Vacancy No.: UNAIDS/11/TASR9
Title: Senior HIV Economics, Finance and Policy Adviser
Grade: P5
Contract type: Temporary Appointment under Staff Rule 420.4
Duration of contract: 1 year Temporary Appointment
PURPOSE OF POSITION:
Kenya is a lower income country and its dependency on development assistance varies considerably by sector. For HIV over 90% of the country's HIV resources comes from external donors and there is an early indication that the amount of development assistance for HIV in Kenya will decline in the coming years. This situation is unsustainable and there is considerable risk for the future of the national response. Currently there are 1.4 million Kenyan people living with HIV, the sixth largest epidemic in the world. Anti-retroviral therapy coverage stands at about 40% of those in need and each year Kenya has an additional 160,000 new infections. Recent global assessments show that resources for HIV are no longer growing and in some cases declining. External financing tends to be volatile-as proven by the troubled history of Global Fund support to Kenya. The recent world financial and economic crisis has put the aid budgets of many donor countries under stress.
AIDS is a long-term epidemic that requires a sustained and predictable commitment of resources. Kenya's Vision 2030 aims at transforming the country into a globally competitive and prosperous middle-income country in the next 20 years. At that time, Kenya's population will reach approximately 54 million, with many more Kenyans living with HIV. The majority will need ART and some will require second line treatment. There will be an increased number of women in need of costlier HAART, both to stay alive and to prevent transmission of the infection to their infants.
It is also likely that the current situation of Kenya's national HIV response, characterized by over-dependence on high levels of donor financing, will have changed remarkably by 2030. Most bilateral donors would have exited or shifted priorities. The scale up towards Universal Access to HIV services cannot take place and be made sustainable without substantial domestic funding to augment external financing. Increased government allocation and innovative domestic financing schemes are needed.
Main tasks and Responsibilities of the Position:
The incumbent shall work under the supervision of the Permanent Secretary, through the Economic Planning Secretary in the Ministry of State for Planning and the UNAIDS Country Director; and will 1) prepare a concept paper, including work plan within one month of commencement of the assignment, 2) prepare quarterly reports highlighting progress, challenges and recommendations and 3) provide an end assignment report outlining achievements, challenges and recommendations on the next steps.
The incumbent will provide high-level technical advice and assistance to the various parts of the Kenya government relating to the economics and financing aspects of HIV, with a view to i) gaining agreement on domestic resource mobilization (both public and private) to ensuring sustainability of the HIV response in the future, ii) maintain GOK commitment to a multi-sectoral HIV response and iii) promote integrating HIV into planning and budgeting processes. The incumbent will focus on the following deliverables:
1. Senior level technical expertise and policy advice in the areas of HIV economics and financing, improved HIV budgeting and monitoring of resources (strategic analysis, research and critical review)
Serve as the principal resource for the government and development partners for activities relating to the development and implementation of a medium- to long-term fiscally sustainable, equitable and efficient approach to financing HIV services and programs in the country.
Develop proposals for medium and longer term HIV financing including proposals on modalities for channeling including leading and coordinating technical inputs to estimate and monitor AIDS/health resources flow emanating from bilateral donors, multilateral organizations, private donors/foundations and out-of pocket household expenditures, estimate and project resource needs.
Build consensus around international best practices in economic aspects of AIDS/health policies, strategies and research that can strengthen local processes; negotiate, advocate and facilitate discussions across government, with private sector and development partners for solid agreement on future financing of HIV.
Guide, review and advice on the interpretation and analysis of the national development planning and budget instruments (Kenya Vision 2030, Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Ministry of Health Annual Operations Plan); monitoring of agreed targets to increase government contribution as a share of the overall resource envelope for AIDS/health.
Advise on strategies to influence planning, tracking and resource mobilization for HIV with the objective for a multi-sectoral response in mind and in the context of devolution and opportunities provided through i) fiscal decentralization (inter-governmental transfers) ii) county own revenues, iii) public-private partnerships at county level.
Ensure resource tracking solution meets the requirements with KNASP III to enable generation of resource estimates and resource gaps as well as monitoring of HIV resource flow.
2. Partnership, advocacy and leadership
Simplify complex economic/statistical analysis to prepare policy briefs for advocacy to senior policy makers to act on HIV financing sustainability.
