending inequities.
• 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.
• Advocate for introducing and earmarking health takes, realise efficiencies, and identify other innovative health financing mechanisms.

3. Improve the use of health sector public financial resources

• 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 to the 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 all Health Basket Fund meetings, relevant inter-agency discussions, and planning on health-related issues to collaborate with inter-agency partners/colleagues on PFM in the health sector-related discussions.
• Drive the 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 provide country-level technical assistance on public financing, focusing on conducting the mid-term review of the Health Basket Fund and developing the new Memorandum of Understanding.
• Lead on the institutionalisation of the annual health policy review as part of the budgeting process, and relevant institutional budgetary review (e.g. for climate and nutrition)
• Advocate, during strategic discussions with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, the President’s Office for Finance and Planning, the President’s Office for Regional Administration, and Local Government.

4. 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…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in health economics, health financing, public financial management, or a closely related field is required.
• Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in a public finance or economic development role within the national/international health sector.
• Skills: 
• Preference will be given to candidates having demonstrated knowledge of and professional experience in at least two of these areas: public financing, economic analysis, health financing, and advocacy.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Swahili is a strong asset.

Desirables:

• Experience working in developing countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa is considered an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization, or a global health initiative (TGF, GAVI, GFF) or development bank is considered an asset.

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: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others