Project Assistant / Health Financing Technical Specialist at ABT Associates

Req ID: 47281
 
Opportunity

• Abt Associates seeks a qualified Project Assistant / Health Financing Technical Specialist - Nigeria to support the International Health Division in Nigeria.
• The Abt led USAID-funded Health Finance and Governance project (HFG) provides technical assistance in over 30 countries of the world to support these countries as they strive to improve their health systems and ensure health gains are preserved. In Nigeria, HFG works in 5 states to fundamentally strengthen health systems in ways that benefit all health services by improving financing for health and enhancing governance for better health system management.
• In Rivers and Lagos states, HFG is working to strengthen health systems and boost health outcomes by supporting new and ongoing health financing activities that aim to increase domestic resources for the health sector generally and HIV/AIDS in particular. The project, Sustainable Financing Initiative (SFI), aims to deliver an AIDS-free generation through shared financial responsibility with partner state governments.
• HFG seeks a Health Financing Technical Specialist to work on the SFI project in Rivers State. S/He will work closely with the State Program coordinator and the HFG country office to provide technical contributions towards the implementation of HFG Nigeria health financing technical assistance at the state level. S/He shall also contribute to technical strategies and ensure that these effectively address priority needs in support of the health financing reforms in our states of operation. This position will report to the State Program Coordinator.

Key Roles and Responsibilities
Work closely with the State Program Coordinator (SPC) and the HFG country team to:

• Provide technical assistance towards successful implementation of SFI work plan activities in Rivers State;
• Support formation of health care financing technical working groups (TWGs) and provide start-up technical support towards optimal functioning of the TWGs in the state;
• Provide technical assistance and coordinate activities of consultants towards successful completion of health care financing core diagnostics and synthesis of evidence for decision making;
• Provide technical support towards the design of evidence-based and context-appropriate health care financing policy and strategy in the state;
• Engage relevant MDAs, private sector and CSOs to advocate for adequate allocation and release of funds to bridge HIV/AIDS response funding gaps in the Rivers State;
• Lead evidence-based advocacy and technical support towards inclusion of HIV/AIDS services in the benefit package of the state-supported health insurance scheme;
• Provide technical support towards passage of the state-supported health insurance scheme bill by the State House of Assembly;
• Represent HFG at health care financing fora including but not limited to health care financing TWGs and the state supported health insurance core implementation team;
• Contribute to documentation of HFG's health care financing lessons learned, success story and publishable articles;
• Write and submit detailed and good quality weekly and monthly activities report using agreed templates; and
• Participate in other project related activities as advised by the SPC.

Preferred Skills / Prerequisites

• Bachelor's Degree or Higher in Health Economics, Health Policy & Management, or Public Health with a health financing focus.
• Minimum of 3 years relevant experience and progressively increasing responsibility in the area of health care financing.
• Experience working with ministries of health and central budget MDAs and proven track record to effectively interact with these key actors.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and within a team.
• Demonstrated skill in quickly assessing priorities and opportunities and managing a variety of activities with attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact professionally with donor, project stakeholders, in-country collaborators and staff at all levels of the organization.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 4+ years of experience OR the equivalent combination of education and experience.

Salary
Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits