Healthcare Financing Specialist

Background

Since the endorsement of the Health Care Financing Strategy in 1998, there have been positive changes in health outcomes and health financing mechanisms in Ethiopia. The health expenditures per capita have increased from US$4 (1996) to more than US$35 (2020). Significant financial resources for health have been generated from international development partners, government, and households. Community-based health insurance has been launched in most woredas, and efforts are underway to launch a social health insurance scheme. The Strategic Affairs Lead Executive Office (SA LEO) in the Ministry of Health (MoH) coordinates the task of financial resource mobilization and evidence generation that inform policy decisions.  

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH) has been contributing to the development of Ethiopia’s primary care system for the last several years through implementation of the HEPCAPS I, HEPCAPS II and Resource Tracking and Management (RTM) projects, which concluded on November 30, 2015, and through Fenot – Achieving Excellence in Primary Health Care project and currently through Fenot 2.0 project.  The Fenot 2.0 project will be implemented over four years, from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2027.

In the Health Sector Investment Plan, Ethiopia aims to increase resource mobilization from domestic sources and reduce out-of-pocket spending. The health system also seeks to improve the efficiency of utilizing existing resources. Fenot has been supporting MoH, particularly SA LEO and the HCF units preceding the SA LEO and, more recently, the minister's office, in providing technical support and evidence for decision-making to help the ministry make a strong case for increased health budgets. Fenot assists the health system by strengthening capacities to advocate for more domestic resources and improve resource allocation, utilization, productivity, as well as equity. The Fenot project seeks to help build health financing and economics analytical capacity at MoH and RHBs, and improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of health financing at different levels of the health system.

Objective/purpose of the HCF Specialist position
The objective of this role is to provide Fenot with the technical and analytic support required to undertake some of the key HCF activities outlined below.

Scope of Work

Posted at Fenot office and supporting MoH and/or selected RHBs, the HCF Specialist will be expected to engage in the following activities:

•    Provide technical support to the Strategic Affairs LEO-MoH, to support key HCF activities prioritized by MoH and the Fenot project.
•    Support efficiency analyses of primary health care (PHC) system as well as perform additional analyses using data from the DHIS2, National and Regional Health Accounts and other relevant datasets.
•    Provide technical inputs in the regional health accounts and their utilization for decisions.
•    Provide technical inputs on fiscal space analyses for health, including providing technical support for SA LEO and selected RHBs to define the scope, methodology, and timeframe of the financial equity analysis for health.
•    Provide technical support on CBHI data analysis 
•    Support efficiency analyses and efficiency improvement activities
•    Support the ministry and selected RHBs in HCF capacity building and provide inputs where Fenot can specifically support the capacity-building activities. 
•    Support tailored capacity building on health economics and health financing of the HEFA team in SA LEO as well as other HCF personnel in the health system - in collaboration with relevant Fenot team members and other partners. 
•    Contribute to HCF evidence-generation activities and the use of evidence to improve health financing decisions and health system performances.
•    Contribute to the equity improvement initiatives that Fenot planned to undertake in the region, including improving the targeting of the premium subsidy program.
•    Contribute to the study of improving higher-level CBHI risk pooling in the region.
•    Support any other HCF priority areas of work identified by Fenot or SA LEO.
 

Salary: Negotiable 

Duration of Contract: The HCF specialist will be offered a one-year contract with the possibility of an extension. 

Workplace: The HCF Specialist will be stationed at the Strategic Affairs LEO-MOH (60%) and the Fenot office (40%) in Addis Ababa. 

Reporting line

The holder of this position will report directly to the Fenot’s Deputy Director for Health Financing and indirectly to the Fenot Project Director as well as the Principal Investigator. 

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must have the following minimum qualifications and competencies: 

• An advanced university degree (master’s degree or above) in health economics, health financing, or closely related fields. Advanced degrees in Public Health or Health Systems with extensive experience in Health Financing and Health Economics may also be considered.
• While qualified applicants from anywhere can apply, this position is primarily for Ethiopian applicants and qualified women are particularly encouraged to apply. 

How To Apply

Qualified individuals can submit their applications (cover letter, CV, and copies of their credentials) to fenotjob@abhpartners.com before July 31, 2024.