Health Economist (Consultancy) at the Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMOH)

The Lagos State Ministry of Health (LSMOH) is a Principal Recipient (PR) of the Global Fund Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH) Grant. As the Principal Recipient, the Ministry of Health is legally responsible for the management of the grant, whilst ensuring the achievement of the programmatic results and accountability of the grant’s resources.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Health Economist (Consultancy)

Location: Lagos
Employment Type: Contract
Duration of Consultancy: The assignment will be undertaken for a period of Six (6) Months

Objectives

• The primary objective of the consultant's support would be to provide economic analysis, conduct cost-effectiveness studies, provide support on healthcare financing, and policy development, and also offer recommendations to optimize resource allocation within the healthcare system.

Specific Objectives

• To assess current Financing Structures (analyze the existing financing landscape for healthcare in Lagos State).
• To review the already existing Resource Mobilization (RM) strategy and ensure its alignment with the unique needs and constraints of Lagos State.
• To develop a robust system to track the effectiveness of financing mechanisms and their impact on health outcomes
• To conduct economic evaluations of already existing health programs (HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria) policies, and interventions to determine their cost-effectiveness and impact on population health outcomes
• To build the capacity of the HFEU on Health Financing and Economics on identified gaps.
• To provide economic insights and analysis to inform decision-making processes related to healthcare resource allocation, reimbursement policies, and healthcare financing mechanisms.
• To utilize economic models and tools to support strategic planning, budgeting, and policy formulation within the healthcare sector.
• To communicate findings and recommendations effectively to the Headship of the Ministry of Health, the HFEU, and other stakeholders.

Scope of Work
Assessment and Analysis:

• Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the current financial status and funding sources of the HFEU.
• Analyze the impact of dwindling financial support from donor organizations on the unit's operations and service delivery.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Engage with key stakeholders, including government agencies, donor organizations, and other relevant partners, to understand their perspectives and identify potential opportunities for collaboration and support.
• Facilitate stakeholder meetings and workshops to gather insights and foster partnerships.

Funding Strategy Development:

• Develop a strategic plan to diversify and secure sustainable funding sources for the HFEU.
• Identify and explore alternative funding mechanisms, such as public-private partnerships, grants, and innovative financing models.

Financial Planning and Management:

• Design and implement robust financial planning and management systems to optimize the use of available resources.
• Provide technical assistance in budget preparation, financial reporting, and monitoring to ensure transparency and accountability.

Capacity Building:

• Conduct training sessions and workshops to build the capacity of HFEU staff in financial management, resource mobilization, and donor engagement.
• Develop training materials and manuals to support ongoing staff development.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

• Establish a monitoring and evaluation framework to track the effectiveness of financial strategies and funding mechanisms.
• Develop key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure progress and impact and make data-driven adjustments as needed.

Advocacy and Communication:

• Develop and implement an advocacy and communication strategy to raise awareness about the HFEU's funding needs and achievements.
• Prepare communication materials, including reports, briefs, and presentations, to effectively engage with potential funders and stakeholders.

Sustainability Planning:

• Create a sustainability plan to ensure the long-term financial stability and resilience of the HFEU.

Key Deliverables
Current Financing Structures Report: A detailed analysis of the existing healthcare financing landscape in Lagos State.

• Expectation: A detailed analysis of the existing healthcare financing landscape in Lagos State.
• Measurement: Evaluation of the comprehensiveness, accuracy, and depth of the analysis provided, including the identification of key financing sources, structures, and challenges

Resource Mobilization Strategy Document: A comprehensive Resource Mobilization strategy tailored to Lagos State's unique needs and constraints.

• Expectation: A comprehensive Resource Mobilization strategy tailored to Lagos State's unique needs and constraints.
• Measurement: Assessment of the strategy's alignment with local needs, inclusion of innovative funding mechanisms, feasibility, and potential for attracting new funding sources.

Finance Mechanisms Tracking System: A robust system to track the effectiveness of financing mechanisms and their impact on health outcomes.

• Expectation: A robust system to track the effectiveness of financing mechanisms and their impact on health outcomes.
• Measurement: Review of the system's design, functionality, user-friendliness, and ability to generate accurate and relevant data on financing mechanisms and health outcomes.

Economic Evaluation Reports:

• Economic evaluations of health programs, policies, and interventions, assessing their cost-effectiveness and impact on population health outcomes.
• Expectation: Economic evaluations of health programs, policies, and interventions, assessing their cost-effectiveness and impact on population health outcomes.
• Measurement: Analysis of the thoroughness, methodology, and clarity of the economic evaluations, including their relevance and applicability to decision-making processes.

Capacity Building Training Materials:

• Training materials and manuals for HFEU staff on Health Financing and Economics
• Expectation: Training materials and manuals for HFEU staff on Health Financing and Economics.
• Measurement: Quality, relevance, and comprehensiveness of the training materials, as well as feedback from training participants on their usefulness and effectiveness.

Economic Models and Tools:

• Economic models and tools to support strategic planning, budgeting, and policy formulation within the healthcare sector.
• Expectation: Economic models and tools to support strategic planning, budgeting, and policy formulation within the healthcare sector.
• Measurement: Functionality, accuracy, and ease of use of the economic models and tools, along with their integration into strategic planning and policy formulation processes

Communication of Findings: Presentations and reports effectively communicating findings and recommendations to the Ministry of Health leadership, HFEU, and other stakeholders

Qualifications and Expertise

• Advanced Degree (Master's or PhD) in Health Economics, Development Economics, Public Health, Health Policy, International Development, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 - 10 years of experience in health financing, health economics evaluation methods, and health policy analysis.
• Experience working in the government sector and collaborating with diverse stakeholders in the healthcare sector.
• Knowledge of Lagos State healthcare systems, health financing mechanisms, and regulatory frameworks at the national and international levels.
• Familiarity with domestic and international resource mobilization for health at national and sub-national levels
• Proficiency in quantitative analysis and economic modeling techniques.
• Strong analytical skills (quantitative and qualitative research methods) and familiarity with evaluation methodologies and analysis of databases with the ability to interpret complex data, conduct sensitivity analyses, and communicate findings effectively
• Familiarity with statistical software such as STATA, R, or SPSS for data analysis.
• Ability to analyze healthcare policies and programs from an economic perspective, assessing cost-effectiveness and impact on health outcomes.
• Experience in providing economic insights to inform decision-making processes related to healthcare resource allocation and reimbursement policies.
• Experience in designing and delivering capacity-building training programs on health financing and economics.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to effectively communicate complex economic concepts to diverse audiences.
• Ability to adapt to changing contexts and innovate in response to emerging challenges in health financing and economics.
• Creative problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to identifying opportunities for improvement.

Application Closing Date
The deadline for the submission should not be later than 5pm of Tuesday 17th December, 2024.