Regional Technical Advisor at Clinton Health Access Initiative

Overview

International Decision Support Initiaitve (iDSI) (www.idsihealth.org) is a global network of priority setting institutions, universities, think tanks and individuals that aim to support low and middle income countries with the difficult decisions related to priority setting as they move towards Universal Health Coverage. CHAI is among this group of core partners that also includes the Center for Global Development, the Global Health and Development Group at Imperial College London, the Asia HTA consortium which includes the National Health Foundation of Thailand, the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program (HITAP), the China National Health Development Research Center, KEMRI (Kenya Medical Research Institute), Wellcome Trust Programme, and the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

The Technical Advisor will be an integral part of the CHAI team and iDSI network, working on joint objectives of institutionalizing and capacity building for evidence-informed priority setting in LMIC health systems. The vision is that LMIC governments and payers enhance value for money in global health, leading to more equitable and sustainable and higher quality healthcare coverage, reduced financial impoverishment for households, better health and more lives saved.

Description and Responsibilities:

The Technical Advisor will be a key member of CHAI's health financing program, and will be central to the successful delivery of the International Decision Support Initiative (iDSI) Sub-Saharan Africa Program. Taking a leadership role on a range of activities, the role will involve technical assistance to governments, and the ability to communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders at national, regional and global levels. The Technical Advisor will bring relevant experience to provide technical, strategic and process management support to design and implementation of benefits planning and priority setting in Sub-Saharan countries.

This is a challenging, fast-paced and rewarding position. The Technical Advisor will be part of a small global health financing team responsible for building out a new priority initiative. The Advisor will be a critical link between iDSI partners working around the world and CHAI teams who are working on the ground with government partners in Sub-Saharan Africa. He or she will help CHAI teams embedded within or working closely with government identify and execute opportunities to bring in cross-country experts and practitioners from around the world to augment support for governments in the implementation of health financing reforms.

We are recruiting for two positions. One advisor will be based in Kenya focusing part of their time on Kenya's Universal Health Coverage Reform and another will be based in South Africa focusing part of their time on South Africa's phased National Health Insurance reform, working with CHAI's country teams. The remainder of their time will be working across countries including but not limited to Rwanda, Zambia, Ethiopia, Malawi and Eswatini. Throughout these engagements, he or she will work closely with CHAI teams and iDSI to support regional knowledge sharing and engage regional and global stakeholders.

The Advisor will report to a senior manager at CHAI and work closely under a senior manager at Imperial College, the Secretariat of iDSI.

The ability to support generation of technical output and translate findings into pragmatic policy recommendations, as well as connect government and non-governmental stakeholders, will be central to the success of the technical advisor role. Work will be carried out in close collaboration with CHAI teams in country and experts within the broader iDSI network.

Responsibilities

• Respond to government requests by defining and carrying out technical assistance projects on priority setting and benefits package design. This includes providing strategic and technical input, as well as training and quality assurance.
• Develop situational analyses, including capacity assessment and stakeholder mapping of priority setting and Health Technology Assessment, to inform support to governments on benefits package design. This includes assessing and meeting with partners to be involved locally, regionally and internationally in the medium term to long-term.
• Produce tailored guidance for local priority setting processes. Work with iDSI partners to apply research, approaches and tools used in other countries and support adaptation of lessons to new contexts. Work with CHAI country teams to ensure institutionalization of new tools and processes.
• Identify and develop medium-term scopes of work to address key policy issues in specific countries. As needed work with CHAI and iDSI managers to fundraise to meet these needs.
• Support joint regional learning between governments. This includes sharing examples of work across countries, connecting policymakers, and working with iDSI consultants and partners to engage with regional and global platforms, communities and institutions.
• Collaborate and share work with global, regional and national stakeholders and donors, including through presentations at regional and global meetings and conferences.
• Assess demand from governments for a regional network for health technology assessment, working closely with iDSI consultants and partners.
• Explore innovative financing strategies to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage by governments.
• Stay abreast of key global trends and research.
• Other responsibilities as requested by manager.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 5-7 years of experience, including experience working in LMICs and with government. Experience working on evidence-based priority setting or public financing is an advantage, including ideally some experience in the role of Health Technology Assessment;
• Experience working in Sub-Saharan Africa and existing relationships with relevant regional stakeholders is an advantage;
• Advanced degree in a relevant field preferred (health economics, public health, public policy, economics or other relevant disciplines);
• Ability to navigate partners and build new relationships, including strong interpersonal skills and proven ability to build relationships in a multicultural environment;
• Ability to bring a coalition of government and non-government stakeholders together to support a policy objective;
• Project management experience, including program design and execution as well as monitoring and evaluation, an advantage;
• Strong strategic and problem solving skills, including excellent analytical and quantitative skills, and attention to detail;
• Strong writer, facilitator and oral communicator able to explain complex concepts to a variety of audiences;
• Ability to work independently and to self-motivate and propose new initiatives;
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and quickly adapt to changing priorities;
• Ability to navigate ambiguous and complex processes and be flexible;
• Strong communication skills, including delivery of compelling presentations and documents.
• Full proficiency of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint;
• Willingness to travel 50-60%; and
• English fluency.