Health Policy Advisor (universal Health Coverage)

Organizational Context

The World Health Organization (WHO) in the Democratic Republic of Congo aims to strengthen national health systems to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This role supports the country in developing and implementing health policies and strategies, aligning with national priorities and global health objectives.

Job Purpose

The Health Policy Advisor will provide expert guidance to the government and national stakeholders on designing, implementing, and evaluating health policies and strategies to strengthen the health system and advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC). This involves capacity building for policy dialogue, developing a harmonized vision for service delivery, transforming health financing, evaluating costs, aligning essential system functions, and improving monitoring and evaluation frameworks. The role also focuses on identifying synergies, building alliances, and fostering collaboration with UN agencies, non-state actors, and international donors to drive health system transformation in the DRC.

Responsibilities

Provide expert advice to the government and national stakeholders on health policy design, implementation, and evaluation for health system strengthening and UHC. Build national stakeholder capacity for effective health policy dialogue and reform processes, focusing on key areas like health financing, public health, primary healthcare, and governance. Develop a harmonized vision for service delivery to enhance public health and primary healthcare services for disease prevention and control. Facilitate the transformation of health financing mechanisms towards UHC, improving governance and accountability. Conduct cost evaluations and budgeting for national health policies and plans, including macroeconomic and financing analyses. Align other essential system functions such as human resources and access to medicines. Improve and implement a health system strengthening monitoring and evaluation framework aligned with SDGs. Foster innovative approaches for evidence-based policy implementation and capacity building. Establish and strengthen linkages with institutions, associations, NGOs, and scientific bodies for information exchange and coordination. Demonstrate the impact of reforms on health outcomes and UHC through rigorous evaluations. Execute other related tasks as assigned by the WHO Representative.

Work Experience

Essential: Minimum 10 years of professional experience in health policy, strategy, and planning, with significant international experience. Specific experience in health financing is required. At least five years of experience in a governmental institution or international organization serving low-resource or middle-income countries. Desirable: Experience in health sector evaluation, analysis, and reporting; consensus-building and stakeholder cooperation.

Skills

In-depth technical knowledge in health policy formulation, strengthening, and management; health systems planning, monitoring, and evaluation. Expertise in primary healthcare-based health systems, health system transformation and reform, and health financing policy analysis for UHC. Ability to lead and coordinate multidisciplinary teams and projects. Excellent report writing and presentation skills for high-level audiences. Proven ability to provide sound methodological and technical advice on health policy to diverse stakeholders. Capacity for innovation, integration, synthesis, and communication of complex health policy concepts. Ability to plan, analyze data, and design studies. WHO Competencies: Teamwork, Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences, Communication, Producing results, Building and promoting partnerships, Creating an empowering and motivating environment. Language Skills: Expert knowledge of French; Intermediate knowledge of English.

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