Senior Health Economist at The Health Strategy and Delivery Foundation (HSDF)

ROLE PURPOSE

The Senior Health Economist will play a pivotal role in providing the technical expertise in project technical activities, contributing to the increased efficiency of health expenditure, mobilizing additional resources by expanding the fiscal space for domestic financing, utilizing mixed health systems approaches to increase collaboration among the relevant stakeholders and advancing the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) implementation. The Senior Health Economist will have expertise in one or more aspects of health financing, strategic purchasing, and public financial management (PFM), including health insurance, domestic resource mobilization, and performance-based financing. Furthermore, a deep understanding of the health system in Nigeria, both at the national and sub-national level, is essential.

• The Senior Health Economist will act as a strategic advisor to the relevant government counterparts in all reforms and policy considerations related to health financing in the project. Responsibilities include leading and ensuring technical quality assurance for the relevant knowledge products and deliverables; contributing to strategic thinking for the project; and offering coaching and mentoring to government counterparts to institutionalize improvements in health financing capacity.
• S/he will be accountable for project deliverables, results, implementation, and ongoing monitoring of the project activities related to health financing, including fulfillment of technical strategy and vision, effective project and people management, comprehensive documentation, and reporting, and fostering stakeholder relationships related to health financing.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide strategic guidance on health financing initiatives within the project activities and oversee project technical workstreams and activities in areas such as health financing, strategic health purchasing, public financial management, research, advocacy, and technical assistance.
• S/he will develop and nurture working relationships with senior level government leadership
• Collaborate with the chief of party and team to develop and implement health financing strategies aligned with USAID requirements.
• Strengthen the capacity of national and sub-national government stakeholders to provide oversight of and effectively engage with local government health teams on health care financing, particularly on the implementation of NHIA, public financial management, and financing of primary health care, commodities and supplies.
• Strengthen the capacity of local partner institutions on health financing, NHIA, PFM, and related areas.
• Provide technical support to the Ministries and health teams to apply strategic purchasing principles to incentivize providers to improve the quality of care
• Collect, collate, and analyze routine data on selected indicators to inform the development of appropriate health financing interventions related to NHIA, public financial management, and financing of primary health care, access to commodities and supplies.
• Support Ministry/sub-national-level monitoring, evaluation, learning, and reporting activities on health financing and strategic purchasing, including technical and operational oversight of regional referral hospital and/or local government-level facilities.
• Develop and ensure high-quality of all major deliverables and work products such as reports, briefs, summaries, presentations, and other documents in a timely manner as expected.
• Document and disseminate learning products on health financing and strategic purchasing to different stakeholders to inform policy. Use the learnings and emerging evidence to co-create sustainable health financing solutions with Ministry and LGAs.
• Lead a team or support/supervise analytical work and economic analysis in areas potentially including but not limited to fiscal analysis, service costing, cost-effectiveness analysis, equity analyses, national health accounts, health insurance, and strategic purchasing, and the development of health financing reforms, policies, and plans.
• Supervise mid-level technical staff to achieve project milestones within the anticipated project timeline.
• Work in a facilitative manner with national counterparts from government, civil society, and other stakeholders, to support local leadership, decision-making, and capacity strengthening.

QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

• The requirements listed below are representatives of the knowledge, skills and/or ability required to successfully perform this job:

Experience/Expertise

• Masters degree in health economics, public health, business, or other relevant field
• Excellent command/proficiency in English
• 10+ years relevant work experience in health financing, health insurance, or health system strengthening in Nigeria or similar context
• Familiar with health financing principles and best practices
• Understanding and breadth of knowledge of healthcare financing strategies, challenges, and opportunities within the Nigerian context
• Demonstrated ability to engage effectively with external strategic partners, donors, government ministries, and stakeholders
• Strong facilitation, problem solving, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Eagerness to support and mentor junior staff and peers
• Ability to produce new evidence and translate evidence into policies
• Outstanding cross-cultural communication skills, including the ability to relate respectfully with staff at all levels, ages, genders, nationalities, and orientations and across work areas.
• Excellent research and analytic skills, communication skills (verbal, written, and presentation)
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work both independently and as a member of a team and to handle multiple priorities is required.
• Experience working with implementing partners at international, regional and national levels.
• In-depth knowledge of USAID approaches and regulations
• Strong interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to lead and work effectively in team situations.
• Proven ability to complete projects according to outlined scope, budget, and timeline.
• Preferred: Strong, existing relationships with the Government of Nigeria and/or Nigeria Ministry of Health and USAID.