International Consultant, Primary Health Care Spending Analysis Consultant at UNICEF

International Consultant, Primary Health Care Spending Analysis Consultant

The specific objective of the work is as follows:

To estimate the levels of Primary Health Care (PHC) spending—both total and government-specific—across countries in East and Southern Africa over the past five years, including spending on essential Sexual and Reproductive Health Services.
To identify key determinants and drivers influencing government expenditure on PHC, with specific attention to SRHR-related investments, across the region.
To assess the relationship between PHC spending and key health outcome indicators, including those related to Sexual reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health.
To develop evidence-based policy recommendations to enhance the level, efficiency, and effectiveness of PHC spending—with a focus on integrating and prioritizing Sexual and reproductive health services—across East and Southern Africa.

Activities and Tasks: The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

Estimation of the level of PHC spending. This aims to quantify Primary Health Care (PHC) spending—both total and government-specific—across countries in East and Southern Africa over the past five years, with a focus on expenditures related to essential Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services.
The consultant will apply an agreed methodology for ESARO (in consultation with the UHC RITT) and adapt the global measure as per the WHO Guidance.
The analysis will draw primarily from National Health Accounts (NHA), using disaggregation by health function and provider type. Where available, data from the most recent five-year period will be compiled to enable cross-country and trend analyses.

Desired competencies, technical background and experience

An advanced university degree (Master and above) in Health, Statistics, Health Economics or any other valuable field. At least 5 years’ experience in health economics and financing with experience in resource-limited environments
Demonstrated experience in analyzing NHA data, especially the System of Health Accounts (SHA 2011) framework, including estimating sub-sectoral spending
Strong proficiency in applying cross-sectional and panel data econometrics, including fixed/random effects models, growth regressions, and decomposition techniques (e.g. Oaxaca-Blinder).
Skills in using statistical and analytical tools such as Stata, R, or Python for cleaning, merging, managing data, conducting analysis, creating visualizations and interpreting data and generating insights.
Ability to link implications of analysis to health system objectives such as efficiency, equity, sustainability to generate policy-relevant insights
Excellent written communication skills to prepare detailed and clear reports.