Health Economist and Quality Improvement Officer Cordaid Zimbabwe

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 and Quality Improvement Officer to support the Result-based Financing program, broader health financing interventions including Bank’s engagement in the health system aspects as indicated below:-

Position:- HEALTH ECONOMIST

Reporting to:- CORDAID Country Director
Ministry of Health and Child Care – Principal Director- Policy, Planning M&E

Office:-Harare

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.

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

1. 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

(2)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, Public Health, or related field.
•Training in health economics and familiarity with health financing and economic analysis methodologies
•Knowledge of the Health Service Delivery System in Zimbawe
•Previous work experience with the Government of Zimbabwe is desirable
•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

Position:- Quality Improvement Officer

Reporting to:- Cordaid Country Director
Ministry of Health and Child Care – Director Quality Assurance

Office:-Harare

Purpose
The Quality Improvement Officer, will work on: (1) Results-based financing programme and (2) will provide technical assistance to the MOHCC on broader health system and quality assurance/quality improvement interventions This position serves as a technical member of the Cordaid team and of the Quality Assurance Department in the MoHCC and supports the RBF Quality Improvement activities.

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

1. Result –based financing programme

•Provides technical support to the quality component of the programme
•Supports Cordaid team to undertake analysis of sub-components of the quality checklists, develops and supports execution of a follow up action plan to strengthen health providers to improve quality of health care
•Contribute to periodic update of the QoC assessment tool and protocol (as needed) under the guidance of the QA Director
•Facilitate the training of provincial and district teams in QoC assessment using the new assessment tool
•In addition to the 18 districts funded by the World Bank, support operationalization of the pay-for-quality quality improvement model under phase 2 of the RBF project
•Train facilities in the implementation of the quality improvement model
•Work with Cordaid and HMIS staff from MOHCC to (i) maintain the database on QoC score and (ii) analyze QoC results to identify implementation bottlenecks (iii) provide QoC feedbacks to facilities and DHEs
•Promote the frequent use and exchange of results among Cordaid, the Government, and the World Bank for project monitoring and propose adjustment if necessary
•Support internal dissemination and use of results and evidence on quality of care aspects from the RBF within the MOHCC
•Support the MOHCC and the World Bank in undertaking analytical work on health systems and quality of care
•Work on other analytical products for the project as required

2. Support to the MoHCC on broader health system and financing aspects.

•Serve as a resource to strengthen quality improvement and RBF technical capacity in the MOHCC.
•Support the development and implementation of a national QoC Strategy
•Support the QA Director on overall coordination of quality improvement work in the health sector
•Support the reviews of the QoC Strategy providing evidence to the QA Director and senior MOHCC management on progress, bottlenecks and opportunities to further strengthen implementation of quality improvement interventions
•Work with the HMIS unit to develop high level quality indicators that can be routinely monitored at national level
•Support the MOHCC’s efforts to scale-up RBF nationwide including roll-out of the client tracer survey mechanism to strengthen patient-centered care
•Support and supervise health facilities implementing QA/QI
•Put in place an M&E system for QA/QI and coordinate submission of the data

Qualifications and Requirements
•A medical or health related qualification, registered with the appropriate Health Council
•Post graduate degree (Masters or PhD) in Public Health, or related field.
•Training in public health and familiarity with quality assurance and quality improvement methodologies
•Knowledge of the Health Delivery System in Zimbabwe
•Previous work experience with the Government of Zimbabwe at district and provincial levels in a senior technical capacity is desirable
•Excellent analytical and report-writing skills
•Excellent interpersonal and diplomatic skills
•Self-starter
•Relevant international exposure and an interest in public health preferred.
•Willing to travel in Zimbabwe as and when required

Mention the vacancy reference in subject line: – (e.g. Health Economist HEc001 – Harare and/or Quality Improvement Officer QIO001 – Harare) 

Application: Submit an application letter and extensive CV in English, including the full contact details of at least three professional referees, should be forwarded to hr.zimbabwe@cordaid.net before the end of day 24 January 2014.

A written test will constitute part of the interview process. 

Only shortlisted candidates shall be contacted.