Background:

 Amref Health Africa was founded in 1957 and has since grown to become the largest African-based international health development organization, currently implementing more than 150 programs which directly reach more than 20 million people across 35 countries in Africa. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, Amref has fully-fledged offices in Ethiopia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Senegal, South Sudan, and Zambia; eleven advocacy and fundraising offices in Europe and North America; and a staff complement of over 1,500.

 The Ethiopia Country office is registered in 2002 and operational for more than two decades. Currently, we are operational in all regions of Ethiopia with more than 300 staffs and wide portfolio of PHC, RMNCAYH-N, Youth Development, WASH and DPC including NTDs.

Our vision is to bring about ‘Lasting health change in Africa’, by supporting Ethiopia’s vision of healthy, productive and prosperous society.  We believe that the power to transform Africa's health lies within its communities, and therefore strive to ensure that health systems are not only functional but that communities are empowered to hold these systems accountable for the delivery of quality and affordable health care.

 About Integrated Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) Project

Integrated Health System Strengthening Project is a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) investment co-designed with Amref Health Africa and MOH to support the design and implementation of a platform mechanism/s for health systems strengthening for primary health care (PHC) in Ethiopia. The focus of this investment is primarily at the subnational level (regional and district) with links to national efforts. The design will focus on integration of key HSS pillars – e.g., Human Resources for Health (HRH), Health Care Financing (HCF), Data, and Leadership and Governance – to support PHC administrators and managers toward optimizing health systems for improved service delivery. 

Job Purpose:

The Health Care Financing (HCF) expert advisor, under the supervision of the IHSS Technical Director and in close coordination with Regional Health Bureaus (RHBs), will provide strategic direction and technical support to serve as a lead resource (with deep understanding and knowledge) in the area of HCF in the 50 woredas across the five IHSS Regions. S/he will be the powerhouse for IHSS HCF domain and Amref Health Africa. S/he reports directly to the IHSS Technical Director. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the ideation, identification and prioritization of evidence based HCF interventions at the 15 woredas and the health economic evaluations and feasibility of tested interventions and packaging them for scale up in additional 35 woredas in the five IHSS regions.

• Assist in strengthening the capacity for implementing HCF reform at the RHBs, Woreda and health facility levels by conducting timely capacity gap assessments.

• Assist in networking with other relevant stakeholders (Government, NGOs, CSOs, private sector) in areas of business-related practices, as well as in coordinating other staff in organizing and conducting training, research, public-private partnerships, and the implementation of HCF reforms.

• Participate in the development of planning and budgeting training modules for Woreda and health facilities staff and management.

• Provide technical assistance in assessing feasibility, designing implementation arrangements, management and follow-up of complementary health financing initiatives at the federal, regional and Woreda levels.

• Conduct National Health Account (including triangulation with other sources) further analyses and generate insights for project leaders and Amref Health Africa and policy makers

• Provide technical expertise to RHBs in producing advocacy tools for increased resource allocation and utilization in the health sector.

• Collaborate in the preparation of health finance related working papers and articles, and disseminate results at various forums and lead publications in local and international journals.

• Conduct periodic diagnostic assessments, monitoring, and evaluation of HCF reforms.

• Facilitate health financing policy dialogue with government stakeholders.

• Identify and respond to project needs for technical expertise on health financing topics; advise on technical questions and/or solicit and coordinate advising from technical staff and external consultants

• Describe technical elements of project work clearly and compellingly to external audiences.

• Supervise mid-level technical staff to achieve project milestones within the anticipated project timeline.

• Ensure high quality of all major deliverables and work products. Oversee preparation of draft progress summaries, policy briefs, and technical reports as requested.

• Perform other related duties as required by the IHSS Technical Director.

Job Requirements

Academic Qualification:

•  Maters or PhD degree in a relevant field (health economics, public health, public/social policy, business or similar)

 Required Expectancies:

•  Strong skills in project technical workstreams and activities in relevant areas, such as:

•             o   Health financing

              o   Health economics

               o   Domestic resource mobilization

               o   Health insurance (social health insurance, community-based health insurance)

               o   Financial protection

               o   Public financial management

               o   Economic evaluation methods

• Well organized, results focused, creative, innovative and flexible

• Ability to build and work with networks

Required Experience:

• 7+ years relevant work experience in health financing, health insurance, or health system strengthening in Ethiopia or a similar context.

• Familiarity with health financing principles and best practices

• Deep understanding and knowledge of healthcare financing strategies, challenges, and opportunities in the Ethiopian context.

• Experience working in/with public or private sector health financing organizations desirable.

• Strong facilitation, problem-solving, and stakeholder engagement skills

• Structured thinker with excellent analytic and problem-solving skills

• Strong writer and oral communicator who can lead the production and publications of highly professional work products, both in local and international arena.

• Experienced team leader with highly collaborative mindset. Passionate about working on the ground with frequent encounter with woredas and health facility teams with more challenges compounded by limited resources.

• Ability to prioritize and manage activities in frequently-changing environment and adapt to complex nature of working with local counterparts with high turnover leadership, scarce resources and limited motivation of staff.

• Demonstrated track record in building partnerships with government health agencies, donors, and other key health stakeholders including at sub national level.

• Skill to be highly composed at times of multiple actions at a time, attention to detail, professionalism, and reliability.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including demonstrated ability to effectively facilitate high-level meetings; prepare clear and concise briefs, presentations, and reports.

• Strong interpersonal and capacity building skills, including training, mentoring and coaching skills.

How to Apply

• Interested applicants please visit our website CLIK HERE to submit your application. You will be directed to our online portal where you will need to create an account in order for you to be able to submit your application. Your application should include quoting HCF Senior Expert Advisor/I-HSS in the subject line of a cover letter, detailing why you are the best fit for this position, and your CV with relevant skills and experience. Closing date will be January 15, 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

• If you face any challenge applying on our website contact us at  ETrecruitment@Amref.org.

• Duly note that Amref Health Africa does not require applicants to pay any money at whatever stage of the recruitment and selection process and has not retained any agent in connection with recruitment. Amref Health Africa is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Amref Health Africa is an equal opportunity employer and has a non-smoking environment policy.