Senior Technical Advisor (International Consultant), Health Economics and Financing

Background

African Development Bank Group, comprising the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF), and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF), is an international organization established under public international law with the overarching mission to advance sustainable economic growth and social progress across Africa. The Bank is implementing the Ten-Year Strategy (TYS-2024-2033) and the Strategy for Quality Health Infrastructure in Africa (2021-2030) to mobilize resources to scale-up development in different sectors, including the health sector. In addition, the Bank is implementing 4 Cardinal Points including Cardinal Point #3 on Harnessing Demographic Transformation for Economic Development. The UNFPA and African Development Bank are jointly recruiting a Senior Technical Advisor (International Consultant) to bridge the gap between technical maternal and newborn health interventions and sustainable development finance.

The Host Complex and Department

Complex: The Vice Presidency for Agriculture, Human, and Social Development (AHVP) is a Sector Complex focusing on two of the Bank’s High 5s priorities of “Feed Africa” and “Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa”. The complex objectives are (i) to develop policy and strategy; (ii) provide deep sector expertise to the regions by gathering pools of experienced individuals who can be consulted to provide sector expertise on complex transactions; (iii) develop new financing instruments; (iv) represent the Bank in external stakeholders engagements on aspects of “Feed Africa” and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa”.

Department: The Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Department (AHHD), within the Agriculture, Human and Social Development (AHVP) Complex spearheads the implementation of the Bank’s TYS cross cutting priority on ‘Investing in Youth’ and Cardinal Point No 3 on Transforming demographic dividend into Economic Power. The Department has three divisions (i) Education and Skills Development Division, which focuses on scaling-up the Bank’s support to Higher Education (HE) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET), (ii) Public Health, and Social Protection Division focusing on strengthening inclusive access to quality healthcare and social protection and (iii) The Human Development division for North and Central Africa regions. In particular, AHHD oversee the implementation of the Strategy for Quality Health Infrastructure in Africa as well as the Jobs for Youth in Africa in Africa Strategy and the roll out of the Youth, Skills and Jobs Marker System. It also hosts various related initiatives and trust funds for the promotion of human capital development in Africa including in the health sector.

Objectives

The UNFPA and African Development Bank are jointly recruiting a Senior Technical Advisor (International Consultant) to support the Bank’s and UNFPA’s joint efforts to Ending Preventable Maternal and Newborn Deaths in Africa, including by designing, structuring, and operationalizing a dedicated Financial Instrument (e.g., a Thematic Window, an Investment Platform, AfDB managed Trust Fund, or an Outcome Fund) and explore opportunities to leverage existing financing instruments for maternal, adolescent and newborn health outcomes.

Expected Results

• Design options for an AfDB-administered financial instrument for maternal and newborn health are developed and agreed in principle by AfDB and UNFPA (including recommended structure, governance, risk approach, and initial capitalization strategy)
• Priority countries and an initial investment pipeline are identified and validated with relevant AfDB sector teams and country stakeholders
• Evidence products (economic modelling) to support resource mobilization and countries’ decision-making are delivered for selected interventions (e.g., midwifery human resources, competency-based capacity building; digitalization, accountability systems, mobile clinics; Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) commodities including essential, quality-assured medicines and devices).
• Technology and innovation opportunities are assessed and integrated into instrument design (including data/verification approaches for results-based elements and potential partnerships with digital health and supply chain actors).

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Strategic Design of the Financial Instrument and leverage existing financing instruments
• Support the conceptualization and design of an AfDB-administered multi-country financial instrument (grant-based, loan-blending, or result-based financing) specifically for maternal and child health.
• Oversee feasibility studies and economic modeling to demonstrate the ‘Return on Investment’ for maternal and newborn health interventions such as midwifery models of care and expanding access to quality assured MNH commodities, in the African context.
• Support the drafting of the operational guidelines, governance structures, and risk management frameworks for the instrument in collaboration with Bank’s and UNFPA’s legal and financial departments, as well as supporting the operationalization of the instrument.
• Support identification of a number of priority countries including the Bank’s Transition Support Facility countries and countries that are renewing their Country Strategy Papers with the Bank in 2026-27, and under government leadership work with UNFPA and Bank teams to shape country investment pipelines.

