PHM-Exch> World Health Organization Council on the Economics of Health for All: Research Consultant – 3 positions

[Claudio Schuftan]

*The World Health Organization Council on the Economics of Health for All *

*WHO Secretariat, Department of Health Systems Governance and Finance:
Research Consultant – 3 positions*

*Three full-time consultants are sought to provide research in support of
the Economics of Health for All (EH4A). Responsibilities include technical
analysis and writing on** social, economic and innovation policy
disseminated as reviews, briefs and other documents.  The aim is to elevate
health as a core objective of public policy and reimagine its value through
contributions in at least one of four major areas: measurement, public
sector capacity, finance and the governance of innovation. Consultants
hired will **work remotely for this assignment during 2021.*

*Deadline for application: 14 July 2021 *

*____________________*

*1. General description:*

The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the consequences of chronic
under-investment in public health, on the global economy and on the lives
and livelihoods of billions worldwide.  Returning to the status quo
following the pandemic will not be enough – no less than an innovation-led
transformation of societies and their economies is needed to realize health
and well-being everywhere. New strategies require investments that
recognize the intrinsic value of health, the interdependence between health
and the economy, and that health is a human right.

To advance this agenda, the Director-General of the World Health
Organization established in November 2020 the *WHO Council on the Economics
of Health for All*[1] <#_ftn1>, to advise him on bold and practical
recommendations needed to put “Health for All” at the centre of how we
think about value creation and economic development.

The WHO Council on the Economics of Health for All[2] <#_ftn2> brings
together different areas of policy, which can no longer be seen separately
from health: social policy, economic policy, and innovation policy. Its
mission is to bring health and wellbeing to the centre of how we think
about purpose, value, and development. It aims to propose a new approach to
shape the economy with the objective of building healthy societies that are
just, inclusive, equitable and sustainable.

The Council’s work will:

   - catalyse commitment at the highest political level, to long-term
   investments that will aim to make our economies more inclusive, equitable
   and sustainable, with a particular attention to low resource settings.
   - change the way key actors and platforms think about and value health,
   e.g. national leaders and their finance ministries, economic platforms and
   country groupings, international financial institutions, etc.
   - as part of Health for All, lead to innovations and actions that
   transform local and global health systems that will accelerate progress
   towards SDG target 3.8, in reducing gaps in Universal Health Coverage in
   low-, middle- and high-income countries.



*2. Objectives of the positions:*

During 2021-2023, the Council will publish quarterly briefs (5-10 pages) on
key topics related to the core workstreams. Shorter issue statements will
be produced for specific events or policy discussions taking place in
regional fora, or in response to emerging health and economic issues. A
seminal report will be published in April 2023, based on the Council’s
deliberations and policy proposals. The report will signal a significant
change regarding our understanding of health for all, focussing on key
structural problems and concrete policy proposals. It will be presented at
the World Health Assembly in May 2023.  Briefs, statements and the report
will be disseminated at key global meetings, including those of the G7 and
G20, the International Monetary Fund, The World Bank, and WHO.

These deliverables will advise the Director-General of the World Health
Organization, support engagement beyond the traditional counterparts of
WHO, and involve a whole of government approach, to encourage countries to
make the political choice to invest and design public policies to make
health for all a reality.  The Council’s outputs will also help to inform
the piloting of initiatives in countries that express interest.

The Consultants will conduct research and writing to achieve the above
deliverables, *in one or more of the Council’s four interrelated, core
workstreams[3] <#_ftn3>: *

   - *Measurement*
   - *Capacity*
   - *Finance*
   - *Innovation*



Guided by the Council, the research, technical analysis and writing
conducted by each consultant will support 1) identifying options for a new
narrative putting health in the center of social, economic and development
policies; 2) identifying what could be done globally and within countries
in relation to at least one or more of the four interrelated work areas;
and 3) documenting learning from across countries and communities on what
is being done, towards investing in and building healthy societies.



Consultants will be part of the WHO Secretariat, in the Department of
Health Systems Governance and Finance (HGF). The Secretariat is responsible
for planning and supporting the Council’s overall strategic and technical
work, including coordination of research and related activities reflecting
the Council’s directions, through consultants, thematic working groups and
external experts.



