Afghanistan: Health Management Specialist (Health Sector Resiliency Project)

The Afghanistan Health Sector Resiliency (HSR) Project is a $37 million USAID-funded programme which started in October 2015 for a duration of 5 years.

The goal of Project is to support the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) to foster a strengthened, reformed, and increasingly self-reliant Afghan health system prepared for the decreased donor support anticipated over the coming decade. It will act as a resource and a catalyst to the MoPH and other GIRoA entities as it considers and implements critical sector-wide reforms that will be required to make the system more resilient and sustainable. The Project will primarily focus on governance, health finance and human resources for health and will engage both the public and private components of the health sector.

Purpose of Role

Palladium (formerly Futures Group) is seeking a full time Health Management Specialist who will lead technical activities under HSR Component 1: Improved Health Sector Governance and Accountability.

The Health Management Specialist will provide technical assistance and capacity building support related to good governance, policy and sound and transparent management systems, including strategy development, technical analysis, stakeholder consultation and advocacy, and contributing to technical reports and briefs. Responsibilities require global knowledge and best practices in governance and management as it relates to health and of state-of-the-art innovations in the broader domain area. The incumbent of this position is based on Kabul, Afghanistan and reports to the Deputy Chief of Party/Director of Programs.

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities, include, but not limited to:
• Participate in the design and implementation of technical support activities related to governance, management and policy to assist the Ministry of Health.
• On a daily basis through on the job training and mentoring, build the capacity of MoPH departments to effectively plan, manage, and oversee essential governance and management functions – this may include improving and streamlining priority systems such as procurement, budgeting, etc..
• Work closely with the Office of the Chief of Staff and Deputy Ministers’ offices to review and simplify the procedures and design a delegation strategy that can free up the time of the MoPH senior leadership for effective guidance, advocacy, and monitoring of the health sector priorities.
• Foster a culture of data demand, transparency, access, and use and lead flagship technical activities such as the upgrade to the health management information system (HMIS), linking data sources into a national data warehouse, and continuing to institutionalize systems data demand and use (DDU).
• Work with MoPH and relevant partners to strengthen the Administrative Reform and Capacity Building Directorate (ARCBD) to be able to sustain capacity building programs and assist MoPH to introduce reforms in response to emerging needs.
• Stays abreast of key developments in health governance, policy and regulation in Afghanistan and abroad in order to inform technical support activities.
• Interact and collaborate regularly with the Government of Afghanistan stakeholders relevant to governance such multilateral partners and donor agencies.
• Establish relevant working groups to advocate health in all policies including a national Health Policy Committee to encourage shared governance for health by engaging support from finance, justice, and other sectors.
• Assist the MoPH in strengthening their decentralization through stewardship capacity of provincial health offices (PHOs) and “hospital autonomy” facilities and developing a cadre of civil servants competent in their roles and motivated to work in government.
• Strengthen governance and accountability initiatives at all levels and improve community engagement in selected provinces and districts.
• Advance licensing, certification and accreditation systems which includes the continued application and improvement of MRS.
• Work with partners and other stakeholders to continue to develop and improve private sector environment including legislative efforts, the hospital public-private partnerships (PPPs) program at the MoPH, exploration of small-scale innovative PPPs and franchises, continuation of the private hospital HMIS roll out, continuation of private sector associations development and improved access to capital.

Location

Kabul, Afghanistan

Relationships

• Report to the Deputy Chief of Party.
• Work closely with the technical staff of the HSR project and the technical experts in the US to provide support and guidance to the MoPH, especially the Office of the Chief of Staff and Deputy Ministers’ offices, the Administrative Reform and Capacity Building Directorate, the HMIS Department, the Provincial Liaison Directorate, etc.
• Close collaboration with other ministries to advocate for good governance and health in all policies.

Minimum education and experience required

• The Health Management Specialist should have some experience in the following areas: governance, public administration, management improvement, anti-corruption, decentralization, policy development, advocacy, and strategic planning.
• Five (5) years of work experience in in health leadership and governance areas on projects of similar size and complexity
• Five (5) of years of demonstrated professional experience in projects of similar size or complexity
• Degree in public health, and/or health administration and/or health management or related area; advanced degree a plus; additional degree in health related area also a bonus
• Understanding of Afghanistan health system a plus
• Experience in mentoring staff and building capacity of individuals and teams
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English for high-level policy audiences (writing examples may be required)

This role is suited for candidates eligible and willing to live full time in Kabul, Afghanistan.