Health Specialist

Overview

The Health Specialist will provide technical and operational support to human capital and job programs, health emergency response, and human development analytics in Afghanistan.

Key Responsibilities

• Support implementation and supervision of the Afghanistan Health Emergency Response (HER) Project.
• Lead technical components of the HER Project, including Quality of Care and localization of medicines.
• Support technical engagement with donors and the Ministry of Public Health on health system cost-burden sharing.
• Draft technical reports and develop analytical products for the Afghanistan Human Development PASA.
• Engage in technical discussions to advance financing and pivot strategies.
• Provide technical and project management support for the Human Capital and Jobs (HCJ) Program, focusing on health and nutrition services.
• Liaise with implementation partners for the delivery of basic health and nutrition services under the HCJ Program.
• Engage in policy dialogues and conduct assessments to support health system strengthening and medicine localization.
• Collaborate with the Asian Development Bank to ensure alignment in health service delivery.
• Support drafting and reviewing key project documents and compliance reports.
• Provide inputs and support to TTLs of Education and Social Policy programs, particularly in implementing ECD, community-based education, distance learning, safety nets, skills and employment, and certification programs.
• Maintain active policy dialogue with ITA counterparts and partners on education, cash programming, safety nets, employment support, and social protection delivery systems.
• Contribute to engagement on the human capital agenda, particularly regarding gender and inclusion.
• Support program TTLs in fostering synergies across the Afghanistan portfolio and within HCJ components.
• Collaborate to develop a unified theory of change and results framework for the HCJ project.
• Engage with implementing partners to support beneficiary targeting and profiling.

Required Experience

• Minimum 8 years of relevant experience in public health, health system management, or health economics, in preparation and supervision of major Bank-funded projects, or similar experience from other multilateral development institutions.
• Prior experience of working with/on health systems in Afghanistan and strong knowledge of and experience with various aspects such as institutional setup, health policies and programs, challenges, and priorities.
• Demonstrated expertise in social protection, safety nets, and education policy, including experience with cash transfer programs, employment support mechanisms, or early childhood development; prior exposure to delivery systems and beneficiary targeting in fragile or conflict-affected settings is a strong advantage.
• Demonstrated expertise in policy dialogue and the ability to interact effectively with a range of stakeholders at various levels.
• Prior experience in an international development institution (public, NGO, or private sector) or academia is preferred.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in public health, demographics, health economics, health policy, epidemiology, health system administration, or professional degree (medicine, nursing) (Master’s degree required, PhD or equivalent would be an asset).
• A medical degree would be an asset.

Other Details