*3. Planned timelines (exact dates subject to recruitment process)*

Target start date:  1 August 2021 (negotiable)   -    End date: 31 July
2022  (renewable)



*4. Duties and responsibilities*

§  *Work to be performed*

In one or more of the four major areas (measurement, public sector
capacity, finance, and the governance of innovation):

*Prepare, shape and write the Council’s deliverables and outputs:*

1.     Conduct research on specific key questions within the area, and
questions that cross cut multiple themes, drawing on published literature
and other sources (e.g. grey literature, policy reports, interviews,
electronic sources, etc.)

2.     Draft the Council’s statements, discussion papers and briefs on key
topics, as well as any joint publications with WHO, in whole or in part,
using clear and concise language suited to non-academic policy audiences.
Redraft as needed based on Council members’ input and other agreed on peer
review comments.

3.     Conduct analysis and prepare presentations to inform high-level
engagements in multilateral and intergovernmental settings and country
policy dialogues.

4.     Contribute to writing the Council’s seminal report, including
drafting and updating text in specific thematic areas.

*Engaging research and policy networks*

5.     Identify opportunities and key events for collaboration on research
or policy engagement, and engage with technical experts, stakeholders,
existing networks, or new networks set up, on critical policy inputs
relevant for the Council’s work.

6.     Record and measure the impact of the Council’s output and engagement.

*Support Council meetings*

7.    Contribute to the development of meeting agendas.

8.    Provide technical analysis and draft background papers to inform the
deliberations of the Council.

9.   Participate and prepare short reports of regular Council meetings and
sub-group meetings on specific theme areas and deliverables under
preparation.



*Other responsibilities *

10. Prepare periodic updates and presentations on the progress of work.

11. Collaborate with the other consultants, the WHO Secretariat, and
advisors to Council Members.

12. Support the WHO Secretariat to ensure outputs are produced and
communicated to a wide range of audiences and disseminated at key events.



§  *Technical Supervision*

The Consultants will work on the content directed by the Council and its
Chair, under the management of the WHO Secretariat.



§  *Deliverables*

1.     Literature reviews on key questions identifying options

2.     Draft Council Statements and Briefs related to thematic areas

3.     Prepare a selection of thematic sections of the Council’s seminal
report

4.     Prepare background documents for Council meetings

5.     Prepare presentations for high level meetings

6.     Intermittent brief status reports produced on an ad hoc basis



*5. Specific requirements*

*A. Qualifications required:            *

*Essential: *

§  An advanced university degree in economics, finance and/or related
discipline with knowledge of research methods relevant to the Council’s
four thematic areas: measurement, public sector capacity, finance and the
governance of innovation.



*Desirable: *



PhD (Doctor of Philosophy or equivalent) in relevant area



*B. Experience required:*

§  At least five to ten years of experience in research and analysis in one
or more of the work areas, including quantitative and qualitative analysis;

§  Experience communicating and engaging with stakeholders and high-level
experts from different backgrounds;

§  Demonstrated ability to review and synthesize data and evidence;

§  Demonstrated experience in supporting publications and working in an
environment that generates research;

§  Demonstrated interest in the Health for All agenda;

§  Experience in working in international teams and cross-culturally;



*C. Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:*

*Essential*

§  Strong background, understanding and experience in economics, both
theory and empirics;

§  Demonstrated expertise in areas related to the key topics of the
Council: health policy, measurement and value in economics and/or health,
public sector capacity, finance including innovative approaches to resource
mobilization and budgeting, and the governance of innovation (as described
in the annex);

§  Strong academic credentials and track record in evidence-based analysis,
and excellent report writing skills in a policy context;

§  Demonstrated ability to think laterally and integrate knowledge from
different disciplines, approaches and viewpoints;

§  Excellent organizational and project management skills;

§  Diplomacy and communication;

§  Willingness to work on multiple tasks simultaneously.

§  Ability to work both independently and as part of a team;

§  Strong drive for results and associated work planning skills;

§  A flexible mindset, and proven ability to navigate and embrace changes
and uncertainties in high-paced environment;

§  Strong inter-personal skills and ability to build trust-based
relationships.



*Desirable*

•      Experience with quantitative and qualitative research;

•      Research or policy experience across different contexts, including
in developing countries;

•      Experience working with policy, multilateral and academic
stakeholders;

•      Experience working with expert commissions;

•      Experience working in both established and start-up environments.



*D. Language requirements:*

§  Excellent written  and verbal communication skills in English  (expert).





*6.  Additional details*

§  *Place of assignment*

The consultant will work remotely for this assignment. Any travel will be
subject to a separate travel authorization.

§  *Medical clearance*

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate
of fitness for work.

§  *Travel*

The consultancy does not include travel.

