National Consultant - Policy Intervention (PVAC) at UNICEF

Background

• The Policy Intervention Lead will drive PVAC's mission to build a robust, supportive environment that enables the sustainable development of the Nigerian healthcare sector.
• This role is crucial for addressing regulatory, financial, and operational barriers faced by healthcare stakeholders and promoting cross-sector partnerships that strengthen healthcare services delivery in Nigeria. Given the complexity and strategic importance of this role, it requires a high-level professional with extensive experience in healthcare ecosystem development, policy advocacy, and stakeholder engagement.

How can you make a difference?
Main Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Strategy Development: Formulate and implement a comprehensive ecosystem enablement strategy targeting key priorities, including regulatory improvement, policy advocacy, talent development, R&D, and access to financing for the healthcare sector.
• Regulatory Advocacy: Lead efforts to engage with Nigerian healthcare regulatory bodies, advocating for policies that foster innovation, enhance accessibility to healthcare services, and improve the sector's investment climate.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Cultivate collaborative relationships across the healthcare value chain, including government entities, private healthcare providers, academia, and industry leaders, to foster alignment on key initiatives.
• Program Development & Oversight: Oversee the design and rollout of programs that address workforce development, R&D advancements, and operational support for healthcare organizations, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities.
• Trend Analysis and Strategic Insights: Monitor sector trends and identify challenges impacting Nigeria’s healthcare landscape, proposing solutions and actionable strategies to mitigate these issues.
• Team Leadership: Manage a team of specialists responsible for identifying and mitigating regulatory and operational challenges within Nigeria's healthcare ecosystem.
• Budget Management: Ensure effective management of the unit’s budget and resources, optimizing expenditures to maximize impact.

Work Assignments

• Develop a strategic framework for collaboration between PVAC and key stakeholders to advance locally relevant healthcare product R&D.
  • Deliverable/Output: Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration Strategy Document.
• Develop a comprehensive roadmap for regulatory improvement and capacity building to support local healthcare product manufacturing.
  • Deliverable/Output: Needs Assessment Report and Capacity Building Program Proposal.
• Develop a proposal for aligning PVAC initiatives with development partners' health programs in Nigeria.
  • Deliverable/Output: Partnership Proposal Document and Collaboration Plan.
• Prepare briefings for stakeholders on PVAC's healthcare initiatives.
  • Deliverable/Output: Briefing and Engagement Strategy Document.
• Identify areas for alignment on technology transfer with relevant stakeholders.
  • Deliverable/Output: Technology Transfer Opportunities Proposal.
• Develop a strategic plan to secure financial commitment from key Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) to support PVAC programs.
  • Deliverable/Output: DFIs Engagement and Strategy Document.
• Enhance Nigeria’s domestic manufacturing ecosystem for specific disease control technologies, diagnostics, and therapeutics.
  • Deliverable/Output: Strategic Ecosystem Development Plans for key diseases.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• A master’s degree in Public Health, Healthcare Management, or a related field.
• A minimum of four (4) years of experience in the Nigerian healthcare sector, with a proven track record in ecosystem enablement, policy advocacy, and stakeholder engagement.
• Demonstrated expertise in leading teams, formulating strategic initiatives, and influencing policy and regulatory changes.
• Strong abilities in negotiation and relationship-building with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Skilled in leading, managing, and motivating a high-performing team.
• Capability to assess complex regulatory and operational challenges and develop strategic solutions.
• Ability to manage and optimize budgetary resources.
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment and handle evolving priorities.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency contexts is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.