Associate, Health Financing, Laboratory Services

The Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to saving lives and reducing the burden of disease in low-and middle-income countries, while strengthening the capabilities of governments and the private sector in those countries to create and sustain high-quality health systems that can succeed without our assistance. For more information, please visit: http://www.clintonhealthaccess.org

Laboratory Services Program:

CHAI Rwanda Laboratory Services Program is supporting the GoR and MOH/Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) to identify challenges in the current medical laboratory network, evaluate and implement potential system strengthening opportunities and strategies to expand the coverage of diagnostics services across the country and create long-term improvements in healthcare delivery. Through the African Health Diagnostics Platform Project (AHDP), CHAI Rwanda team is supporting the MOH to assess, design, negotiate and implement Public private partnerships (PPP) between partner governments and private commercial organizations to achieve this goal. Through the Molecular Diagnostic Network Optimization (DNO) and Sample Referral System (SRS) design exercise, CHAI team is supporting the RBC/National Reference laboratory (NRL) to assess current and future testing network design to align testing demand and capacity in the most cost-effective way by defining the optimal instruments mix, identifying the most appropriate locations where instruments should be placed, and designing the referral network linkages across that revised network. CHAI team is also working with RBC, NRL to ensure timely response for COVID-19 pandemic management.

Position Overview:

CHAI is looking for an Associate, Health Financing to support the MOH in creating an efficient plan for, negotiation and implementation of the PPP agreement in laboratory sector. The Associate will provide high-level technical support to the MOH and the RBC/NRL in driving strategic planning and execution of the PPP. They will drive tender and negotiation process, identify resource gaps and other potential pitfalls, and support the government to establish a rigorous health financing and monitoring plan to support a successful implementation of the project.

The Associate will report to CHAI Rwanda’s Laboratory Services Program Manager and work closely with other team members, as well as CHAI’s global Laboratory Services Team. They will work closely with the MOH Planning, Health Financing and M&E team to provide technical and implementation support to drive finalization of PPP deals in laboratory sector.

CHAI is seeking a highly motivated individual with strong public health/laboratory sciences experience, outstanding credentials, and project implementation skills to support the program in Rwanda. CHAI places great value on relevant personal qualities: resourcefulness, responsibility, tenacity, flexibility, independence, energy, work ethic and humility.

Responsibilities

• Prepare PPP feasibility study documents for submission to the RBD, MINECOFIN for review and initiation of tender process.
• Update PPP feasibility study financial model, as necessary.
• Conduct private sector scoping- assessing private partner capacities, cost structures, regulations for engagement of private sector and operational models for implementation.
• Support private sector round table event to get key feedback on expected tender.
• Map costs and tariffs of laboratory tests and benchmarking with global data to inform updates to insurance tariffs.
• Map the health financing context within which PPP would operate; contracting and payment modalities; available funding, and ongoing domestic financing reforms.
• Support government in running the PPP tender process, conduct negotiations with private partner providing pricing and scenario analysis and key contract terms to guide, review matrix to compare tender application.
• Support the MOH in design of the PPP performance management framework.
• Participate in field visits to health facilities as required.
• Develop materials and document project updates to share internally/with stakeholders.
• Conduct literature reviews and research activities as needed, and undertake other duties related to improving diagnostics access.
• Proactively identify and support risk mitigation to ensure proper implementation of the work
• Other responsibilities as needed.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Public Health, Health Financing, Health Economics, Business, Laboratory Sciences, or related technical field with a minimum of 3 years’ experience working in health system strengthening projects or in public/private health diagnostics projects or Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Health Financing, Health Economics, Business, Laboratory Sciences, or related technical field with a minimum of 5 years’ experience
• Strong technical knowledge and understanding of health sector diagnostics and familiarity with global health issues, experience in carrying out diagnostics project implementation work, proven ability to understand PPP models in the health sector
• Demonstrated skills in qualitative and quantitative data collection, data management and analysis, including knowledge of computer software: MS Office applications and other information systems (e.g. MS Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.)
• Excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Ability to learn the job quickly and adapt in a fast-oriented organization
• Ability to work independently on complex projects and proactively manage activities with minimal supervision
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to navigate government processes with multiple stakeholders to build relationships
• High level of integrity, and professionalism
• Working knowledge of English

Advantages:

• Experience in convening meetings and facilitating discussions among multidisciplinary group of stakeholders; previous experience working with government stakeholders
• Familiarity with a broad range of key global health issues, including health systems or health financing challenges in developing countries
• Experience working in Rwanda or other resource-limited settings
• Smartsheet experience