Senior Health Specialist/Economist Job Vacancy at World Bank South Sudan

Job # 121016 Job Title Senior Health Specialist/Economist Job Family Health, Nutrition & Population Location Juba, South Sudan Appointment International Hire Job Posted 25-Apr-2012 Closing Date 09-May-2012 Language Requirements English [Essential]; French [Essential]; Portuguese [Desired] Appointment Type Background / General description The Africa Health, Nutrition, and Population Unit (AFTHE) is seeking a Senior Health Specialist/Economist to be part of the health team. The position will be based in Juba South Sudan and the candidate will report to the Sector Manager, East and Southern Africa. Working in the world’s newest country and participating in the building of a health care system represents a wonderful challenge. Although the health care system in South Sudan is confronting severe constraints, the country can learn from experience elsewhere and boldly leapfrog past less innovative systems. The overall responsibility of the Senior Health Specialist / Economist is to support the core operational work of the World Bank’s Human Development Team, and oversee the HNP portfolio in South Sudan as well as provide support to other HD task teams. The successful candidate will have an opportunity to help the Government take on its stewardship role through: crowding in financial and human resources, actively managing the activities in the health sector, and increasing the focus on results by systematically tracking health sector performance. She/he is expected to lead project implementation and provide the government with expert advice in the areas of health system strengthening, health financing, disease control, nutrition, and maternal and child health. The candidate will also guide the Bank’s policy dialogue and business development in South Sudan. Ability to work on both analytic and operational tasks is desired as well as demonstrated capacity to listen and dialogue with the client and counterparts. She/he will work closely with the Country Management Unit and will support operational and analytical work and provide input into Country Assistance Strategy development and implementation. AFTHE is one of three sector groupings in the Human Development Department of the Africa Region. The HNP sector grouping will led by two sector managers. The countries belonging to the East and Southern Africa Region in Sub-Saharan Africa are in various stages of economic and social development, ranging from very poor post-conflict countries to middle income countries. The Bank supports them with a wide range of instruments and services, including investment and budget support operations, economic and sector work and other Technical Assistance, and helps ensure that large grant funding from vertical programs (such as the Global Fund, GAVI Alliance, Presidential Malaria Initiative, etc.) and bilateral donors is well integrated into health systems to achieve results. The Bank would also use its unique multi-sector capacity and macro-economic focus to improve impact and sustainability at country-level. Duties and Accountabilities The Senior Health Specialist/Economist will: • Lead the health policy dialogue with the government focusing on key issues including: ensuring the government has the tools to steward the sector, addressing the results agenda, enhancing innovation (such as results based financing) and ensuring innovations are rigorously evaluated, addressing the serious health care financing issues the country faces, ensuring complete coverage of the country with basic services, and helping solve the serious human resource constraints the MOH faces, including at central level, etc. • Lead the implementation of the proposed health operation in South Sudan and contribute to the design, preparation, and implementation of health projects and operations (both lending and non-lending) in a manner that leads to high quality products with a strong focus on results. Given the lack of progress since the comprehensive peace agreement on the coverage of services like immunization, ITN use etc. the selected candidate will have to be passionate about improving health sector performance; • Help design and manage impact evaluations, develop technical assistance and analytical work to meet the demands of the client, and strengthen the evidence basis for policy more generally; • Work closely with cross-sectoral teams responsible for the preparation and implementation of country programs; • Represent the health team in the CMU and help with cross-sectoral tasks by ensuring coordination of inputs and consistency of approach to key CMU and multi-sectoral products; • Keep abreast of recent developments in the health sector world-wide, and on cross-cutting issues affecting the performance of the health sector, such as HIV/AIDS, governance, decentralization, fiscal considerations and public sector reform; and • Provide technical inputs and support to regional activities as needed. Selection Criteria The incumbent must have the following qualifications: • Advanced degree with a specialization in health system management, health financing, international health, health policy and management and/or public health or health economics and a minimum of 8 years of relevant experience. • Extensive experience in post-conflict or fragile situations providing advice on health systems and health-related policy. An ability to adapt