Global Health Fellows Program
Technical Advisor III: Senior Public Finance Advisor
Office of Health Systems, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development
Location: Arlington, VA
Assignment: Two year fellowship
GHFP II-P4-174
The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP-II) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute in partnership with Global Health Corps, GlobeMed, Management Systems International and PYXERA Global. GHFP-II is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
GHFP-II’s goal is to improve the effectiveness of USAID health programs by addressing the Agency’s immediate and emerging human capacity needs. The program seeks to accomplish this goal first through the recruitment, placement and support of diverse health professionals at the junior, mid and senior levels. These program participants include fellows, interns, corporate volunteers and Foreign Service National professionals. The program then provides substantial performance management and career development support to participants, including annual work planning assistance, and ensures that professional development opportunities are available.
Looking to the future, GHFP-II also seeks to establish a pool of highly-qualified global health professionals that will ensure the Agency’s ongoing technical leadership and effectiveness. This objective is supported by an extensive outreach program that brings global health opportunities and specialized career advice to a diverse range of interested individuals, with a particular focus on those underrepresented in the field of global health.
BACKGROUND:
Meeting the needs of 36 million people living with HIV in the next five years will exceed current donor commitments. To narrow this gap, USAID plans to work with countries, tailoring solutions to each country context through a unique mix of health financing approaches in order to mobilize their domestic resources while ensuring transparency, accountability, and impact.
The objective of the Sustainable Financing for HIV/AIDS: Bold Vision Initiative is to deliver an AIDS-free generation with shared financial responsibility with host country governments. PEPFAR is committing $63.5 million in Phase I to support ongoing country led efforts in Kenya, Tanzania, and Vietnam, with additional countries under consideration, to further mobilize their own resources to help deliver an AIDS-free generation. USAID will serve as the lead agency for coordinating and implementing this initiative. This centrally-funded initiative was developed out of collaboration between the Bureau for Global Health’s (GH) Office of HIV/AIDS (OHA), Office of Health Systems (OHS), the Center for Accelerating Innovation and Impact (CII), and the Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and the Environment (E3). Tapping into this broad range of technical expertise, USAID will partner closely with select country stakeholders to support new and ongoing health financing activities that aim to increase domestic resources for the health sector. USAID will coordinate and collaborate across U.S. Government (USG) agencies and with multilateral stakeholders in the design and implementation of this initiative. Solutions tailored to individual country contexts will involve health financing approaches encompassing advocacy and analysis, technical efficiency, tax policy and administration, and innovative health financing, including use of the private sector. The Initiative will support the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)’s key intervention areas to ensure impact and efficiency gains, build sustainability and partnerships, and advance the human rights agenda.
The United Stated Government has made the fight against HIV/AIDS a top priority, not only for humanitarian reasons, but because the HIV/AIDS crisis threatens the prosperity, stability and development of nations around the world. PEPFAR is a USG global initiative to control the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It is the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease. Over the past decade, the USG has committed more than $52 billion to bilateral HIV/AIDS programs, the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and bilateral tuberculosis programs. To achieve an AIDS-free generation, PEPFAR works closely with a variety of stakeholders including partner countries, multilateral organizations, civil society, people living with and affected by HIV, the faith community, and the public and private sectors. USAID has been, and continues to be, at the forefront of the USG response in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic since the inception of its international HIV/AIDS program in 1986.
PEPFAR recognizes that donor resources alone cannot meet the needs of the 36 million people that will be living with HIV in 2020. As developing economies grow and begin to more fully realize their economic potential, unlocking domestic financing for HIV becomes a critical element of achieving long-term sustainability of the HIV/AIDS response. Countries are increasingly taking the lead in managing, implementing, and even financing their national HIV responses. As a result, PEPFAR has committed funding to support countries to strengthen their ongoing efforts to increase the use of their own resources to help deliver an AIDS-free generation.