*However, if travel is proposed, all travel arrangements will be made by
WHO – note  WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the
Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on
mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive
subsistence allowance.*

*Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa
requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.*



*7.  Application process*

*Persons interested with required experience and skills are requested to
submit their application by 14 July 2021 to **EH4A-Secretariat at who.int*
<EH4A-Secretariat at who.int>*  with subject line: “Economics Council Research
Consultant.”  The application should include: *

A.     A brief cover letter outlining pertinent experience and skills to
conduct the work proposed, indicating expertise *in one or more of the four
workstreams*  (measurement, public sector capacity, finance and the
governance of innovation);

B.     a CV with publication history;

C.     a writing sample *as first author* in one of the Council’s work
areas:  measurement, public sector capacity, finance and the governance of
innovation.



- Applications received after this date will not be accepted.

- Only successful candidates with complete applications will be contacted.

- Selection process may include a written test, presentation and interview.


- Selection process will aim to identify three consultants who can
collectively address the four major interrelated areas (e.g.  measurement,
public sector capacity, finance and the governance of innovation)

- Proposals received from this posting may be used to fill future openings
requiring a similar skill set.

*Annex.   Further details on each of the Council’s workstreams*

*The Council will assess, critique, challenge and reimagine the value of
health in four major interrelated areas:*

*[1] MEASUREMENT: Valuing and measuring Health for All. *How do we
understand Health for All as a key objective of economic well-being, and
fundamental to the assessment of how countries design and prioritize
policies and promote the common good, rather than focusing on GDP increase?
How to better value the “human security” that comes from the reduction of
both health threats (including pandemic and environmental risk) and
financial risk for individuals, households, firms, and societies? How much
are the current paradigms gender biased? How do we apply new understandings
to value the workers, carers, and other key actors in the Universal Health
Coverage (UHC) economy, ensuring that time spent on unpaid and voluntary
work –often at home and in communities – are included in the equation? How
could health be included in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
metrics?



*[2] CAPACITY: A public sector leading towards Health for All.* How do we
better capture the critical role of public sector leadership and capacity
in generating health through action on social determinants and
strengthening its dynamic capabilities to drive progress towards UHC,
crystallising new knowledge to drive transformative change? How do we
create sustainable public sector structures to address evolving health and
social care needs? What are the major strategic directions for economic
policies that countries should pursue to drive equitable health gains and
create a framework for a UHC economy? How to structure and govern the way
public and private sectors work together to a shared goal of Health for
All? What are common and different actions to be taken in low, middle and
high resource settings?



*[3] FINANCE: Investing in Health for All.  There are two components: *



*FINANCING for global commons: *How do we redesign national and global
financial instruments and institutions to provide a proactive, stable, and
sustainable flow of investment to support the creation of health, rather
than simply serving the needs of capital markets. This includes investing
in the commons as an expression of the collective responsibility and
capacity needed for public health at community, national, regional, and
global levels and building the preparedness and response capabilities
necessary to not only avoid health crises, but also sustain UHC.



*BUDGETING to address health needs : *How do we alter national budget
processes to focus on outcomes that impact people’s lives and move away
from silos between and within sectors? How to establish the choice to
increase domestic and cross-border investments in health, including within
low-resource settings? How can national and international institutions be
enabled and supported to provide the long-term finance needed for the
transformation to Health for All? Fundamentally, which institutional
arrangements must be altered to embed the intrinsic importance of Health
for All for the future wellbeing of populations and communities?



*[4] INNOVATION: Governing Innovation towards Health for All. *How can we
better govern the innovation system, from intellectual property rights to
digitalisation to new forms of collaboration between public and private
sectors driven by collective intelligence (rather than rent-seeking), and
to financing? How can we change the landscape towards achieving population
health goals, building global health commons, ensuring fair and transparent
pricing, and improving health outcomes? Where have innovations in health –
often perceived at the time as non-growth policies – spurred innovation
across the economy and contributed to economic growth? How can a true
understanding (and narrative) of how value is created collectively in
health innovation translate into a more collective sharing of the rewards
including public health goals like equitable access and improved health
outcomes?

------------------------------

[1] <#_ftnref1>
https://www.who.int/news/item/13-11-2020-who-establishes-council-on-the-economics-of-health-for-all

[2] <#_ftnref2> Council website:
https://www.who.int/groups/who-council-on-the-economics-of-health-for-all

[3] <#_ftnref3> Further details on each workstream are found in the annex.
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