Team leader – Health Financing Program at Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute

Context
In the framework of the German Financial Cooperation with Kenya, a project was developed to contribute to establishing equitable access to affordable, quality health care and strengthening the national health insurance system through improved access to health insurance for poorer informal sector households.
The project will be implemented in up to 10 counties, which will be selected on the basis of an open call for proposals. The team leader will specifically support the Ministry of Health (MoH) in organizing the submission of the call for proposals to the counties and the evaluation of results. 
  
The main tasks would include:

• Overall responsibility for project steering and management of technical assistance team
• Representing the project towards the MoH, the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and counties on all technical and managerial issues and ensure effective communication and exchange with all stakeholders 
• Ensuring timely appropriate quarterly progress reports and manage project implementation supported by appropriate monitoring and Evaluation

Support of Technical Implementation Aspects (Phase I)

• Support the selection process of the counties participating in the project including development of and signing of Memoranda of Understanding with them in consultation with MoH and NHIF
• Development of implementation options and detailed design and implementation concept to cover low income informal sector households in the selected counties with a health protection scheme
• Provide costing information and strengthen NHIF actuarial analysis function for effective strategic purchasing of essential packages of health
• Support NHIF in defining the mix of contributions to the premiums, reimbursement procedures, contracts with accredited providers, and all required information campaigns ready for implementation
• Supervise a baseline survey (including ICT) to be conducted at the beginning of the assignment
• Strengthen NHIF’s capacities (data management, actuarial, strategic purchasing of health services) including optimisation of existing IT systems and infrastructure

Phase II
A second phase is foreseen upon successful completion of Phase I with a direct award to the Phase I implementing consultants. The Terms of Reference for Phase II will include but not be limited to:

• Support the implementation of the project including financial management (and management of the disposition account), supervision of contracts progress reporting etc.
• Implementation of smaller studies and surveys (initial baseline indicator study, customer satisfaction, target group analysis amongst others), support in contracting out of mid- and end-term evaluation, general advisory services, capacity development of NHIF and MOH at national and county Levels.

Qualifications you should have:

• Post-graduate degree in either health economics, social science, project management, actuarial science, finance or related field
• Proven experience with the implementation of similar projects (e.g. health financing, health insurance development, Universal Health Coverage) and the administration of large budgets.
• Demonstrated working experience with the Kenyan healthcare system in general, and the National Hospital Insurance Fund and/or the Ministry of Health specifically
• Excellent interpersonal skills required for high level engagement with ministries, departments and agencies, development partners and other stakeholders
• Good writing and presentation skills, and ability to communicate effectively to diverse audiences
• Familiarity with KfW project implementation including the management of large disposition funds

To best fit in the position we expect strong spirit of leadership, team work and initiative, and ability to work with professionals in multi-cultural context. 
  
We would aim to have the successful candidate in place from January 2018. 
  
The position would have a duration of at least 18 months (Phase I) with a foreseen second phase (duration not yet clear) upon successful completion of Phase I. 
The Team Leader will be based in Nairobi with frequent travels to counties throughout the country.