Consultant: Technical Expert - Health System Strengthening Funding and Financing

Recognizing the need to develop public-private collaboration models and the power of innovation to achieve the sustainable development goals, UNFPA and a private sector partner have entered into a partnership in 2018 to design and to implement large-scale and sustainable health systems on  transformations that not only improve the health and well-being of women and girls, but also accelerate the achievement of universal health coverage, and to develop and implement innovative and viable business models for the sustainability of the interventions. At the core of the approach is an innovative financing strategy to integrate joint public-private mechanisms and flows that support fundraising by tapping new resources for health systems transformation.

The model and approach, including the innovative financing aspect, will first be tested in the Republic of Congo through a joint programme that aims to reduce maternal and newborn mortality rates by 50 per cent over the next five years, especially in remote areas. The partnership will help to transform healthcare in the country, ensuring that the quality of its services is enhanced, its facilities meet World Health Organization standards, and its ability to reduce maternal and newborn mortality is significantly improved. The programme is structured around a demonstration phase of 18 months that started in September 2020 and a scale-up phase that will subsequently last for a period of four years.

To support the needs of the joint programme, UNFPA and the private sector partner developed a financing model for the initiative in the Republic of Congo, to mobilize a mix of public and private resources, including through a revenue model to attract private investments. The financing model includes health macro data to evaluate revenue inputs and cash flows required to support the national scale-up the programme. A first draft of the financing model is currently ready to be reviewed and validated, including through strategic consultations with relevant ministries in the country.

Under the overall direction of the Chief of the Strategic Partnerships Branch, the consultant will assist the Strategic Partnerships Specialist, in close collaboration with colleagues at regional and country levels, in the development of a comprehensive funding and innovative financing strategy to support the model of the global partnership at large, including the joint programme in the Republic of Congo.

Specifically, the consultant will lead on the following activities:

• Provide technical expertise towards a private financing strategy for healthcare systems strengthening, with a focus on maternal health in low-income, peri-urban and rural settings, offering different investment windows for private investors;
• Conduct an analysis of the existing funding sources and opportunities for strengthening financial sustainability of investments for the global partnership;
• Develop a funding strategy for the UNFPA component of this innovative partnership, both in the Republic of Congo and in other contexts, for the short- and long-term;
• Develop documents and material to activate the existing funding sources and opportunities in order to increase financial resources for the partnership and initiate outreach to potential funders to mobilize new resources.

In line with the aforementioned strategy, conduct an in-depth review of the current draft financing model for the Republic of Congo, and build scenarios that can guide the partners in terms of ensuring proper access to health services for the most vulnerable groups including estimates of costs, financial gaps, expected service provision, health-related impacts and other key metrics.

Required qualifications and experience

• A master degree in health economics and financing, or in economics with at least seven years of relevant professional experience in public/international health
  funding and financing with a focus on private financing;
• Proven experience in conducting health related costing and financing studies in the areas of maternal health
• Track record of successful funding strategies for health system strengthening, with a focus on maternal health
• Demonstrated skill in both conceptual and practical analysis of complex issues, and in producing clear arguments and constructive recommendations for future action is required
• Proven experience with international development partners/agencies is required
• Excellent communication skills in English and French highly desirable

Duration:  Six months

How to Apply

Please send a motivational cover letter and P11 to Gilles Virgili (virgili@unfpa.org) with "Consultant: Technical expert - Health System Strengthening Funding and Financing" in the subject by 18 November 2020.  Due to the volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Note to applicants:

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process.  Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA.via various means or Reporting:  http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm.

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, embracing diversity in all its forms and integrity.  UNFPA is committed to maintaining a balanced gender distribution and therefore encourages women to apply.  UNFPA promotes equal opportunities for all including persons with disabilities.