Broker partnership and network with various multilateral and bilateral funding agencies and the private sector to support government's efforts aimed at pursuing innovative domestic financing schemes for HIV.
Influence high-level policymakers, programme managers and representatives of donor agencies, and represent the government at high levels in the fields of AIDS/health economics and financing.
3. Strategic information, evidence and results
Recognizing that effectively combating AIDS and public health challenges is more than simply increasing resource allocation and expenditures, contribute to the conduct of highly focused programme implementation analyses/studies targeted at:
- Advice on program efficiency and identification of priority areas for research/analysis of programme level cost and effectiveness, e.g. cost-effectiveness analysis of various prevention packages and combinations to turn off the tap on new infections.
- Lead policy analysis and apply economic scientific theories and concepts in support of national level leadership in the areas of - economic vulnerability to HIV and household level economic impact - macroeconomic impacts of the AIDS response - Identify additional areas for analysis.
4. Capacity building - committees, task forces and technical working groups
As a high-level content expert with the ability to transfer knowledge and skills, the incumbent will assist with institutional capacity building by providing technical, policy and advocacy advice/guidance. Follow up on recommendations to strengthen the work of steering committees, technical working groups and task groups promoting alternative (domestic) HIV/health financing scenarios for Kenya with the following:
- The Cabinet Committee and Parliamentary Committee on HIV and Health.
- Technical support to High-level National Champions on alternative sustainable financing framework for AIDS/HIV.
- The National Steering Committee (and Secretariat) on the Long Term HIV Financing Options for HIV in Kenya.
- The Kenya Task Force for the Development of National Health Financing and Policy Framework.
- Other government and donor interagency committees concerned with sustainable AIDS/health financing.
- Identify and mentor to the needs of key staff in Ministry of Planning, NACC and MOH; build up an effective network and information base of available technical expertise dedicated to the work of sustainable AIDS/health financing in the country.
Deliverables:
- High Level Agreement reached on sustainable finance strategies and modalities for Kenya.
- Development of methodologies and strategies for national resource mobilization for HIV/AIDS response.
- Regular reports, issue/background papers, policy briefs on sustainable HIV/AIDS financing and relevant issues.
- Capacity building of key Technical Working Groups in the area of sustainable HIV/AIDS financing.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Advanced university degree in economics, finance policy or related fields.
Competencies:
UNAIDS Values:
1. Commitment to the AIDS response
2. Integrity
3. Respect for diversity
Core competencies:
1. Working in teams
2. Communicating with impact
3. Applying expertise
4. Delivering results
5. Driving change and innovation
6. Being accountable
Managerial competencies:
1. Vision and strategic thinking
2. Managing performance and resources
3. Developing and empowering others
4. Exercising sound judgement
5. Building relationships and Networks
Experience:
Essential: At least 11 years of experience in economic/finance analysis and/or public policy with an emphasis on the economics of public health. Demonstrated experience in technical and advocacy skills to impact on policy change in social sectors, public health, HIV. Demonstrated leadership ability to develop and apply new concepts, techniques, and programs. Experience in national planning and budgeting preferably at national and decentralized levels and working with governments. International experience and working with governments in low/middle income countries. Mobilizing public - private partnership in support of programs desirable
Languages:
Advanced knowledge of English. Knowledge of another UN official language and asset.
Annual salary: (Net of tax)
80,629 US$ at single rate
86,791 US$ with primary dependants Post Adjustment: 33.3 % of the figure(s) on the left side. This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.
Applications from people living with HIV are particularly welcome.
Applications from women and from nationals of non- and under-represented member states are particularly encouraged. Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations and Rules.
Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
Note: The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer or promotion of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. The medical criterion for recruitment is fitness to work in the particular post. The United Nations HIV/AIDS Personnel Policy clearly stipulates that no staff and/or potential candidates shall be discriminated against on the basis of real or perceived HIV status. HIV infection, in itself, does not constitute lack of fitness to work. There is no obligation to disclose HIV-related personal information.
Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable UNAIDS to store your profile in a permanent database. Please visit UNAIDS's e-Recruitment website at: https://erecruit.unaids.org. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement.
