Senior Health Specialist – GG  

Description

Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org

Global: Health, Nutrition and Population (HNP) Global Practice Context: 

The central contribution of the HNP Global Practice to the World Bank’s twin goals is to enable the achievement of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), in which all people are effectively covered by essential health services, and nobody suffers undue financial hardship because of illnesses. The HNP Global Practice includes staff members in Washington, DC and many country offices. The HNP Global Practice works with and across multiple sectors, in recognition of the fact that HNP outcomes often depend on actions that lie outside the HNP sector. The HNP Global Practice supports country and regional efforts to: (i) improve health outcomes, especially for the poor and most vulnerable; (ii) expand access to high-quality HNP services, interventions and technologies that give the most value for money; (iii) strengthen health systems for results; (iv) establish and improve health financing mechanisms that promote efficiency, equity and sustainability of investments; (v) strengthen heath-relevant institutions within and outside the health sector; (vi) harness multisectoral policies and investments for better health outcomes; and (vii) develop and learn from rigorous impact evaluations. https://worldbankgroup.sharepoint.com/sites/health/pages/home.aspx

Regional context: SOUTH ASIA

The South Asia Region (SAR) has the largest concentration of poor people of any region, home to 2 billion people with over 1 billion living under US$2/day. It has had high growth of 6 percent average annual rate in the last 20 years, despite its poverty, conflict, and instability. The WBG is and will continue to be a key development partner in South Asia. The SAR strategy is based on three pillars which are promoting growth, enhancing social inclusion, and strengthening climate/environment.

The South Asia Region: https://www.worldbank.org/en/region/sar

Unit Context: SOUTH ASIA HEALTH (HSAHP):

South Asia, the world’s fastest-growing region, has seen significant poverty reduction and health improvement, including increased life expectancy and reduced child mortality. However, challenges like persistent inequalities, malnutrition, out-of-pocket health financing, and inadequate health systems for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) persist, exacerbated by urbanization and pollution. The World Bank’s active portfolio in the region aims to enhance health financing, service delivery, and governance, with the COVID-19 pandemic underscoring critical public health and service delivery weaknesses http://sarhnp.worldbank.org/

Country Context: SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka has achieved notable health outcomes cost-effectively, especially in maternal and child health and disease prevention. However, NCDs now cause 83% of deaths, with lifestyle-related illnesses dominating mortality causes. While life expectancy is 77.2 years, healthy life expectancy is lower at 66.7 years, reflecting morbidity and disability impacts. An aging population will further shift the health burden. The World Bank supports Sri Lanka’s health sector through the Primary Healthcare Systems Enhancing Project to improve primary care, technical assistance for health system efficiency, pandemic readiness, and adapting to an aging population, plus a grant to boost nutrition for women and young children in vulnerable areas. 

Duties & Responsibilities:

The WBG is recruiting a Senior Health Specialist based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Senior Health Specialist will report to the HSAHP Practice manager and support the World Bank’s HNP portfolio in Sri Lanka, including the ongoing policy dialogue with Government counterparts and partners, preparation of analytical products, and the preparation and supervision of operations in the sector, as well as engagement on the broader human capital agenda. The Senior Health Specialist could also support the activities of other countries. Specific tasks include but not limited to the following:

• Manage the Sri Lanka HNP portfolio on a day-to-day basis. 

• Coordinate missions and meetings with the Ministry of Health and the Project Management Unit to supervise implementation of ongoing lending projects and assist with the preparation of new projects.

• Contribute to policy dialogue with government counterparts — including at the national and sub-national levels — and with other relevant stakeholders.

• Support the government and related stakeholders with hands-on technical and operational assistance on the implementation of Bank-financed activities, and support capacity-building activities including workshops, seminars, etc.

• Lead and/or contribute to high-quality analytical activities related to different aspects of health sector performance, primary health care, aging, health care quality, health human resources, human capital, nutrition, pandemic preparedness and related topics.

• Help with building and maintaining partnerships and networks with external development partners and think-tanks.

• Contribute to the development of the Sri Lanka HNP engagement strategies, including identification of key policy and programmatic priorities, challenges and opportunities for World Bank engagement. 

• Coordinate closely with other Global Practices (such as poverty, macroeconomics, education, gender, climate, agriculture, disaster risk management) and partners to support the government’s health and human development agenda.

• Represent the World Bank in Government and development partner planning and coordination meetings as well as in working groups for the HNP sector.

• Support the monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of projects

• Respond to ad hoc information requests from internal and external parties.

• Provide selective support to other country or regional programs in the region based on need and strengths of the successful candidate.

Selection Criteria

• At least a Master’s degree in public health, demographics, health economics, health policy, epidemiology, health administration or professional degree (medicine, nursing), in addition to a minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in health policy planning, health program implementation, monitoring and evaluation of health programs, health system strengthening, health financing, or health service delivery. (Master’s degree required, PhD or equivalent would be an asset). 

• Experience working closely with government counterparts in the health sector in Sri Lanka.

• Superior client orientation, interpersonal and diplomatic skills, ability to support dialogue with high level government officials.

• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, rapidly analyze diverse information from varied sources, prepare documents on complex subjects, speak and write persuasively, and present ideas clearly and concisely.

• A proven track record of high standards and accountability for work products, meeting deadlines, an ability to prioritize tasks within his/her work program and strategies for working collectively with others on the team to deliver products of the highest caliber.

• A track record of teamwork and ability to work in a multicultural environment. Demonstrated ability to function within and across diverse teams in operational and analytical work.

• Experience working in other low- and middle-income countries in South Asia, and/or in an international development institution is an advantage.

• Excellent oral and written communications skills in English is essential with ability to prepare documents on complex subjects, speak and write persuasively, and present ideas clearly and concisely. Strong communication and presentation skills in Sinhala and Tamil is preferred.

• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge and understanding of project management concepts, as they relate to the implementation of complex, multi-functional projects in varied geographical and economic conditions.
Experience working on WBG funded projects and familiarity with WBG operations, policies, and procedures is an advantage.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.

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