Project Description

The USAID-funded Health Financing Improvement Program seeks to strengthen the health financing functions and systems to support universal health coverage of quality primary health care (PHC) services for Ethiopian citizens. Project objectives include increasing domestic resource mobilization for enhanced provision of quality PHC services, streamlining pooling of risk-sharing/insurance mechanisms for wider access to PHC services with reduced financial barriers, facilitating strategic purchasing of health services from public and private health providers, and improving governance, management and evidence-generation for health financing reforms and health facilities.

Job Summary

Under the supervision and Direction of the SNNP and Gambella Regional Team Leader, the Health Care Finance Specialist is primarily responsible for technically supporting and coordinating implementation of health finance reforms as stipulated in project intermediate result (IR) 1. S/he is also significantly involved in work conducted under other project IRs, such as institutionalizing tools and skills for periodic user fees revision; designing and supporting implementation of provider payment mechanisms (PPMs); building organizational capacity and supporting institutionalization of health facility finance and governance systems; conducting supportive supervision, and contributing to research conducted. The position is based in the project’s regional office in Hawassa, with local travel as required.

Location: Hawassa Office.

Applicants must be local or willing to relocate to the assigned region/city, if selected.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and leadership of the SNNP and Gambella Regional Team Leader:

• Assist in implementing and coordinating the project’s health finance and governance activities and staff in the regions, and effectively support increasing availability of additional resources to the health sector and improving their use. 
• Support capacity building and institutionalization of health finance and governance systems and capabilities in the regions. Includes contributing to the transition of health finance and governance capacity to regional health bureaus (RHBs), universities, and in-service training centers.
• Collaborate with the project’s health insurance, health systems, and governance teams in the design and implementation of PPMs that support the provision of quality and affordable health care services for health insurance members by both public and private providers. Also contribute to the design, pilot testing, and scale-up of alternative PPMs.
• Provide technical support to the resource mobilization team of the Partnership and Cooperation Directorate or any other structure established at the RHB to institutionalize health financing reforms and increase domestic financing efforts in the regions.
• Provide technical assistance and support in refining implementation and training manuals on health finance, governance, private wing, and outsourcing of clinical services by public hospitals.
• Facilitate development/refinement and institutionalization of periodic user fees revision tools. 
• Work with the project’s health finance and insurance, health systems and governance, and monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) teams, and with the RHBs, to update supportive supervision system and checklists and conduct integrated and regular supportive supervisions
• Coordinate with project quality improvement and quality assurance specialists at the project’s central level to help ensure the provision of quality healthcare services in the regions.
• Help facilitate networking amongst stakeholders engaged in health finance and governance in the regions.
• Initiate/contribute and/or help identify health finance and governance research agendas/topics pertinent to the regions or beyond. Contribute to implementation of research or studies conducted in the regions by central office teams and/or sub-grantees.
• Provide technical support on the use of evidence for policy process/decision-making by government and its stakeholders.
• Produce high-quality and timely inputs for MEL and implementation plans, quarterly/annual/final performance reports, and other reports and deliverables.
• Write and/or contribute to project learning materials such as articles for project newsletter, working papers, success stories, presentations, and other inputs to support the project’s learning agenda.
• Support project satellite offices and seconded staff on health finance and governance activity implementation and learning in regions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Health Economics, Health Finance, Economics, Finance, Management, Health Policy, Public Health, or other relevant field.
• At least 6 years of relevant professional experience on health finance, health economics, health financing policy, health systems governance and management, or other relevant fields.
• Experience working on USAID-funded projects is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a minimum of direction and supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to work both as a member of a team and as a team leader, with the ability to accept the inputs of other team members and to contribute to other colleagues work.
• Solid management and planning skills of project tasks and budgets.
• Demonstrates leadership and team work and produces high quality work in a timely, cost effective manner.
• Proven experience of capacity building and team work with other stakeholders, notably government counterparts at different levels.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong writing skills both in English, Sidama, and Amharic.
• Fluency in English Amharic and local language – Sidamena is required.
• Computer literacy (MS Word, MS Excel).

Minimum Qualifications

• (6+) years of experience and a master degree OR the equivalent combination of education and experience.