Title: Senior HIV Economics, Finance and Policy Adviser
Grade: P5
Contract type: Temporary Appointment under Staff Rule 420.4
Duration of contract: 1 year Temporary Appointment
PURPOSE OF POSITION:
Kenya is a lower income country and its dependency on development assistance varies considerably by sector. For HIV over 90% of the country's HIV resources comes from external donors and there is an early indication that the amount of development assistance for HIV in Kenya will decline in the coming years. This situation is unsustainable and there is considerable risk for the future of the national response. Currently there are 1.4 million Kenyan people living with HIV, the sixth largest epidemic in the world. Anti-retroviral therapy coverage stands at about 40% of those in need and each year Kenya has an additional 160,000 new infections. Recent global assessments show that resources for HIV are no longer growing and in some cases declining. External financing tends to be volatile-as proven by the troubled history of Global Fund support to Kenya. The recent world financial and economic crisis has put the aid budgets of many donor countries under stress.
AIDS is a long-term epidemic that requires a sustained and predictable commitment of resources. Kenya's Vision 2030 aims at transforming the country into a globally competitive and prosperous middle-income country in the next 20 years. At that time, Kenya's population will reach approximately 54 million, with many more Kenyans living with HIV. The majority will need ART and some will require second line treatment. There will be an increased number of women in need of costlier HAART, both to stay alive and to prevent transmission of the infection to their infants.
It is also likely that the current situation of Kenya's national HIV response, characterized by over-dependence on high levels of donor financing, will have changed remarkably by 2030. Most bilateral donors would have exited or shifted priorities. The scale up towards Universal Access to HIV services cannot take place and be made sustainable without substantial domestic funding to augment external financing. Increased government allocation and innovative domestic financing schemes are needed.
Main tasks and Responsibilities of the Position:
The incumbent shall work under the supervision of the Permanent Secretary, through the Economic Planning Secretary in the Ministry of State for Planning and the UNAIDS Country Director; and will 1) prepare a concept paper, including work plan within one month of commencement of the assignment, 2) prepare quarterly reports highlighting progress, challenges and recommendations and 3) provide an end assignment report outlining achievements, challenges and recommendations on the next steps.
The incumbent will provide high-level technical advice and assistance to the various parts of the Kenya government relating to the economics and financing aspects of HIV, with a view to i) gaining agreement on domestic resource mobilization (both public and private) to ensuring sustainability of the HIV response in the future, ii) maintain GOK commitment to a multi-sectoral HIV response and iii) promote integrating HIV into planning and budgeting processes. The incumbent will focus on the following deliverables:
1. Senior level technical expertise and policy advice in the areas of HIV economics and financing, improved HIV budgeting and monitoring of resources (strategic analysis, research and critical review)
Serve as the principal resource for the government and development partners for activities relating to the development and implementation of a medium- to long-term fiscally sustainable, equitable and efficient approach to financing HIV services and programs in the country.
Develop proposals for medium and longer term HIV financing including proposals on modalities for channeling including leading and coordinating technical inputs to estimate and monitor AIDS/health resources flow emanating from bilateral donors, multilateral organizations, private donors/foundations and out-of pocket household expenditures, estimate and project resource needs.
Build consensus around international best practices in economic aspects of AIDS/health policies, strategies and research that can strengthen local processes; negotiate, advocate and facilitate discussions across government, with private sector and development partners for solid agreement on future financing of HIV.
Guide, review and advice on the interpretation and analysis of the national development planning and budget instruments (Kenya Vision 2030, Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Ministry of Health Annual Operations Plan); monitoring of agreed targets to increase government contribution as a share of the overall resource envelope for AIDS/health.
Advise on strategies to influence planning, tracking and resource mobilization for HIV with the objective for a multi-sectoral response in mind and in the context of devolution and opportunities provided through i) fiscal decentralization (inter-governmental transfers) ii) county own revenues, iii) public-private partnerships at county level.
Ensure resource tracking solution meets the requirements with KNASP III to enable generation of resource estimates and resource gaps as well as monitoring of HIV resource flow.
2. Partnership, advocacy and leadership
Simplify complex economic/statistical analysis to prepare policy briefs for advocacy to senior policy makers to act on HIV financing sustainability.
