Senior Technical Advisor (International Consultant), Health Economics and Financing

The Senior Technical Advisor (International Consultant) supports the African Development Bank and UNFPA joint efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths in Africa by designing and operationalizing a dedicated financial instrument for maternal and newborn health. The role involves strategic design, technical leadership in health economics, partnership building, and resource mobilization to enhance maternal and child health financing in Africa.

Responsibilities

• Support the conceptualization and design of an AfDB-administered multi-country financial instrument specifically for maternal and child health.
• Oversee feasibility studies and economic modeling to demonstrate the ‘Return on Investment’ for maternal and newborn health interventions.
• Support drafting operational guidelines, governance structures, and risk management frameworks for the instrument.
• Support identification of priority countries and shape country investment pipelines with UNFPA and Bank teams.
• Provide expert advice on health financing trends for maternal and newborn health, fiscal space analysis, and universal health coverage in Africa.
• Support integration of maternal, newborn, and child health indicators into broader AfDB projects.
• Analyze national health budgets to identify gaps for catalytic impact of the joint instrument.
• Act as liaison between UNFPA and the Bank’s Social Development and Health departments.
• Coordinate joint UNFPA-Bank engagement with donors and stakeholders to secure capital for the financial instrument.
• Support organization of advocacy events and roundtables to promote the initiative.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in Health Economics, Finance, Public Health, Economics, or a related field, with a focus on maternal and newborn health as an asset.
• At least 10 years of increasingly responsible professional experience at the international level, with a significant portion dedicated to health financing or development finance.
• Proven track record of working with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) or International Financial Institutions (IFIs).
• Demonstrated expertise in policy engagement to advance maternal health financing within developing countries, including Middle Income Countries.
• Strong understanding of the African socio-economic landscape.
• Understanding of areas relevant to UNFPA's mandate such as maternal and newborn health, family planning, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, population dynamics.
• Prior experience within the UN system or a Multilateral Development Bank at a senior level is highly desirable.
• Ability to communicate effectively (in writing and orally) in English or French, preferably with a good working knowledge of the other language.

Skills

• Health Economics
• Health Financing
• Development Finance
• Maternal Health Financing
• Policy Engagement
• Multilateral Development Banks Governance
• International Financial Institutions
• Maternal and newborn health
• Family Planning
• Sexual and Reproductive Health
• Gender-Based Violence Awareness
• Population Dynamics
• African Socio-economic Analysis
• Resource Mobilization
• Strategic Design
• Technical Leadership
• Partnership Building
• UN System Experience
• English
• French

Languages

English, French