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Background and Justification

Primary Health Care (PHC) is essential for achieving universal health coverage, particularly for delivering key Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services such as antenatal care, contraception, and abortion care. However, East and Southern Africa (ESA), PHC remains underfunded. To realize PHC’s potential, financing must be adequate, efficient, and sustainable, requiring increased and better-targeted spending, improved service quality and coverage, and reliance on domestic public financing. The assignment aims to recruit a consultant to assess PHC spending across ESA countries, identify its levels, drivers, and links to key health indicators. This evidence will guide strategies for more effective, equitable, and sustainable PHC financing in the region.

UNICEF is leading the development of this assignment as part of a joint initiative with the Regional Interagency Technical Team on Universal Health Coverage (UHC RITT). The analysis requires a substantial commitment within a short timeframe, which would overextend existing staff who are already managing ongoing program responsibilities. To ensure both quality and timely delivery, it is more appropriate and efficient to engage a short-term consultant with the necessary technical expertise. The consultant will work under the supervision of in-house health economists to ensure the final product meets high technical standards and aligns with the expectations of key stakeholders and potential funders.

Scope of Work

The specific objective of the work is as follows:

1. 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.
2. To identify key determinants and drivers influencing government expenditure on PHC, with specific attention to SRHR-related investments, across the region.
3. To assess the relationship between PHC spending and key health outcome indicators, including those related to Sexual reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health.
4. 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:

1. 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.
2. Identifying the key determinants/drivers influencing the level of government spending on PHC. This objective builds on 1 above that estimates on the level of government spending (per capita government spending on PHC and/or government share on PHC). This will be addressed through both cross-sectional and longitudinal econometric approaches:

Outputs/Deliverables & Payment Schedule  

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.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

Administrative issues

As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advances purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary.

Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy contract will not be considered ‘staff members’ under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract.

Consultants are responsible for determining and meeting their tax or duty liabilities in accordance with local or other applicable laws. UNICEF does not issue statements of earnings to consultants.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

How to apply

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV or P11 form and their technical proposals to the online recruitment portal (Talent Management System) or email provided.

Interested candidates to indicate their ability, availability, and rate (daily/monthly) expressed in US$ for international consultants or KES for national consultants to undertake the terms of reference. The fees should be inclusive of other costs incurred such as travel/return ticket, VISA and subsistence allowances for international consultants who will be based in Nairobi.

Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered.

Remarks

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

overnment employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.