Adviser on Health Policy

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Description

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• To provide expert technical support and health policy advice to the national Government and the Ministry of Health to strengthen the country’s health system with the overall aim of advancing universal health coverage in the European region. To operationalize WHO/EURO’s health system strengthening (HSS) strategy at country level providing evidence-based technical advice and incorporating the stakeholders’ views and preferences, with the aim to reduce the financial burden of illness and ensure optimal access to quality health services.
• To lead, manage and coordinate the work of the health systems dedicated team at the WHO Country Office in order to enhance and strengthen work outcomes in this area at country level, the incumbent will assume the following responsibilities
• Support the design, implementation, and evaluation of national health policies for health system strengthening to move towards UHC.
• Together with the WR and in the framework of WHO communication efforts, contribute to policy advocacy and creating strategic alliances for comprehensive and aligned health systems strengthening, as follows:
• Under the technical leadership of CPS, provide and mobilize technical advice to support the government in formulating and advocating for evidence-informed health system strengthening policies with priority given to:
• Policy advice to improve quality of coordinated and aligned service delivery to strengthen public health and primary care services in order to better prevent and control communicable and noncommunicable diseases with emphasis on integration of mental health services, social care, and long-term care;
• Policy advice to strengthen human resource policies for health as the key enabler of implementing the service delivery vision;
• Policy advice to transform health financing arrangements for UHC with a focus on developing an equitable benefit package, strengthening strategic purchasing arrangements, and improving governance and accountability;
• Policy advice on alignment of other critical system functions such as policies to access medicines and technologies and strengthened governance arrangements.
• Streamline EPW Flagships into HSS policies: ensure a connection between HSS policies at country level and the four EPW Flagships including (i) mental health, (ii) digital health,(iii) cultural and behavioral insights and (iv) the immunization 2030 agenda.
• Support the Ministry of Health in implementing the HSS drawing on European good practices and mobilizing expertise and know-how in reform implementation to improve overall sector governance arrangements and transparency.
• Contribute to the improvement and implementation of a monitoring and evaluation of progress towards UHC within the SDG framework.
• Carry out and facilitate analytical work (impact evaluation) in the areas of health financing, public health, and primary care to demonstrate the impact of reforms on health outcomes.
• In coordination with WR, support the MOH to advocate for alignment of international partners and other health institutions working to strengthen health systems, with the national planning and budgeting cycles, with the agreed country health policy dialogue mechanisms and schedules and with the established national monitoring mechanisms.

• Essential: University degree(Master’s level) in public health, health policy, health management, health economics and/or financing, policy analysis, public policy and/or sociology.
• Desirable: Additional post graduate degree in one of the above-mentioned areas of study.

• At least seven years of experience in health system strengthening with at least three years at international level. 
• Demonstrated experience in supporting national agencies in health policy planning implementation and monitoring for health system strengthening.
• Demonstrated experience in providing policy advice in the areas of health system transformation, health financing, public health, or primary care.
• Proven track-record in organizing capacity building and policy dialogue events in the health sector.

• Specific experience in any of the following areas:
• Demonstrated experience in supporting implementation of health financing policies to move towards universal health coverage including in strengthening governance of purchasing agencies, strengthening strategic purchasing, and benefit design.
• Relevant experience in low and middle-income countries and countries of the WHO European Region.
• Demonstrated track record of analytical papers and/or relevant publications.

• Sound theoretical and applied knowledge of key strategic directions in health system strengthening in the WHO European region with specific focus on health financing policy, and public health and primary care services.
• Experience of working effectively with national and international counterparts, implementing partners, donor agencies and government authorities. Ability to establish harmonious working relationships as part of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds, and maintain high standard of personal conduct.
• Excellent communication skills. Ability to work comfortably in a fast-paced environment. Ability to identify  and manage one’s own emotions and help others to do the same.

• Essential: Expert knowledge of English.
• Desirable: Intermediate knowledge of Russian.

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