INTRODUCTION:
The Senior Public Finance Advisor (Senior Advisor) will be assigned to GH’s Office of Health Systems. The Senior Advisor will provide key technical and programmatic support to GH’s Cross-Office Team for the Sustainable Financing for HIV/AIDS Initiative (OHA, CII and E3). S/he will advance the vision and goals for domestic resource mobilization (DRM) for HIV/AIDS and long-term, sustainable programming for control of the epidemic.
S/he will receive day-to-day guidance and technical oversight from the Senior Health Economist at the Office of Health Systems as his/her onsite manager, with technical guidance also provided from the Public Finance Lead from E3. S/he will focus on strategies and interventions in areas of tax policy and tax administration, improving public finance management, transparency in budgeting and increased efficiency in how resources are allocated and used.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Senior Public Finance Advisor will be responsible for:
- Providing technical input into planning and program development for USAID’s Sustainable Financing for HIV/AIDS Initiative.
- Working collaboratively with GH and E3 colleagues to strategize, develop scopes of work, operationalize work plans, and monitor and report progress under the Initiative.
- Monitoring implementing partners’ DRM and Public Financial Management (PFM) work in the field, including fulfillment of a technical advisory role on discrete Initiative activities as required.
- Providing technical assistance, analysis, and design support to other GH offices, USAID missions and PEPFAR country teams on how to leverage public finance interventions to increase DRM and sustainable health financing.
- Contributing technical expertise in developing strategies, tools and systems related to public finance management including public expenditure reviews, fiscal and taxation policies, revenue collection and management, and budgetary reforms;
- Tracking and raising awareness of the latest concepts, emerging trends, and innovative approaches around improving governance, transparency and management in the public finance sector in support of mobilizing domestic resources for health.
- Developing and delivering presentations and short courses, as needed, on public finance basics for USAID/GH, field missions, and other relevant stakeholders.
- Conducting briefings for Bureau and Mission management, and producing technical papers and reporting cables on DRM for health and HIV.
- Mentoring team members and other staff on DRM and PFM.
International and domestic travel approximately 25-35%.
Training and professional development (7%)
- Keeping abreast of literature and latest developments in the fields of health financing.
- Deepening knowledge of health financing, tax policy and administration.
- Participating in interagency and intra-agency working groups as appropriate to SOW.
- Participating in professional continuing education and skills training within the purview of GHFP-II.REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE:
- A Master’s degree or higher in economics, public finance, public administration or related discipline(s).
- Minimum ten (10) years’ experience in the field of public finance, with demonstrated expertise in tax policy and administration, program-/performance-based budgeting, budget execution, and other areas of PFM, with at least three (3) years’ experience in an international or resource-challenged setting.
- Extensive experience working with ministries of finance, tax administrations, and other ministries, departments, and agencies in the design and implementation of DRM and PFM reforms.
- Proven track record of technical advisory support to high level decision-makers in the public, private and civil society sectors.
- Experience with capacity building, institutional development, coaching and mentoring especially in cross-cultural and inter-disciplinary settings.
- Strong background in program development and management, including experience in the design, management, and implementation of technical assistance in developing countries.
- Demonstrated ability to apply accepted tools, techniques and frameworks for tax and broader fiscal policy analysis.
- Demonstrated experience and results in conducting high-level fiscal policy dialogue and advocacy.
- Demonstrated understanding of health financing issues in developing countries, including the role of domestic resource mobilization, allocative and technical efficiency, results-based financing, and related issues.
- High degree of judgment, ingenuity and originality to interpret strategy, to analyze, develop and present work, and to monitor and evaluate implementation of programs.
- Demonstrated knowledge of and familiarity with USAID and wider USG processes and programming modalities.
- Demonstrated experience working with a wide range of development partners, including multilateral and bilateral donors as well as private foundations and civil society.
- Solid teamwork skills and experience working with diverse teams.
- Excellent communication, presentation and writing skills.
- Ability to travel internationally.
- US citizenship or US permanent residency required.
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
Salary based on commensurate experience and earnings history. The Public Health Institute offers a comprehensive benefits package including professional development programs.
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