Health Financing and Systems Strengthening Advisor

• Do you want to do work that really matters? Help us end avoidable blindness.
• Full time, 3-year (Renewable based on Performance and Funding) Role based in Nairobi, Kenya.
• Closing Date: Sunday, 8th December 2024

ABOUT THE FRED HOLLOWS FOUNDATION

The Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF) is an international development organisation working to prevent blindness and restore sight. We continue to carry on the legacy of Professor Fred Hollows, who believed every person had the right to quality eye care, no matter where they live. The Foundation is known around the world as an organisation that works with purpose and determination. With a reputation for excellence, we are well known for making change happen.

The Foundation has grown to work in more than 25 countries throughout Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific, as well as Australia. The Foundation has restored sight to more than 3 million people worldwide. We have an ambitious five-year strategic plan that aims to take us even closer to realising our vision of a world in which no person is needlessly blind, or vision impaired and Indigenous Australians exercise their right to sight and good health.

We are also proud to announce we were awarded the Employer of Choice Award (Public Sector and NFP) at the 2022 Australian HR Awards. The Foundation is also endorsed and in partnership with The Life You Can Save.

To find out more about our work, please visit our website https://www.hollows.org

THE OPPORTUNITY

In 2023, Kenya signed into Law, four new Acts of parliament that will transform the healthcare service access, quality and coverage in Kenya including eyecare. The four healthcare acts are Primary Health Care Act, Facility Improvement Financing Act, Social Health Insurance Act, 2023 and the Digital Health Act, 2023. These legal and policy frameworks present an excellent opportunity for integrating eyecare into the primary healthcare system, increased domestic investment by Kenya to the Eye sector and data integration and operability with the Healthcare information systems thus increasing data use through visualization, planning and monitoring by policy makers and technical staffs.

The Health Financing and Systems Strengthening (HSS) Advisor will lead in the design and technical advice to the implementation of the key Health systems strengthening (HSS) components of FHF Kenya Program across the various projects. The role will have a bias towards the following pillars as they relate to eyecare, health financing, health workforce and essential medicines and supplies. This will entail providing sound technical inputs to increase domestic resource mobilisation from the Kenya government more so the county governments. The role will advise and propose sound interventions to be incorporated into the Projects design and implementation of FHF Kenya Programmes that ensure eyecare interventions benefit from the Government funded Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) under the Social Health Authority (SHA) formerly National health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

In addition, the role will advise and support FHF managers, coordinators and Technical Officer support counties to operationalise the Facility Improvement Financing (FIF) Act and guide Counties and the National Government Stakeholders to develop, implement and track their annual eye plans, medium term Plans and integration of eyecare in the County medium term plans. The role will be responsible in guiding partners (National, Counties and Civil Society Organisation–CSOs) along the continuum of interventions and actions along the Kenya Medium term expenditure Framework and public Finance Management ensuring prioritisation and planning for eyecare along the HSS pillars, in liaison with Advocacy and policy Advisor guide the FHF Kenya technical support for engagement with the County Assemblies and the National Assembly and Planning and Budgeting for increased resource allocation and implementation.

The role will also advise and design intervention towards increased domestic resource funding for eyecare from the private sector in Kenya in liaison with relevant FHF global technical experts.

The Health Financing and Systems Strengthening Advisor will coordinate and work with a diverse group of organizations, including the Kenya Ministry of Health (MOH) at national level and the County Departments of Health (CDOH), international and national development partner organizations & civil society to elevate eye health as a socio-economic and development issue.

The Advisor will champion inter-sectoral collaboration within health and beyond for integration of initiatives for transformation and impact through bold and innovative approaches. The Advisor will support the alignment of FHFK programmes to government policies for sustainability including UHC among other government priorities. Together with the Advocacy and Policy Advisor for Kenya Champion and link activities to FHF Kenya Strategy (2025-29) Goal #1: Elevating Eyecare as a Socio-Economic and Political Agenda in Kenya.

ABOUT YOU

We are looking for a skilled Health Financing and Systems Strengthening (HSS) Advisor to lead the design and implementation of key health systems components for the FHF Kenya Program. The role will focus on enhancing eyecare, health financing, workforce development, and essential medicines. The ideal candidate will provide technical guidance to mobilize resources from county governments, integrate eyecare into Kenya’s Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), and collaborate with various stakeholders for sustainable financing. The HSS Advisor will also work to elevate eyecare as a priority within Kenya’s government policies, supporting initiatives like Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO SUCCEED

• At least a master’s degree in health economics/development economics, public policy, public health, International Development, or related field.
• A post graduate qualification in Health Systems Management, public policy, or related fields.
• A minimum of 5 years’ significant work experience in health financing/Economics, and systems strengthening, in a reputable INGO or NGO.
• Experience in international development and health systems strengthening Financial and Resource Management.
• Demonstrable working experience with the national and county health systems and policy with senior level officers- elected leaders, State Officers etc.
• Experience strengthening public health service delivery programs, partner technical Support and capacity building, advocacy, health systems performance.
• Substantial understanding and experience with the former National Health Insurance (NHIF) now the Social Health Authority (SHA) and Social Protection Schemes, including providing evidence and advocacy for prioritization of publicly funded interventions and Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
• Demonstrable knowledge of engaging with Ministries of Health and Finance on refinement of Essential Medicines Lists and Health Insurance Benefit Packages.
• Good diplomacy and cross-cultural interpersonal, report writing, donor relations, Conceptual, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Candidates must possess exceptional oral and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively deliver training sessions and presentations in English.

How we recognise your contribution

Through our internal programs and employee benefits we aim to create an environment where you will feel supported and empowered. Whether your focus is on continuous learning, professional development or finding an environment which enables you to thrive while balancing family or personal commitments, we have a range of programs in place to support you.

To find out more about our benefits click here