Closing date: 25 Mar 2019
Overview
International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc. (IBTCI), a U.S. based international development consulting company established in 1987, has worked in over one hundred countries and implemented over three hundred projects. IBTCI serves government agencies, private sector companies and several donor agencies. IBTCI specializes in Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) across many sectors including, but not limited to, conflict and crisis, democracy and governance, economic growth, education, environment, and global health.
Assignment Title:Technical Advisor, Health Microfinancing
Department/Location:Global Health
Technical Point of Contact:GHP Technical Lead or designee
Type:Short-term technical assistance (STTA)
Classification:Consultancy
Overview:
IBTCI has developed a concept paper for potential interventions related to health systems and resilience in Yemen, which is currently being reviewed by USAID for further development. The concept paper proposes an innovative pilot program to leverage microfinancing for increased access to quality health services. IBTCI and partners will leverage and compare two strategies: 1) extend an existing voucher program, and 2) support the creation and operation of mutual health organizations at the community level. We are seeking a health economist or microfinancing expert with experience in conflict or post-conflict situations, to support the development of this intervention and interpretation of the results. The period of performance for implementation, if funded, is to be determined. Candidates should be willing to travel to Sana’a in the future, if security conditions permit. Applicants who are native to the Middle East and North Africa region would be preferred for the purposes of visa and security.
Responsibilities
Scope of Work:
- Analyze public and private health financing issues in Yemen;
- Provide expert advice on the development of innovative health financing interventions, including options for a community-based insurance scheme (“no subsidy”) and a funded voucher program (“full subsidy”);
- Conceptualize the operation of the voucher program as well as the mutual organization program, including the potential use of electronic vouchers and voucher redemption processes as well as the process for selecting eligible household and distributing and processing vouchers;
- Write up technical sections of the leveraging microfinancing options proposal, including defining the parameters for the feasibility study;
- Prepare a Request for Proposals to engage local firms in the implementation of the programs;
- Manage the activity or play a lead technical role in the implementation of the activity, if awarded;
- Engage in the design and implementation of quantitative and qualitative research and analysis;
- Evaluate relevant components of the intervention;
- Interpret the results from project implementation based on your area(s) of expertise and provide actionable recommendations for future activities; and
- Other duties as assigned.
Using technical skills in health and knowledge of the Yemeni context, perform technical advising and analysis tasks on specific proposals and/or contracts. Tasks could include, but not be limited to:
- Serve in the above consultant capacity to support the IBTCI Global Health Practice and/or Business Development division.
- This position does not authorize/require the consultant to directly communicate with IBTCI clients.
- This position does not authorize/require the consultant to have decision making authority on final work product.
Required:
- Ability and willingness to be mobile and agile at a moment’s notice in case of an emergency required.
- Ability and willingness to safely enter and exit a larger, armored SUV vehicle that is several feet off the ground without assistance, while wearing body armor and/or a heavy flak jacket.
- In case of an emergency situation, must be able and willing to “duck and seek cover”, which may require the individual to exit the vehicle, unaided, and hurriedly seek shelter elsewhere, as needed, in the event of a roadside emergency.
Qualifications
PreferredKnowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Experience in designing, strengthening, and implementing various microfinancing schemes in the health sector
- Expert knowledge of microfinancing options for the rural poor including voucher programs and the creation and support to mutual health organizations to access essential health care services in the public or private sectors
- Experience working on access to and/or quality of health care services in Yemen or similar contexts
- Knowledge of maternal, neonatal, and child health (MNCH), reproductive health, family planning, water and sanitation, service delivery, and/or human resources for health
- Prior experience working in Yemen, preferably including work experience since 2015
- Working knowledge of Arabic
Minimum Requirements:
- At least 10 years’ experience working in global health finance, development finance, microfinance, and/or health systems
- Overarching understanding of the status of health in Yemen
- Strong analytical and writing skills
- Working knowledge of English and Arabic;
- Ability and willingness to be mobile and agile at a moment’s notice in case of an emergency required.
- Ability and willingness to safely enter and exit a larger, armored SUV vehicle that is several feet off the ground without assistance, while wearing body armor and/or a heavy flak jacket.
- In case of an emergency situation, must be able and willing to “duck and seek cover”, which may require the individual to exit the vehicle, unaided, and hurriedly seek shelter elsewhere, as needed, in the event of a roadside emergency.
- Oral and written fluency in English required.
Education: Master’s degree or higher in economics, public health, public policy, international development, or a related field.
Supervisory Responsibility: This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.
Physical Requirements: This is largely a sedentary position that requires the ability to speak, hear, see, and lift small objects up to 20 lbs. This position requires the incumbent to be mobile and agile at a moment’s notice in case of an emergency.
Travel: Short-term assignments in Yemen (Sana’a only) may be required if security conditions permit travel.
No phone calls please. All candidates will be acknowledged, but only final candidates for particular activities will be contacted.
How to apply: