Senior Health Specialist/Economist – Health/Nutrition/Population At World Bank

Senior Health Specialist/Economist – Health/Nutrition/Population At World Bank

Job Description

The World Bank is a leading multi-lateral institution in global economic development. The bank consists of two entities – the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Development Association (IDA). It is a global development cooperative owned by 189 member countries. As the largest development bank in the world, the World Bank provides loans, guarantees, risk management products, and advisory services to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries, and coordinates responses to regional and global challenges. Visit www.worldbank.org.

HEALTH, NUTRITION AND POPULATION GLOBAL PRACTICE CONTEXT:

The central contribution of the Health Nutrition and Population (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 health-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.

AFRICA REGION CONTEXT:

In the Africa Region of the World Bank, there are four units that comprise the Africa HNP practice. The Africa HNP Practice Managers have joint responsibilities for region wide HNP strategies, and staff work across unit boundaries. HAEH2, covers the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, and South Africa County Management Units, which collectively comprise of thirteen countries and is responsible for a large program of operational and analytical work. The unit is looking for a Senior Health Specialist/Economist to be based in Nairobi Kenya.

Currently our work program in Kenya covers various areas including reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health (RMNCAH), health systems strengthening for UHC, health financing, non-communicable diseases, pandemic preparedness and health emergencies, local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and vaccines among others. The Bank current portfolio in Kenya has 3 operations and several analytical products.

Duties and Accountabilities:

The Senior Health Specialist/Economist will report to the Practice Manager (Health, Nutrition and Population) for Eastern Africa (HAEH2). For day-to-day operational work, the Senior Health Specialist/Economist will play a key role in the HNP Task Team in Kenya. The Senior Health Specialist/Economist will be subject to all World Bank regulations and guidelines applicable to staff. The Senior Health Specialist/Economist will make intellectually sound and operationally relevant contributions to the WBG work support on health in Kenya. S/he will have the following main responsibilities:

• Lead implementation support of World Bank operations at national and county level, working closely with task team members;

• Play a critical role in the evolving work program of analytical and advisory services related to health financing reforms for UHC, pandemic preparedness and response etc;

• Help ensure close coordination with government; development partners; and the CMU and World Bank teams across other sectors;

• Support policy dialogue with the Ministry of Health, relevant national institutions, counties and other stakeholders;

• Represent the World Bank at consultation meetings and other activities relevant for the sector;

• Contribute to sector-specific or cross-sectoral inputs for various operational products/outputs (e.g. sector/country briefings, background reports, portfolio performance reviews, etc.); and

• Carry out such tasks as the Practice Manager assigns to support the development of the Bank’s health portfolio in Kenya.

Specifically, the Senior Health Specialist/Economist will be expected to support the following ongoing operations namely (i) Kenya Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience Program Using the Multiphase Programmatic Approach (HEPRR) and (ii) Kenya Building Resilient and Responsive Health Systems (BREHS). The Senior Health Specialist/Economist will conduct the following duties:

• Provide technical and implementation support to the Ministry of Health and Counties and support preparation of new operations as needed;

• Lead implementation of the Analytical and Advisory Services tasks including Kenya Primary Health Care Trust Fund (PHCTF) among others, working closely with the Ministry of Health, Counties and other stakeholders;

• Ensure effective coordination and engagement with the national and county governments and key partners for the effective coordination of Kenya PHCTF;

• Lead project implementation support missions and lead preparation of key operational documents; and

• Represent the World Bank in national platforms, including Development Partners for Health Kenya and other relevant forums.

The Senior Health Specialist/Economist will work closely with the respective Task Team Leaders from HNP GP and other GPs as well as with staff of the Kenya Country Management Unit (CMU). 

Selection Criteria

Applicants must have:

•An advanced degree (Masters or PhD) in Health Economics, Public Health, Health Policy or any other relevant discipline;

•A minimum of 10 years of experience working in the Kenyan health sector;

•Wide recognition and track record of technical expertise and operational leadership in health systems, health financing and UHC reforms;

•Proven experience engaging with senior government officials (both health and non-health sectors) and development partners, civil society, and other stakeholders;

•Deep experience working with the Government of Kenya at both national and county level;

•Experience managing implementation of large projects at national and county level;

•Demonstrated ability to lead and function within and across teams in operational and analytical work;

•Excellent written and oral communication. Able to synthesize, analyze, and effectively present material from a wide range of sources; and

•Ability to function well independently and handle multiple tasks, meet changing priorities and deliver high-quality analysis and work on-time.

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.

APPLY HERE