Senior Health Economist (AfCDC) at African Union Commission (AUC)

African Union Commission (AUC)

Position: Senior Health Economist (AfCDC)

Job Type: Contract

Salary: $96,921.34/annum

Application Deadline: June, 25/2023

Organization Information

Reports to: Head, Health Economics Programme 

Directorate/Department/Organ: Health Economics Programme

Number of Direct Reports: 0

Number of Indirect Reports: 0

Job Grade: P3

Number of Positions: 1

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Location: Addis Ababa

Purpose of Job

The purpose of this job is to support the Africa CDC Health Economics Programme (HEP) in undertaking activities in the following areas:

• Evidence translation: The HEP works to deliver various technical analyses or evidence translation initiatives in support of the Africa CDC and Member States. The Officer will provide support to this process, working with other HEP staff and often engaging one-to-one with consultants and members of expert working groups, ensuring work sufficiently addresses policy needs and leading the dissemination and use of findings. 

• Evidence generation: Undertake or oversee the delivery of other applied analyses in line with the HEP’s strategy and implementation plan. In addition to supporting existing work, several other priorities for evidence generation are undertaken. The Officer will steer the assigned portfolio of planned analyses, provide technical support to junior analysts and engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure policy relevance. 

• Partnership development: Work with the Head of the HEP to map potential partners and develop concept notes for new partnerships or collaborations to deliver on the HEP strategic vision. The HEP is a nascent and expanding programme. The Officer will work under the supervision of the Head of HEP to develop concept notes for strategic partnerships.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Beyond formal partnerships, the HEP has developed a diverse network of key stakeholders, including other teams and collaborating centres within ACDC, Ministries of Health in ACDC member states, universities, development partners and UN agencies. The Officer will support the HEP Head to map relevant stakeholders and maintain and strengthen relationships. 

• Operating Model: Support the development of HEP operational processes, including standard operating procedures for core HEP activities. This could include induction materials for new staff, notes on ways of working for common HEP activities and initial systems for knowledge management

Main Functions

Under the supervision of the Head of the Division, of the Health Economics Program, the Senior Technical Officer – Health Economics Program will provide technical guidance to support the conceptualization and implementation of holistic Health Economics programming within AU Member States by supporting the implementation of the Africa CDC Health Economics Program strategy.

Specific Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate the implementation of the Programme’s objectives and its mainstreaming into continental, regional and national development plans.

• Provide technical and intellectual support in the management of various partnerships relevant to the Programme.

• Identify best practices and monitor the effectiveness of the Programme’s support to AU. 

• Foster and ensure implementation of large-scale and long-term initiatives related to Strategic Partnerships; 

• Provide ongoing technical guidance, policy advice and assistance through the Programme to Africa CDC Divisions, Regional Coordinating Centres, Regional Economic Communities and other agencies of the AU and African Union Member States 

• Support convening of regional workshops and training sessions with focal points for capacity building and review on the implementation of the respective priority areas of the Programme  

• Advocate for the mobilization of increased resources and technical assistance by the international donor community for the Programme’s implementation, raising awareness and commitment for ensuring the effective incorporation of responses in bilateral and multilateral development assistance policies; 

• Develop monitoring and evaluation framework and concise impact, outcome and output indicators;

• Develop appropriate tools for data collection, analysis and reporting on the implementation of programmes at the institutional levels, including mid-term reviews, impact assessment, programme performance and terminal evaluation;

• Design and implement an M&E system, guidelines, manuals and standard operating procedures

• Develop, in collaboration with key stakeholders, key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor programme and activities within the Programme, and make recommendations for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of programme implementation;

• Draft quarterly, mid-year and annual progress and performance reports

• Undertake periodic field missions to monitor and assess programme implementation and progress, and to ensure compliance with operational procedures (results and logical frameworks);

• Coordinate and provide substantive support to the development of programme and grant proposals and resource mobilization. 

• Promote the harmonization and alignment of donor assistance to national strategies and priorities

• Supervise consultants and provide guidance and supervision to national and regional focal points, on the basis of agreed-upon biennial plans. 

• Participate in meetings, technical working groups, inter-agency task forces, and other relevant forums; 

• Monitor, prepare, analyze, and evaluate technical reports and other relevant materials in the key areas and facilitate dissemination of good practices;  

• Coordinate and monitor the financial management of the project and establish measurable project performance indicators, monitor attainment of project outcomes and report on project progress

• Perform any other duty as may be assigned.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• A Masters's degree in health economics, economics, public health, health systems, health financing or other related technical disciplines with seven (7) years of experience 

OR

• Bachelor's degree with ten (10) years of experience.

• A higher qualification level, ie a PhD degree in these or other relevant fields will be an added advantage.

• At least seven (7) years of experience for Masters holders and ten (10) years for Bachelor Degree holders), out of which three need to be at the expert level, and at least four years at the international level, in quantitative health economics research methods, including (but not limited to) economic evaluation, health technology assessments/priority setting, health financing, with experience working in one or more Member States. Experience working with policymakers will be an advantage.

• Applicants must have in-depth knowledge about the health system of at least one or more of the African Union Member State(s) and relevant experience supplying and/or using health economics research (or similar) in support of decision-making by relevant agencies/reimbursement bodies is desirable.

Required Skills

• Proven ability to advance research projects independently while being accountable for the accuracy of outputs.

• Ability to translate highly technical information into presentations, policy briefings, reports and funding proposals for a range of audiences.

• Good writing skills, evidenced in peer review and other publications.

• Ability to develop grant proposals.

• Ability to work independently and interactively in a team setting, be motivated and responsible, have a great work capacity and have commitment and enthusiasm for communication of research findings.

• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages is required (English, French, Arabic, Kiswahili, Portuguese or Spanish). Fluency in English and knowledge of any additional language is an added advantage.  

Leadership Competencies

Core Competencies

• Building Relationship

• Accountable and Complies with Rules

• Learning Orientation

• Communicating with Influence

Functional Competencies

• Conceptual thinking

• Job Knowledge and Information Sharing

• Drive for Result

• Continuous Improvement Orientation

TENURE OF APPOINTMENT:

The Appointment will be made on a fixed-term contract for a period of one (1) year, of which the first three (3) months will be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract may be renewed for a similar period subject to funding availability, satisfactory performance and agreed deliverables. 

GENDER MAINSTREAMING:

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

REMUNERATION:

The salary attached to the position is an annual lump sum of US$ 96,921.34 (P3 Step 5) inclusive of all allowances for internationally recruited staff, and US$ 78,461.08 inclusive of all allowances for locally recruited staff of the African Union Commission.

How to Apply

Register using THIS LINK

Applications must be submitted no later than July 14, 2023 11h59 p.m. EAT.

• Only candidates who meet all job requirements and are selected for interviews will be contacted.

• Consideration will be given only to those candidates who have submitted a fully completed online application with a curriculum vitae (CV), an African passport, and the required academic qualifications, such as diplomas, Bachelor's degrees, Master's degrees and any relevant certificate in line with the area of expertise.

• The African Union is an equal-opportunity employer, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

• Candidates from less-represented countries within the African Union are strongly encouraged to apply for positions that fit their profiles. These countries include Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Sahrawi D.R., Sao Tome and Principe., Seychelles, Somalia and Tunisia.