---

Organization: World Bank Group

Job Time: Full-Time

Job Type: Contract

Place of Work: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Application Deadline: May, 10/2022 

---

 

Job #: req17267

Organization: World Bank

Sector: Health/Nutrition/Population

Grade: GG

Term Duration: 3 years 0 months

Recruitment Type: International Recruitment

Required Language(s): English

 

Job Description

 

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org.

HEALTH, NUTRITION AND POPULATION (HNP) GLOBAL PRACTICE CONTEXT

The central contribution of the HNP Global Practice to the World Bank’s twin goals is to enable the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), in which all people are effectively covered by essential health services, and nobody suffers undue financial hardship because of illnesses. The HNP Global Practice includes staff members in Washington, DC and many country offices. The HNP Global Practice works with and across multiple sectors, in recognition of the fact that HNP outcomes often depend on actions that lie outside the HNP sector. The HNP Global Practice supports country and regional efforts to:

(i) improve health outcomes, especially for the poor and most vulnerable;

(ii) expand access to high-quality HNP services, interventions and technologies that give the most value for money;

(iii) strengthen health systems for results;

(iv) establish and improve health financing mechanisms that promote efficiency, equity and sustainability of investments;

(v) strengthen heath-relevant institutions within and outside the health sector;

(vi) harness multisectoral policies and investments for better health outcomes; and

(vii) develop and learn from rigorous impact evaluations.

AFRICA REGION CONTEXT

Africa has registered strong economic growth in recent years that has helped to reduce poverty levels in the continent. Yet, as Africa’s population expands, the region faces a critical challenge of creating the foundations for long-term inclusive growth. Many countries still contend with high levels of child and maternal mortality, malnutrition is far too common, and most health systems are not able to deal effectively with epidemics and the growing burden of chronic diseases. These challenges call for renewed commitments and accelerated progress toward UHC – the principle that everyone receives needed health services without financial hardship.

Most African countries have integrated UHC as a goal in their national health strategies. Yet, progress in translating commitments to UHC into expanded domestic resources for health, effective development assistance, and ultimately, equitable and quality health services, and increased financial protection has been slow. To accelerate progress toward UHC in Africa, the countries will require political leadership and a clear strategic vision to achieve their UHC targets and to be able to eliminate preventable maternal and child deaths, strengthen resilience to public health emergencies, reduce financial hardship linked to illness, and strengthen the foundations for long-term economic growth.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted Africa’s major weaknesses in public health, including disease surveillance and diagnostics, as well as in health service delivery in terms of both access and quality of care. The World Bank has taken fast action to help African countries strengthen their pandemic response and health care systems and is now stepping up its support on vaccine purchase and deployment. The World Bank’s response across the region is focused around four main areas simultaneously:?saving lives, protecting poor people, protecting and creating jobs, and building back better.

HAEH1 UNIT

The post will be within the HAEH1 unit. The HNP team covers three Country management Units. (CMUs). These are based in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Mozambique. Collectively they cover thirteen countries, and are responsible for a large program of operational and analytic work. The unit is looking for a Senior Health Economist with strong operational experience to be based in Ethiopia.

Duties and Accountabilities:

We are looking to hire a Senior Health Economist to work on the Ethiopia CMU portfolio, which covers Ethiopia, Sudan and South Sudan, and as needed, work in other CMUs and other Africa regional analytical and advisory activities. The staff member will report to the HNP Practice manager for the East Africa region and will be responsible for:

• Developing and leading key analytical and advisory engagements (specific areas under themes of health financing, service delivery, resilience) including production of knowledge pieces, supporting relevant dissemination, policy dialogue and capacity-building activities (e.g., workshops, seminars);
• Sharing new insights and global knowledge on relevant HNP topics based on in-depth understanding of the local country context, including adapting recommendations and solutions to client needs;
• Leading and/or contributing to policy dialogue with government counterparts and other relevant stakeholders;
• Collaborating with and supporting the HD Practice Leader, the HNP cluster lead, task teams and CMU with relevant analysis, peer review, advice and policy guidance related to all HNP issues;
• Expanding the resources available for analytical and advisory work through mobilization of financial resources, identifying experts and building a consultant network;
• Providing guidance and technical support to other HNP team members on core analytics (such as public expenditure reviews, economic and financial analysis);
• Contributing to sector-specific or cross-sectoral inputs for various operational products/outputs (e.g. sector/country briefings, background reports, portfolio performance reviews, etc.); and
• Responding to ad hoc information requests from GP management, region, CMU, government counterparts, and other internal and external parties.
• Supporting the Unit’s briefs, blogs, strategy documents, and papers on critical HNP issues for both internal and external audiences
• Helping the team with build and maintain partnerships and networks within the Bank (in HNP as well as other sectors) and with external development partners and think-tanks;

Job Requirements

 

Selection Criteria

• A Master’s degree or higher in economics, health economics and the equivalent 8 to 10 years of relevant professional experience with health financing, and or health service delivery projects is required.
• A proven track record of high standards/accountability for work products, meeting deadlines, an ability to prioritize tasks within their work program and strategies for working collectively with colleagues on the team to deliver products of the highest caliber.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, and rapidly analyze diverse information from varied sources.
• Excellent oral and written communications skills is essential with the ability to prepare documents on complex subjects, speak and write persuasively, and present ideas clearly and concisely.
• Demonstrated ability for collaboration in a multicultural environment.
• Experience working on WBG-funded projects and familiarity with WBG operations, policies, and procedures is an advantages.
• Prior work experience in Africa is an advantage.

In addition to the above, the selected candidate is expected to demonstrate the following WBG core competencies:

• Integrative Skills – Understands core issues and knows where to get additional expertise when needed.
• Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena – Understands policy-making process and role of the health sector in that process. Is able to find relevant information and examine similar policy questions in multiple regions and distill operationally relevant recommendations and lessons from this analysis for clients.
• Policy Dialogue Skills – Identifies and assesses policy issues and communicates findings/points of view verbally and through economic reports and papers. Plays an active role in the dialogue with the government and/or other stakeholders as part of Bank teams.
• Client Orientation – Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and provides evidence-based advice and solutions based on sound diagnosis and knowledge.
• Drive for Results – Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables.
• Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion – Shows leadership in ensuring the team stays organized and focused, and actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches.

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

 

---