to challenging living conditions. • Demonstrated capacity to carry out in-depth analytical work including impact evaluation. • Experience from a cross disciplinary perspective with health systems-related issues in developing countries including M&E, health care financing, public health, human resources for health, public sector management, etc. • Experience working in the public sector, such as a Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health or Ministry of Planning is a definite plus. • Ability to shape a policy debate by listening to diverse views, integrating ideas, building a consensus, and communicating to constituencies inside and outside the Bank. • Ability to work in teams and across organizational boundaries, respecting the views of others. • Ability to deliver high-quality policy and analytic products within tight deadlines. • Excellent written and spoken communications skills in both French and English. Portuguese would be an advantage. • Strong diplomatic and interpersonal skills are a requirement for this position. COMPETENCIES General Economic Knowledge and Analytical Skills - Stays current on trends and literature pertaining to one’s area of expertise. Possesses cross-country knowledge in economic specialty and demonstrates ability to address issues at broader level, as well as in depth. Demonstrated ability to link the macro, the institutional, and the micro-level behaviors and can identify the relevant sectoral analysis. Able to support findings/policy recommendations with credible analysis and tools. Proven ability to conceptualize, design, and implement major tasks, including through leading and participating in task teams of lending and non-lending operations. Knowledge and Experience in Development Arena - Has ability to translate technical and cross-country knowledge into practical applications and contributions to country and sector strategies. Interacts with clients at the policy level, and organizes and manages policy development initiatives in collaboration with other development agencies and donors. Plays key role in implementation of economic strategy, advises borrowers and colleagues on economic issues, supervises and manages lending and non-lending activities and ensures consistency and conformity to Bank standards. Policy Dialogue Skills - Possesses political judgment, diplomatic acumen, cultural sensitivity and negotiating skills. Applies cross-country economic knowledge to discussions with clients and development partners. Is able to conduct independent policy discussions with government representatives and non-government partners on selected policy issues. Able to lead task teams, participate in formal negotiations, and assist government in establishing priorities. Health, Nutrition and Population Knowledge and Experience - Has broad, strong and recognized analytical and advisory skills and expertise in the health systems and its main functions, such as governance, health financing, health services organization and management, human resources for health, and/or pharmaceuticals. Has the ability to critically and quantitatively assess the performance of health systems to identify key challenges and solutions. Has experience diagnosing and assisting clients to define responses to policy and operational challenges, and can help clients in partnership with other stakeholders develop flexible and creative approaches to HNP reform and implementation. Integrative Skills (HD) - Able to link all relevant cross-sectoral areas to own work, and understands how they are interrelated. Demonstrates ability to undertake cross-sectoral work in lending and non-lending operations. Client Orientation - Identifies WBG solutions to meet client’s needs and goals. Maintains client relationships in the face of conflicting demands or directions and proposes sustainable solutions based on good diagnosis. Applies best knowledge and evidence-based advice. Drive for Results - Creates conditions to achieve challenging results. Identifies the needed resources to accomplish results involving multiple stakeholders and communicates the importance to business outcomes. Finds solutions to obstacles affecting key deliverables. Teamwork (Collaboration) and Inclusion – Seeks to improve team collaboration and inclusion. Reaches out to contribute to the work of others in the department. Shows leadership in ensuring the team actively seeks and considers diverse ideas and approaches. Keeps teams fully informed to ensure integration and work consistency. Knowledge, Learning and Communication – Transfers knowledge and communicates effectively across boundaries. Leads in the sharing of best practice, trends, knowledge and lessons learned across units and with clients and partners. Proven analytical skills and writing ability, as demonstrated by publications in the areas of health economics, health finance and related fields. Business Judgment and Analytical Decision Making - Assesses risks, benefits, impact and strategic intent in decision-making. Gathers varied and accurate input, assesses risk, considers impact and articulates benefits of decisions for internal and external stakeholders over the long term. The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. How to Apply; http://extjobs.worldbank.org/external/default/main?pagePK=64273552&piPK=64273556&theSitePK=1058433&JobNo=121016&order=descending&sortBy=job-req-num&location=ALL&menuPK=64262364