Health Economist, Zimbabwe

HEALTH ECONOMIST

Introduction
The World Bank’s involvement in the health sector in Zimbabwe is through: (i) grant financing to the Government of Zimbabwe through a Result-Based Financing mechanism with Cordaid as the Project Implementing Agency; (ii) technical support to the Ministry of Finance in budget preparation and analysis; and to the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) in various mutually defined technical areas.

The Results-based financing (RBF) project was initiated in 2011 to support the country to improve technical, managerial and financial capacity to meet MDGs 4 and 5. The project provides performance-based incentives to health facilities to increase service utilization and quality of care on key MCH indicators. The initial evidence in 18 rural districts indicates that utilsation of MCH services and equity indicators have improved substantially.

Building on the success of the RBF program in the initial 18 rural districts, the Government has requested the World Bank to fund a pilot voucher scheme for low-income women in selected low-income urban Districts in Harare and Bulawayo. The urban pilot has been designed in collaboration with two ministries (i.e. Health and Labour) and Cordaid will serve as the implementing agency. This urban pilot combines both demand side and quality improvement interventions in urban health facilities.

Cordaid and the Ministry of Health and Child Care seek to recruit a suitably qualified Health Economist to support the Result-based Financing program, broader health financing interventions including Bank’s engagement in the health system aspects as indicated below.
Duty station: Harare, Zimbabwe

Purpose
The Health Economist will work on: (1) Results-based financing (RBF) project described above and (2) providing technical assistance to the MOHCC on broader health system and financing aspects.
The position serves as a key technical member of the Cordaid team and in the National RBF Management Team in the MOHCC.
The Health Economist will report to the CORDAID Country Director and the Ministry of Health and Child Care – Principal Director- Policy, Planning M&E

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities
The main duties and responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to:

Result –based financing project
• Support the management of the urban voucher component (responsibilities include, but are not limited to, monitoring of internal and external control measures of voucher scheme, out-of-pocket expenditure assessment etc);
• Perform costing and cost control aspects of the overall project (rural and urban components) in line with requirements of the World Bank grant for periodic reviews of RBF subsidy prices;
• Strengthen and support data analysis undertaken by the Cordaid team;
• Promote the frequent use and exchange of results among Cordaid, the Government, development partners and the Bank for project monitoring and propose adjustment if necessary;
• Support internal dissemination and use of results and evidence from the RBF within the MOHCC
• Support RBF in terms of expenditure trends and forecasting;
• Work in close collaboration with the MOHCC, the World Bank and other development partners on health financing work on RBF(demand-and supply-sides);
• Work on other analytical products for the MOHCC and the project as required.
Support to the MOHCC on broader health system and financing aspects
• Provide technical assistance to the MOHCC in support of efforts to institutionalize RBF and other promising health financing approaches as defined by MOHCC;
• Serve as a resource to strengthen health financing and RBF technical capacity in the MOHCC;
• Support work on national health accounts and other health sector expenditure reviews as defined by the MOHCC;
• Provide technical input into forecasting work by the MOHCC, costing of benefits packages etc;
• Serve as a key technical resource to the MOHCC in the development of health financing technical and policy briefs and documents to inform policy and management decision makingand strategy development;
• Work with the Government and the task team on various health financing aspects. This will include budget analysis, development of financing strategies (e.g. community based insurance), stakeholder consultations, evidence generation, analysis of data etc.;
• Provide inputs into regular stakeholder consultations (e.g. Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour, Zimstat, Cordaid, World Bank task team, health providers in the RBF project, TARSC, Development partners, etc.);
• Support the MOHCC’s efforts to scale-up RBF nationwide including analysis of national performance trends, and expenditures including from domestic co-financing.

Qualifications and Requirements
• Post graduate degree (Masters or PhD) in Economics, Public Policy, and Public Health;
• Minimum 5 years proven experience as Health Economist;
• Training in health economics and familiarity with health financing and economic analysis methodologies;
• Knowledge of the Health Service Delivery System in Southern region of Africa is an added advantage;
• Prior direct working experience in Ministries of Health or in providing technical support to Ministries of Health in Eastern and Southern Africa in health economics, health financing and strategy
development constitutes a distinct advantage;
• Excellent analytical and report-writing skills;
• Excellent interpersonal and diplomatic skills;
• Self-starter;
• Relevant international exposure and an interest in public health preferred;
• Previous World Bank experience a plus but not mandatory;
• Willing to travel in Zimbabwe as and when required.

Further information & how to apply
Applications including a motivation letter and extensive CV in English, including the contact details of at least three professional references, should be forwarded to hr.zimbabwe@cordaid.net before
26 February 2014 under reference of the vacancy number in the subject line (e.g. Health Economist HEc001 – Harare) Please note that only short-listed applicants will be contacted for this position

A written test will constitute part of the interview process.