Deputy Project Director Health Financing

Amref Health Africa is the largest international health development organization based in Africa. Working with and through African communities, health systems and governments, Amref Health Africa’s vision is for lasting health change in Africa and is committed to improving the health of people in Africa by partnering with and empowering communities, and strengthening health systems. With headquarters in Kenya, Amref Health Africa has offices in Ethiopia, Uganda, South Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Southern Africa and West Africa providing services to over 30 countries. Employing over 700 staff and with an annual operating budget of approximately $90 million, Amref Health Africa is a knowledge resource for donors and partners. For more information visit our website www.amref.org

Overview of the Strategic Purchasing Africa Resource Centre (SPARC)

The Strategic Purchasing Africa Resource Centre (SPARC) – a resource hub hosted by Amref Health Africa with technical support from Results for Development (R4D) – is aimed at strengthening strategic health purchasing (SHP) capacity in Sub-Saharan Africa by connecting existing regional expertise and matching it with country demand to make better use of resources for health. Our vision is to empower countries with knowledge and practical tools to make access to affordable and quality health care a reality for all. SPARC is a complementary resource and partner to the many health financing initiatives on the African continent and globally. SPARC is supported by Amref Health Africa as the institutional host and Results for Development (R4D) as the core technical partner.

SPARC is not just a resource center — it is a movement. SPARC is engaging individuals from stakeholder groups across sub-Saharan Africa to understand, talk about and advocate for strategic purchasing as a way to make better use of limited resources for universal health coverage (UHC) and to hold decision-makers accountable for effective health spending. We are also working with partners to change how technical assistance is provided — tapping into and deepening regional expertise and building a coaching approach that emphasizes learning by doing. We are creating a network of regional experts who can support countries to develop practical, home-grown solutions that advance their strategic purchasing objectives.

Job Summary:

SPARC seeks a Deputy Project Director Health Financing for the USAID/Promoting Results and Outcomes through Policy and Economic Levers (PROPEL), Round 2 – Adapt project. PROPEL Round 2 is an anticipated 5-year USAID global project. The purpose of PROPEL will be to improve the enabling environment for equitable and sustainable health services, supplies and delivery systems through policy development and implementation; adequate, predictable, and sustainable financing; enhanced government stewardship, transparency, and accountability; and an engaged and informed civil society prepared to advocate for improved systems and outcomes. PROPEL will emphasize voluntary, rights-based Family Planning/Reproductive Health, and Family Planning/Reproductive Health integration with MCH and HIV/AIDS and will work across health systems and development sectors to achieve results in Family Planning/Reproductive Health demand, uptake, and improved health outcomes. Round 2 will have a specific focus on policy, advocacy, financing, and governance (PAFG) unique to fragile settings, including responses to country epidemics or global pandemics such as COVID-19.

Job Purpose

The Deputy Project Director Health Financing will provide the USAID/PROPEL Round 2 – Adapt project with overall strategic direction and technical leadership in Health Financing.

Engagement: You will work collaboratively with USAID technical teams and relevant global, regional, and country actors to advance and inform policy dialogue and facilitate the uptake of state-of-the-art technical approaches within country programs.

Delivery: You will be responsible for ensuring sound technical leadership and strategic direction of the project.

Job Responsibilities

The Deputy Project Director is expected to perform the following primary duties:

• Work across programmatic areas to build local capacity and enable sustainable health systems in fragile settings.
• Provide strategic and technical leadership across the project, assist in the design and implementation of core, and field funded activities as it relates to Health Financing.
• Responsible for overall technical leadership in the area of Health Financing.
• Oversee the project’s provision of technical assistance and capacity building activities.
• Oversee sub-awardee performance and coordinate with all relevant stakeholders.
• Support the Project Director to oversee project technical staff in ensuring the technical quality of all project work as it relates to Health Financing.
• Ensure that evidence-based Health Financing policy, advocacy, financing, and governance approaches and cross-cutting approaches inform and are integrated into core and field programs, and ensure that all project assistance is technically sound and appropriate.
• Provide support in managing the relationship with USAID, project partners, and stakeholders.
• Oversees private sector engagement.
• Identify collaboration and knowledge sharing opportunities across countries and regions.
• Work closely with the project team, USAID, and relevant global, regional, and country stakeholders to advance and inform policy and facilitate the uptake of technical approaches within country buy-ins.
• Support the development of the project’s global, multisectoral, technical strategy including targets and timely implementation of the project.
• Lead and participate in annual workplan development and implementation.
• Support the day-to-day implementation and management of project activities as it relates to Health Financing through improvements in policy, advocacy, financing, and governance.

Qualifications

Education

• An advanced degree (MA, PhD) in Public Health, Health Care, International Development, Public Administration, Economics, Policy, Social Sciences, Law, Development Studies or a related field.

Required Experience

• At least 10 years of experience working internationally in health or health financing and technical knowledge of policy, advocacy, financing, and governance (PAFG) approaches, particularly as it relates to fragile settings and responses to country epidemics or global pandemics.
• Demonstrated senior expertise in developing and implementing effective partnerships with partners, government entities, and donors.
• Knowledge and proven experience in technical leadership, strategy development, and staff oversight.
• Demonstrated experience engaging private sector and private investment for health outcomes in fragile settings.
• Demonstrated leadership, management, coordination, teamwork, and planning skills, with proven ability to liaise effectively with and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including global, regional, national, local, public and private partners.
• Strong interpersonal and capacity building skills including training, mentoring, and coaching skills.
• Experience working in and/or leading complex donor-funded programs in fragile contexts and nexus settings, with at least 5 years of fieldwork in fragile settings.
• Fluency in English with strong oral and written communication. Proficiency in other languages, especially French, is preferred.

How to apply:

Please send your application to recruitment@Amref.org quoting REF: Deputy Director Health Financing/06/22 in the subject line. Your application should include a cover letter detailing why you are the best fit for this position and your CV with relevant skills and experience. Kindly note that this position will remain open until filled, and selection process will be on a rolling basis.  Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Duly note that Amref Health Africa does not require applicants to pay any money at whatever stage of the recruitment and selection process and have not retained any agent in connection with recruitment.

Amref Health Africa is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Amref Health Africa is an equal opportunity employer and has a non-smoking environment policy.