Health Systems Strengthening for Universal Health Coverage

( 2402163 )

Grade : No grade

Contractual Arrangement : Special Services Agreement (SSA)

Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days) : 9 months

Job Posting: Mar 6, 2024, 2:37:48 PM

.1 . Area of expertise :

A health systems, health policy, health planning and management, health financing, health economics or relevant social science from a recognized university

2. Purpose of consultancy :

Provide technical support to the Government in scaling up the capacity of the Ministry of Health, at all levels, to address the health systems priorities as pertains to health systems strengthening for service delivery, healthcare financing, partnerships, and human resources for health in Sierra Leone.

3. Background

World Health Organization’s Triple Billion targets are an ambitious initiative to promote, provide and protect the health of billions of people in consonance with the SDGs: Strong, resilient, sustainable health systems are integral to delivering the triple goals of One billion more people benefit from universal health coverage; one billion more people are better protected from health emergencies, and One billion more people are enjoying better health and wellbeing.

The Universal Health Life Course (ULC) Cluster of the WHO country office continues to support the Ministry of Health of Sierra Leone in its desire to implement activities leading to UHC. Sierra Leone has developed UHC Roadmap which was reflected in its National Health Policy and its National Health Sector Strategic Plan and other sector strategic documents. ULC Cluster contributes to taking forward the vision of, and the thematic priorities in the national strategic document leading to the attainment of UHC. WHO supports MOH with high quality advice and technical assistance on health financing, health workforce, medical products, quality and safety, law and governance, partnerships and coordination, women and children, and health services including primary health care so that they can build resilient, responsive and sustainable health systems.

4. Deliverables:

Under the overall guidance of the WHO Representative, and supervision by the ULC Cluster Coordinator and Health Systems and Services (HSS) Team Lead, the incumbent will carry out the following duties: Provide support to the ULC Coordinator and HSS Team Lead in advising the Government in developing evidence-informed policy options that aim to achieve universal health coverage, primary health care, financing, human resource capacity, equitable access to and quality of services, and the information and evidence- based;

Assist the ULC Coordinator in building government technical capacity to ensure integrated service delivery as related to public health and disease programmes in order to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) and the sustainable development goals (SDGs);

Assist the ULC Coordinator in supporting sectoral partnerships for comprehensive planning, analysis and effective policy dialogue through support to country planning processes, sector reform and other means of sector-wide coordination;

Support the coordination and advocacy for health systems issues on UHC and health-related SDGs with UN agencies, donors and other development partners in the country, including WHO inputs to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and its implementation, and promote the development and implementation of UN joint programmes;

Work with the ULC Cluster in developing and effectively implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and WHO programme budget and liaise with other teams within the WHO Country Office to ensure effective cross-team working on issues of joint priority;

Collaborate with the WHO Regional Office for Africa and Headquarters and support global and regional initiatives through joint planning and missions with a specific focus on the development and implementation of health systems priorities including to contribute to the Organization’s vision of having 1 billion more people with essential health services coverage; 1 billion more people made safer; and 1 billion lives improved, and

Any other duties assigned.

5. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Education

Essential: Postgraduate degree (master's equivalent) in public health particularly on health systems, health policy, health planning and management, health financing, health economics or relevant social science from a recognized university.

Desirable: Training in public policy, development studies, health service development, health financing, health policy and management, programme evaluation.

Work experience

Essential : Essential: Minimum of Five (5) years' experience in health systems, health policy and planning development or public health programme management and coordination with relevant experience in a resource limited settings.

Desirable: Experience from a national level organization or other international organization or bilateral development partner or nongovernmental organizations. Working knowledge of WHO system or another UN agency in relevant areas is an added advantage.

Skills/Knowledge:

Functional Skills and Knowledge: Health planning at operational, subnational, and national levels, with political and technical elements;

Capacity-building through multiple methods, including training, mentoring and example setting;

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Expert):

Essential: Excellent knowledge of English.

Desirable: Working knowledge of French or another WHO official language would be an asset.

6. Location:

c/o World Health Organization, Sierra Leone, 21 A&B Riverside Drive, off King Harman Road

P.O. Box 529 Brookfields, Freetown, Sierra Leone

7. Travel

The candidate will travel to area of work in Sierra Leone.

8. Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

The duration of this position is up to 31^st December 2024. Remuneration will be at applicable fees as per the World Health Organization scale.

a. Living expenses No living Expenses.

Closing date: Wednesday, 20 March 2024

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