Senior Health Advisor, Washington, United States 48 views

Organization: International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI)
Country: United States
City: Washington
Office: IBTCI Vienna VA
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We are International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI), a global consulting firm working some of the most complex and impactful development problems worldwide. We work on programs that help government agencies, private companies and donors improve the lives of others. At IBTCI you will be part of an inclusive team that provides expert solutions and advice to understand and address critical problems while giving you opportunities to succeed and grow.
Job Title: Senior Advisor in Health Financing
Department/Location: Institutional Support
Reports To: Health Team Deputy
Overview:
The Africa Bureau’s Office of Sustainable Development (AFR/SD) provides strategic and intellectual guidance to the Africa Bureau, conducts economic, social and political analyses critical to the development of AFR policies, strategies, budgets and activities, manages or coordinates three Presidential and two Agency Initiatives, and provides technical services to AFR’s field missions. In carrying out these functions, AFR/SD serves as the Bureau’s principal liaison with African and international partners, United States Government (USG) sister agencies, the private sector, universities and the Private Voluntary Organization (PVO)/Non-governmental Organization (NGO) community.
AFR/SD’s Health Team works across all sectors related to health, including those that strengthen food security, such as nutrition and local systems strengthening. The team directly manages activities that support African capacity development and improving the lives of Africa’s most vulnerable populations.
The Health Team works in close collaboration with other USAID Bureaus, including the Bureau for Food Security, the Bureau for Global Health and the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, to integrate programs and coordinate strategic and technical support to USAID missions, program reviews and assessments, staff development, etc. It works closely with African and donor partners such as the African Union, the World Bank and others.
Within the Africa Region, health financing, demographic changes due to rapid population growth, cross-sectoral development challenges and changing technology continue to influence health issues in the Africa region. USAID prioritizes approaches that support health systems strengthening, and recognizes that health financing, domestic resource mobilization, and capitalizing on technology advancements are all critical elements to sustaining health and development gains. Furthermore, USAID together understands that access to safe, voluntary family planning is central to economic development in Africa. The Africa Regional Bureau coordinates closely with the Global Health Bureau on the attainment of Family Planning 2020 goals, and is providing thought guidance on new health financing models that are most relevant to the African context. The Senior Advisor on Health Financing provides intellectual guidance and vision on how these complex health, finance, population, and development issues influence health outcomes in Africa, and advises on key Agency initiatives to address these issues.
The Africa Bureau’s Health Team, within the Office of Sustainable Development (SD), coordinates policies and strategies for USAID’s health programs in Africa, programs that total $4.78 billion annually. The Health Team directly manages activities that support African institutional capacity development as well as the identification and resolution of policy, program and technical issues that are unique to the African context. The Senior Advisor in Health Financing will guide the SD’s collaboration with the Bureau for Global Health and external stakeholders in health financing issues and building comprehensive capacity among USAID staff and country officials. A deep understanding of health economics and the current international approach to expanding the fiscal space, innovative ways of mobilizing domestic resources, improving use of financial resources through greater cost-effectiveness for attaining financial sustainability and reducing out of pocket expenditures to reduce the stress on the poor are all important technical competencies. The Senior Advisor will serve as a thought leader and contribute to the formulation of policies, approval of guidelines, organize regional training, and coordinate collaboration with other multi-lateral organizations and foundations in these efforts.
Additionally, this position will focus on increasing the analytical body of knowledge for making family planning central to economic development, as well as best practices in implementing cross sectoral programs to demonstrate the cross-sectoral interdependence of health, agriculture and food security. The Senior Advisor in Health Financing has excellent team leadership and interpersonal skills that facilitate good working relationships with senior Africa Bureau and Bureau for Global Health leadership, technical teams throughout the Agency, USAID field missions, and external partners. The Senior Advisor for Health Financing reports to the Health Team Deputy.
Responsibilities
Essential Duties/Tasks and Responsibilities:
Health system strengthening with a focus on health financing approaches and strategies;
Family planning programming improvements to accelerate economic development and reduce poverty;
Development and implementation of cross sectoral programs with emphasis on integration of approaches to improve sustainable development;
Expansion of use of mobile technology for strengthening the health programs management; and
Other duties as assigned.