• Technical Leadership in Health Economics for maternal and newborn health
• Leverage expert advice to the Bank leadership on health financing trends for maternal and newborn health, fiscal space analysis, and universal health coverage (UHC) in Africa - and on their links to ending preventable maternal deaths.
• Support the integration of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) indicators into broader AfDB infrastructure and human capital projects
• Support the analyses of national health budgets of priority African countries to identify gaps where the joint instrument can provide maximal catalytic impact, including in alignment with UNFPA SMART advocacy strategies for domestic resource mobilization to establish domestic budget lines for essential reproductive health commodities and health work force including midwifery workforce.

• Partnership and Resource Mobilization
• Act as a liaison between UNFPA and the Bank’s Social Development and Health departments
• Coordinate joint UNFPA-Bank engagement with bilateral donors, private philanthropic foundations, and African Member States to secure capital for the new financial instrument.
• Support organization of high-level advocacy events and roundtables during the AU Summits, Bank Annual Meetings, and UN General Assembly to promote the initiative.

Deliverables and Indicative Timeline

Timing
Deliverable
Notes/Acceptance Criteria
Month 1-3
Inception note and stakeholder map (Bank/UNFPA), including workplan and decision points
Cleared by Bank supervisor and UNFPA administrative focal point
Instrument options paper (structure, governance, capitalization, risk/controls) and recommended option
Includes alignment with Bank policies, fiduciary requirements, and UNFPA mandate
Months 3–6
Economic modelling/feasibility pack for selected interventions (ROI narrative + technical annex)
At least two intervention cases; assumptions documented; decision-useful summary
Priority country shortlist and initial investment pipeline, with engagement plan
Validated with relevant Bank country/sector teams; links to CSP cycles and TSF
Months 6–8
Draft operational guidelines (incl. eligibility, selection, disbursement/RBF logic, M&E approach)
Reviewed by Bank legal/finance and UNFPA counterparts; revisions logged
Months 8–11
Resource mobilization package (pitch deck outline, donor brief, talking points) and at least two donor engagements supported
Materials aligned to Bank /UNFPA communications guidance
End-of-assignment report and handover note (status, next steps, risks, recommendations)
Shared with Bank and UNFPA; includes document repository index

Performance Indicators

• Instrument design package completed on time and judged fit-for-purpose by AfDB and UNFPA counterparts (recommended model).
• At least one concrete pathway to operationalization is agreed (e.g., internal concept note submitted, draft guidelines reviewed, or decision meeting completed).
• Priority country shortlist and pipeline developed with documented consultation and alignment to CSP/TSF cycles.
• Resource mobilization materials produced and used in donor engagements.
• Technology/innovation integration is evidenced through at least one concrete output.
• At least one joint publication on Maternal and Child Health covering economic models, domestic financing, or technology.

Competencies

• Core Competencies
• Integrity/Commitment to mandate: Demonstrated commitment to UNFPA's mission and AfDB’s goals.
• Knowledge Sharing/Continuous Learning: Ability to translate complex economic data into actionable policy advice.
• Valuing Diversity: Ability to work in a multicultural, multi-institutional environment.

• Functional Competencies:
• Financing Expertise: Proven ability to design complex financing mechanisms or trust funds within an MDB context.
• Policy Advocacy: Strategic thinking and the ability to influence high-level government and bank officials.
• Technical Expertise: Deep understanding of maternal and newborn health challenges in Africa and the socioeconomics of health systems.

Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or Ph.D.) in Health Economics, Finance, Public Health, Economics, or a related field, with a focus on maternal and newborn health as an asset.
• At least 6 years of increasingly responsible professional experience at the international level, with a significant portion dedicated to health financing or development finance.
• Proven track record of working with Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) or International Financial Institutions (IFIs).
• Demonstrated expertise in policy engagement to advance maternal health financing within developing countries, including Middle Income Countries.
• Strong understanding of the African socio-economic landscape;
• Understanding of areas relevant to UNFPA's mandate such as maternal and newborn health, family planning, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, population dynamics;
• Prior experience within the UN system or a Multilateral Development Bank at a senior level is highly desirable.
• Ability to communicate effectively (in writing and orally) in English or French, preferably with a good working knowledge of the other language.

Supervision and Duration of the Assignment

The International Consultant will be embedded in the Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Department (AHHD) and report administratively to the Director, AHHD (or delegated Manager for Public Health and Social Protection). The assignment will be for 11 months based at the Bank’s headquarters, in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

Ethics, Safeguards, and Inclusion

All activities shall align with AfDB policies and safeguards, including gender equality, social inclusion, and DO NO HARM principles. Apprenticeships and site‑based training must comply with national labor laws, occupational safety standards, and child‑protection norms.