Organization Overview

The International Development Division focuses on improving the lives and economic well-being of people in lower and middle-income countries. We command technical expertise in health, agriculture, climate change, food security and governance—as well as in international evaluation. Our multi-layered health portfolio includes policy, health promotion and disease prevention, health finance, and health systems management. In partnership with government clients and local experts, our high-quality programs in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East are known for impact and innovation.

Opportunity

The USAID-funded Health Financing Improvement Program seeks to strengthen the health financing functions and systems to support universal health coverage of quality primary health care (PHC) services for Ethiopian citizens. Project objectives include increasing domestic resource mobilization for enhanced provision of quality PHC services, streamlining pooling of risk-sharing/insurance mechanisms for wider access to PHC services with reduced financial barriers, facilitating strategic purchasing of health services from public and private health providers, and improving governance, management and evidence-generation for health financing reforms and health facilities.

Under the leadership and guidance of the SNNP and Gambella Regional Team Director, the Health Care Finance Specialist for the Wolkite Satellite Office is primarily responsible for technically supporting the capacity building, institutionalization and transition of health financing reforms to several zones of the SNNP region, as stipulated in project intermediate result (IR) 1. S/he is also involved in work conducted under other project IRs, such as institutionalizing tools and skills for periodic user fees revision; provider payment mechanisms (PPMs); and contributing to research conducted in the region. The position is based in Wolkite, with local travel as required.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• Under the guidance of the SNNP and Gambella Regional Team Director, assist in implementing health finance and governance activities in several zones of the SNNP region
• Coordinate and participate in capacity building, institutionalization, and transition of health finance and governance systems and capabilities in the region. Includes provision of technical support to health care finance teams/focal persons
• Contribute to training and the refinement of training manuals in health care finance, governance, private wing, and outsourcing of clinical services by public hospitals in the zones
• Participate in supportive supervision in collaboration with relevant stakeholders using updated checklists
• Coordinate and facilitate implementation of quality improvement and quality assurance interventions in collaboration with project staff and government counterparts
• Participate in the design and implementation of PPMs that support the provision of quality and affordable health care services to citizens
• Facilitate use/application and institutionalization of periodic user fees revision tools
• Facilitate networking amongst stakeholders engaged in health finance and governance in the region
• Provide technical support on the use of evidence for policy process/decision-making by government and its stakeholders in the region
• Produce high-quality and timely inputs for monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) and implementation plans, quarterly/annual/final performance reports, and other reports and deliverables
• Contribute to production of project learning materials such as articles for project newsletter, working papers, success stories, presentations, and other inputs to the project’s learning agenda
• Contribute health finance and governance research agendas pertinent to the region or beyond

Preferred Skills / Prerequisites

• Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Health Finance, Management, Public Health, or related field
• At least 2 years of relevant professional experience health finance, health systems governance and management, or other relevant fields
• Experience working on USAID-funded projects is highly desirable
• Demonstrated ability to work with a minimum of direction and supervision
• Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team and as a team leader
• Solid management, planning and budgeting skills of project tasks and budgets
• Proven experience in capacity building and team work with other stakeholders, notably government counterparts at different levels
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal communication skills
• Strong writing skills both in English and Amharic
• Fluency in English, Amharic, and one or more regional languages is required
• Computer literacy (MS Word, MS Excel)

Minimum Qualifications

• ( 2+ ) years of experience OR the equivalent combination of education and experience

Abt Associates is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse workforce. Abt Associates provides market-competitive salaries and comprehensive employee benefits. Local candidates strongly encouraged to apply.