T o support these key areas, the Senior Advisor for Health Financing will specifically: Build capacity in health financing, particularly domestic resource mobilization for sustainability:
Develop and implement comprehensive capacity building programs including training for country officials and USAID staff at the regional and country levels;
Develop efforts to create conditions to expand the fiscal space, spur innovation to mobilize domestic resources, and improve use of financial resources through greater cost-effectiveness;
Advise on approaches and best practices to reduce out of pocket expenditures to reduce the stress on the poor;
Coordinate USAID efforts on capacity building with other donors and stakeholders to maximize impact and effectiveness;and
Serve as a technical advisor to USAID programs focused on health financing in order to guide and advise on health financing activities supported in the Africa Region.
Provide technical guidance on the intersection of family planning and economic development:
Conduct analytical work to provide evidence of the impact of family planning on economic development and poverty. Advise and guide implementing partner work in this area;
Stay abreast of, and communicate emerging data and analyses on the intersections between economic development, family planning and demography;
Analyze country-specific contexts in African countries to develop an understanding of coverage and effectiveness of family planning programs within poorer sections of soceity; and
Provide USAID Mission technical assistance in Africa to address these issues.
Develop cross sectoral health programs:
Advise and guide policy and data analysis that investigates the interdependence of health, agriculture and food security;
Stay abreast of and advise USAID field Missions in Africa on best practices in implementing cross sectoral programs; and
Serve as a key contributor to analysis and policy recommendations in fora that explore the intersection of health and other sectors, including serving as an advisor to USAID’s support to the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) policy dialogues.
Advise African Missions on the use of mobile technology for health sector improvements
Identify, develop, and disseminate best practices on mobile technology in the health sector;
Provide USAID Missions in Africa with technical guidance and advice on mobile health technology investments and implementation plans; and
Convene diverse stakeholders to improve policy and planning related to scaling up mobile health solutions in Africa.
Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
Advanced degree in economics, public health, epidemiology, social science or related Doctorate level training preferred;
At least 20 years of experience addressing the intersection of economic and health issues in the developing world, including policy development and dialogue, program management, and collaboration with diverse stakeholders;
US citizenship or US permanent residency; and
A Secret security clearance is required and must be obtained.
Education: Advanced degree in economics, public health, epidemiology, social science or related Doctorate level training preferred.
Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Demonstrated experience of working in the African context, with experience working in field programs;
Expertise in communicating quantitative and qualitative data clearly in a dynamic policy environment, including the ability to translate complex economic and health analyses information appropriate for a lay audience;
Demonstrated excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills;
Experience working in complex, dynamic, multi-faceted, fast-past environments;
Demonstration of excellent verbal and written communications skills;
Experience working in a bilateral or international organization environment will be considered a strength; and
Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally.
Working Environment: Work is typically performed in an office environment. Currently the company is allowing for remote work due to COVID 19 in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area. This can be updated by the company.
COVID Vaccine status: As a condition of employment, IBTCI requires all new employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Candidates should be prepared to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination upon hire or request for an accommodation with HR that is consistent with our COVID-19 safety protocols and policies.
Physical Requirements: This is largely a sedentary position that requires the ability to speak, hear, see, and lift small objects up to 20 lbs.
Supervisory Responsibility: This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.
Travel: International travel may be required and may include travel to fragile and/or conflict-prone zones.
Work Authorization: Candidate must be authorized to work in United States.
About the Organization:
IBTCI has been in business since 1987. We specialize in Monitoring, Evaluation, Research & Learning (MERL), Institutional Support (IS), Financial & Risk Management (FRM), Supply Chain Management & Procurement (SCMP); Social & Behavior Change (SBC) and Capacity Building. We provide these services across many sectors including, but not limited to, agriculture, resilience & food security, conflict & crisis, democracy & governance, economic growth & trade, education, energy & Infrastructure, environment & climate change, global health & WASH and humanitarian and disaster assistance. At IBTCI, our colleagues are encouraged to collaborate and be part of the solution while getting the tools and guidance needed to grow and support our clients’ missions.
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
IBTCI is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identification, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran, or any other classification protected by applicable anti-discrimination laws. We prohibit and do not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
If you are an applicant with a disability that requires a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability, or unable to use the online application system and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact the Talent Acquisition team at TalentAcquisition@ibtci.com (Do not send your resume to this account, for consideration please apply in our career page).