Health Economist, P4 WHO - World Health Organization Geneva, Switzerland

Objectives of the programme

Within the HIV, TB, Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (HTM) Cluster, the objectives of the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) are to reduce the negative impact of endemic tropical diseases on health and on the social and economic wellbeing of all people world-wide: to reduce morbidity, mortality and disability through the prevention, control and where applicable, eradication or elimination of selected endemic tropical diseases using, where possible, a synergic approach, through the formulation and implementation of evidence-based strategies; provision of technical support to Regions and countries; capacity building; and involvement of relevant partners for implementation; formulation of integrated disease-control strategies, including integrated case management and vector control.

Description of duties

• Develop and implement an annual economic/financial data collection form and contribute to its review and follow-up;
• Contribute to the analysis of data that are collected on an annual basis via the annual data collection form, and to the preparation of related figures, tables and text for the annual report on NTDs, as well as regional and country profiles, fact sheets and papers for publication;
• Develop, maintain, promote, disseminate and support the use of tools and related guidelines for planning and budgeting for NTD control within the framework of the Global Plan to Combat NTDs and the WHO Roadmap for implementation, including organization and facilitation of workshops when appropriate;
• Contribute to the development of project proposals on economic evaluation including, budgeting, financing and reporting of progress of funded proposals;
• Support economic evaluations of the impact of NTDs on national economies, and the benefits of NTD prevention and control, and prepare reports and papers to disseminate results;
• Provide customized information and advice on economics/financing of NTD control to other teams in WHO and external partners;
• Contribute to other economic and financial analyses, as appropriate.

Required qualifications

Education:

Essential

• Masters degree in economics or closely related subject, including specialization in health economics and health financing.

Desirable

• Good understanding of NTD epidemiology and impact, learned through courses or on-the-job training.

Skills:

• Knowledge of principles and methods for the economic evaluation of health care programmes and proven ability to apply these in practice, including in relation to disease control;
• Knowledge of principles and methods required for budgeting/costing national strategic health plans, and proven ability to apply these in practice;
• Proven ability to conduct economic evaluations in developing countries, and to write up the results to a standard suitable for publication in peer-reviewed journals;
• Ability to develop project proposals and to prepare progress reports on funded proposals;
• Ability to develop tools and related guidelines related to budgeting and costing;
• Proven ability to work in a wide variety of countries, and to facilitate workshops and country missions;
• Excellent written and oral presentation skills;
• Ability to be proactive/take initiative, and to work independently;
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team;
• Computer literacy;
• Knowledge of statistical packages.

Experience

Essential

• At least seven years of experience working as a health economist, including experience in developing countries and experience of working on analyses related to communicable diseases;
• Experience of working with governmental, academic and international organizations/institutions;
• Experience of resource tracking analyses and economic evaluation.

Desirable

• Experience within WHO and an excellent knowledge of its mandate and work in the field of NTDs;
• Experience of developing tools or guidelines related to economic/financial aspects of disease control.

Languages

• Essential: Excellent knowledge of English;
• Desirable: Working knowledge of French.

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