The goal of the CHAI Sustainable Health Financing program in Malawi is to support the government to progressively move towards universal health coverage through sustainably bringing more resources into the health sector and to ensure they are distributed and utilized equitably, efficiently and effectively for the delivery of high-quality health services. The CHAI Malawi Sustainable Health Financing team works closely with departments across the Ministry of Health (MoH), and in particular with the Department of Planning and Policy Development and District Health Management Teams, to provide technical assistance, develop analytical tools, and strengthen capacity to manage spending in Malawi’s health sector.

CHAI Malawi seeks an Associate, Sustainable Health Financing based in Lilongwe, Malawi to work with the Government of Malawi to address critical funding shortfalls and inefficiencies in financing the health sector. The Associate will report to the Senior Program Manager, Sustainable Health Financing and Health Workforce, within the office’s Health Systems Strengthening Cluster.

This is a challenging but rewarding position which will directly impact the government’s capacity to deliver improved health services for the population of Malawi. It presents an opportunity to work closely with a government that is committed to finding opportunities for sustainable financing of the health sector and delivering a stronger health system for the people of Malawi.

• Provide technical partnership and support to the MoH on a broad range of health financing and health systems issues. Examples of the range of potential projects may include: supporting aid alignment towards the Health Sector Strategic Plan III for 2023-2030 as part of the “One Plan, One Budget, One Report” approach; supporting District Health Offices in developing planning, budgeting, and management tools; strengthening strategic purchasing of health services to drive efficiencies; evidence-based modelling for health workforce recruitment and pre-service education; operationalize critical health workforce reforms such as civil service performance management and harmonized continuous professional development; and supporting long-term capacity-building of Malawi’s health financing ecosystem;
• Support the MoH to operationalize the recently developed Health Sector Strategic Plan III, with a particular focus on health financing, governance, and health workforce reforms;
• Facilitate the development and implementation of government planning, budgeting, and donor coordination processes and tools, with the aim of improving efficiency and joint accountability at the national and district levels;
• Build strategic relationships and facilitate meetings with government, donors and external stakeholders to drive operational and policy changes;
• Build government health financing capacity by delivering targeted training and skills development;
• Contribute to the development of program work plans, budgets, and reporting for internal and external audiences;
• Lead preparation of activity budgets and ensure timely liquidation of all activities once completed, in line with CHAI and donor best practices and policies for sound financial management;
• Lead activity logistics in collaboration with the CHAI Finance and Operations teams, including disbursing allowances to meeting participants and ensuring that services such as venue hire, conferencing, printing, etc. are available for activities as relevant;
• Perform any other relevant duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, health economics, health systems, public health, health sciences, public policy, or similar subject preferred; master’s degree is an added advantage
• Minimum of two years of professional experience, preferably in health systems strengthening, health economics, health financing, health workforce, public health, public policy, public sector finance, consulting, or other relevant experience
• Knowledge and experience in health systems and health financing, particularly in low- and middle-income countries
• Outstanding analytical skills and advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Structured thinker with experience analyzing and interpreting complex datasets to identify key trends and to translate them into actionable options for decision-makers
• Strong diplomatic and interpersonal skills and ability to build strategic relationships with government partners, donors and other stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to deliver excellence in high-pressure situations, set priorities, and adapt to rapidly changing environments
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills without need for extensive structural or operational support
• Strong writer, facilitator, and oral communicator, able to distill and explain complex concepts to varied audiences.