Broker partnership and network with various multilateral and bilateral funding agencies and the private sector to support government's efforts aimed at pursuing innovative domestic financing schemes for HIV.
Influence high-level policymakers, programme managers and representatives of donor agencies, and represent the government at high levels in the fields of AIDS/health economics and financing.
3. Strategic information, evidence and results
Recognizing that effectively combating AIDS and public health challenges is more than simply increasing resource allocation and expenditures, contribute to the conduct of highly focused programme implementation analyses/studies targeted at:
- Advice on program efficiency and identification of priority areas for research/analysis of programme level cost and effectiveness, e.g. cost-effectiveness analysis of various prevention packages and combinations to turn off the tap on new infections.
- Lead policy analysis and apply economic scientific theories and concepts in support of national level leadership in the areas of - economic vulnerability to HIV and household level economic impact - macroeconomic impacts of the AIDS response - Identify additional areas for analysis.
4. Capacity building - committees, task forces and technical working groups
As a high-level content expert with the ability to transfer knowledge and skills, the incumbent will assist with institutional capacity building by providing technical, policy and advocacy advice/guidance. Follow up on recommendations to strengthen the work of steering committees, technical working groups and task groups promoting alternative (domestic) HIV/health financing scenarios for Kenya with the following:
- The Cabinet Committee and Parliamentary Committee on HIV and Health.
- Technical support to High-level National Champions on alternative sustainable financing framework for AIDS/HIV.
- The National Steering Committee (and Secretariat) on the Long Term HIV Financing Options for HIV in Kenya.
- The Kenya Task Force for the Development of National Health Financing and Policy Framework.
- Other government and donor interagency committees concerned with sustainable AIDS/health financing.
- Identify and mentor to the needs of key staff in Ministry of Planning, NACC and MOH; build up an effective network and information base of available technical expertise dedicated to the work of sustainable AIDS/health financing in the country.
Deliverables:
- High Level Agreement reached on sustainable finance strategies and modalities for Kenya.
- Development of methodologies and strategies for national resource mobilization for HIV/AIDS response.
- Regular reports, issue/background papers, policy briefs on sustainable HIV/AIDS financing and relevant issues.
- Capacity building of key Technical Working Groups in the area of sustainable HIV/AIDS financing.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
Advanced university degree in economics, finance policy or related fields.
Competencies:
UNAIDS Values:
1. Commitment to the AIDS response
2. Integrity
3. Respect for diversity
Core competencies:
1. Working in teams
2. Communicating with impact
3. Applying expertise
4. Delivering results
5. Driving change and innovation
6. Being accountable
Managerial competencies:
1. Vision and strategic thinking
2. Managing performance and resources
3. Developing and empowering others
4. Exercising sound judgement
5. Building relationships and Networks
Experience:
Essential: At least 11 years of experience in economic/finance analysis and/or public policy with an emphasis on the economics of public health. Demonstrated experience in technical and advocacy skills to impact on policy change in social sectors, public health, HIV. Demonstrated leadership ability to develop and apply new concepts, techniques, and programs. Experience in national planning and budgeting preferably at national and decentralized levels and working with governments. International experience and working with governments in low/middle income countries. Mobilizing public - private partnership in support of programs desirable
Languages:
Advanced knowledge of English. Knowledge of another UN official language and asset.
Annual salary: (Net of tax)
80,629 US$ at single rate
86,791 US$ with primary dependants Post Adjustment: 33.3 % of the figure(s) on the left side. This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.
Applications from people living with HIV are particularly welcome.
Applications from women and from nationals of non- and under-represented member states are particularly encouraged. Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations and Rules.
Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
Note: The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer or promotion of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. The medical criterion for recruitment is fitness to work in the particular post. The United Nations HIV/AIDS Personnel Policy clearly stipulates that no staff and/or potential candidates shall be discriminated against on the basis of real or perceived HIV status. HIV infection, in itself, does not constitute lack of fitness to work. There is no obligation to disclose HIV-related personal information.
Online applications are strongly encouraged to enable UNAIDS to store your profile in a permanent database. Please visit UNAIDS's e-Recruitment website at: https://erecruit.unaids.org. The system provides instructions for online application procedures.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement.