Advisor, Health Economics and Financing

Vacancy Notice No: PAHO/13/FT441 Title: Advisor, Health Economics and Financing Grade: P4 Contract type: Fixed-Term Appointment Duration of contract:  One year, first year probationary period. POST OF LIMITED DURATION.	Date: 17 October 2013 Application Deadline: 15 November 2013 (17 day(s) until closing deadline) Currently accepting applications Duty Station:  Washington, D.C., United States of America   Organization unit: AM Americas (AM) Health Systems and Services / Health Services and Access (HSS/HS)
OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME : The primary objective of the Department of Health Systems and Services is to strengthen health systems based on Primary Health Care, supporting universal health coverage. Its work encompasses the following areas: strengthening of health systems governance for social protection in health; strengthening of regulatory frameworks and financial protection for progressive realization of the right to health; organizing people-centered, integrated health service delivery; promoting access to and rational use of quality, safe, and effective health technologies; strengthening national health research systems, and promoting the integration of scientific knowledge into health care, health policies, and technical cooperation; and developing human resources for health.
Description of duties: Under the general supervision of the Director, Health Systems and Services (HSS), and the direct supervision of the Unit Chief, Health Services and Access (HSS/HS), the incumbent is responsible for, but not necessarily limited to, the following assigned duties: a) Design, adapt and promote the use of economic and financial tools in the analysis of health and health sector issues, and in the evaluation of likely impact of public policies to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC); b) Advise and provide technical cooperation to Member States for improving countries' institutional capacity in the design, implementation and monitoring of health financing policies, to increase financial risk protection, reduce out-of-pocket expenditures in health, and ensure efficiency gains in the use of resources and in purchasing and service delivery; c) Promote, implement, and support the analysis and formulation of innovative alternatives for health sector financing in its four sub-functions: revenue collection, pooling of funds, purchasing of services, and policy on benefits, in particular, with regard to UHC; d) Advise and participate in collaborative activities with other UN agencies, international organizations, sub-regional entities, health economics units from ministries of health, professional associations, in the field of health financing of health systems oriented toward UHC; e) Advise and collaborate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of technical cooperation programs in the areas of health financing geared to the strengthening of national health care systems pursuing UHC, in alignment with efficiency and equity goals; f) Promote and develop collaborative activities with professional and academic organizations to promote the development of financially sustainable comprehensive and integrated models of care; g) Advise and provide support to Member States on the economic, financial, macroeconomic and fiscal implications of public health policies and cost-effective public health interventions to respond to old and new challenges in health (such as noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), risk factors and conditions); h) Advise in planning, coordinating, executing and supervising training and research activities (including online) in health economics and finance; i) Collaborate with the updating and improvement of the Organization's databases on national health expenditures and financing; j) Collaborate with country offices, other UN specialized agencies, multilateral and bilateral agencies and international financial institutions in the development of joint programs for strengthening national capacity in the areas of health economics and financing, economic evaluation and costing of health strategies and plans and cost-effectiveness of public policy interventions, and national health accounts (within both the System of health Accounts (SHA2011) and the System of Satellite National Accounts (SNA)) and/or National Statistical Development Strategies (NSDS) frameworks in countries; k) Promote the mobilization of national and international resources in support of the Unit's programs and/or projects; l) Participate in the preparation of the Unit's Biennial Work Plan (BWP), budget and technical evaluation reports; m) Perform other related duties, as assigned.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A bachelor's and master's degree in economics with related training in health economics and financing from a recognized university.
Skills:  Key Behavioral Competencies Intrainstitutional Action: Leads team efforts toward full understanding of the policies the organization must operate within as well as the Standard of Conduct for the International Civil Service. Leads employees and co-workers toward operating in a fair, consistent and equitable manner, and displays such behavior by example. Behaves consistently in accordance with the Code of Ethics of the Organization. Teamwork: Embraces and leads consensual decision-making, that is, leading the fulfillment of team decisions, even when they may not fully coincide with one's own opinions or proposals. Knows how to manage difficult team situations and promotes consensus building. Takes responsibility for the team's successes and failures. Information Management: Processes and analyzes the data objectively, presenting it clearly and equitably. Leads the effort to acquire relevant and selected information that facilitates the achievement of organizational results. Evaluates/leads the evaluation of information systems on the basis of its advantages/disadvantages for processing information relevant to the area of work. Analysis, Synthesis, and Forecasting: After analyzing situations on the basis of the available evidence and knowledge, leads one's area of responsibility toward individual and collective actions. Encourages the importance of continual analysis. Verifies and promotes that action is taken in situations that will require future intervention, based on ongoing analysis. Leads others in decisions needed to implement required actions. Is capable of anticipating the implications of analyzed situations between one and two years ahead. Thinking, planning and the strategic management of technical cooperation interventions: Selects priority ideas for executing the interventions after anticipating their potential problems and solutions. Participates in the preparation of strategic plans, providing input about their impact, quality, critical points, and risks. Evaluation of technical cooperation interventions: Evaluates criteria for the interventions at the process, management, and outcome level, in addition to technical cooperation evaluation plans, in keeping with the PAHO's strategic direction. Resource mobilization: Works in an objective manner to obtain and apportion resources (financial and non-financial) according to need. Supports and advises technical areas to enable best use of resources are aligned with the mission and vision of the Organization. Is able to work in a multicultural environment. Is flexible and has the ability to work well under pressure. Is able to give feedback to partners within and outside the organization about the use of the resources and the results acquired. Technical Expertise - Strong knowledge of conceptual and methodological issues of inter-linkages between macroeconomic, fiscal and health financing issues and in the areas of health economics and health financing of national health systems. - Expert skills in measuring and analyzing the relations between health and development, the economic determinants of health and the impact of health investments on national economies. - Knowledge and skills in developing policy oriented research on issues related to health and health care expenditures and financing policies, on the inter relationships between macroeconomic policies and health and health care issues. - Technical expertise in providing technical assistance in the development of financially sustainable national health policies, strategies, plans and/or programs under the primary health care principles and values. - Expertise in economics, public finances, and in health economics and financing geared toward expanding coverage of public health and social protection programs to reduce the financial risks associated with diseases and accidents. - Expertise in estimating and monitoring the distributive dimensions of national health expenditures. Excellent knowledge of national accounts including knowledge in the application of the Government Finances Statistics Manual (GFSM) and understanding of conceptual and methodological issues related to health accounts (national health accounts, national health expenditure accounts and health sector/systems satellite accounts). - Skills in the design and implementation of educational and advisory work in health economics and financing with emphasis on policy formulation and evaluation, including a comprehensive knowledge of the analytical and operational work of international organizations working in the health field. - Knowledge in the use of global and regional data-bases on national accounts, government finances, national health expenditures, consumer price indexes, household surveys and other social and economic indicators. - Knowledge and skills in the formulation of technical cooperation interventions and in the development of criteria for evaluating program interventions and evaluations with emphasis on health care services. - Strong professional oral and writing skills including the development of reports, oral presentations, and technical/persuasive documents for consideration at the highest levels of the Organization. IT Skills Very good knowledge of English or Spanish with working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset.
Experience: Essential: Nine years of combined national and international experience in conducting economic analysis and applied research on social policies, income distribution, poverty and/or health and development issues. Experience should also include work in the international field on activities in the area of economic and financial analysis and evaluation of health sector projects and policies; health economics and financing and broader social and economic development issues.
Languages: Very good knowledge of English or Spanish with working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset.
Additional Information: PAHO offers an attractive compensation package including an annual net salary (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance), dependency benefits, pension plan, health insurance scheme, and 30 days annual leave. Benefits for internationally recruited staff may include travel and removal expenses on appointment and separation, assignment grant, rental subsidy, and home leave. ALL APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AN ON-LINE PERSONAL HISTORY FORM TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POST. CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED ONLY IF THEY ARE UNDER SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. A WRITTEN TEST AND/OR INTERVIEW WILL BE HELD FOR THIS POST. THE POST DESCRIPTION IS THE OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION FOR ORGANIZATIONAL PURPOSES. THIS VACANCY MAY BE USED TO FILL OTHER POSITIONS IN THE ORGANIZATION THAT MAY BECOME VACANT AT A LATER DATE, AND WHICH HAVE SIMILAR REQUIREMENTS AND DUTIES AS THE ONES STATED IN THIS NOTICE.
Annual salary: (Net of tax) US$ 67,483.00 at single rate US$ 72,467.00 with primary dependants	Post Adjustment: 50.6 % of the above figure(s). This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.
Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable WHO to store your profile in a permanent database. Please visit WHO's e-Recruitment website at: www.who.int/employment. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement.
WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and Manual. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.