Tigray, Ethiopia
Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)

Health Insurance Information System Program Officer
CHAI Overview: Founded in 2002 by President William J. Clinton, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) is a global health organization committed to strengthening integrated health systems around the world and expanding access to care and treatment for HIV/AIDS, malaria and other illnesses. Based on the premise that business-oriented strategy can facilitate solutions to global health challenges, CHAI acts as a catalyst to mobilize new resources and optimize the impact of these resources to save lives, via improved organization of commodity markets and more effective local management. CHAI does not operate stand-alone programs, nor does it build parallel health systems. Rather, CHAI works at the invitation and in support of governments. CHAI's teams are working side-by-side with more than 30 governments to tackle many of the largest barriers to effective health care. 
Description: The Government of Ethiopia has supported significant improvements in health over the past decade and now aims to accelerate progress to deliver quality essential health services to its growing population of close to 100 Million people. To achieve this goal, Ethiopia is rolling out health insurance schemes with the goal of reaching most of the population by 2020. If successful, Ethiopia will set an example for all other countries working towards the goal of universal health coverage on the continent.
To successfully roll out this ambitious reform, the Ethiopian Health Insurance Agency will need to overcome technical, operational and management challenges of insurance scale-up across a large and diverse country. Already the Government has begun to scale-up community-based health insurance. To take the next steps, there is a recognized need to test changes to the current CBHI scheme design and management. CHAI is supporting the Agency in implementing a pilot in three regions of the country to improve the scalability and sustainability of community-based health insurance, and ensuring that this scheme can be integrated into a national health insurance scheme. This includes working to test and then scale up robust information systems.
Robust information systems are a critical component of a well-functioning insurance system. CHAI is partnering with Watsi, a nonprofit that develops IT to improve the efficiency and functionality of insurance schemes, to support the EHIA in this pilot. Watsi’s IT streamlines the administration of community-based health insurance. By facilitating tasks like enrollment, claims submission and processing, financial management, and reporting, Watsi’s technology aims to help the insurance systems reduce administration costs and surface data to enable management at all levels to fine tune the design and operation of the scheme.
Responsibilities:
CHAI is seeking a highly motivated individual with outstanding project management capabilities and experience with technical projects as the Information Technology Program Officer to Support the CHAI-Watsi project to design, develop, and implement information systems and technology for the pilot of a new community-based health insurance design. He or she will work closely with CHAI staff on the ground, EHIA Mekele branch and health facilities, as well as with Watsi on a day to day basis. He or she will serve as Watsi’s primary source of day-to-day support in Tigray.
 
Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Act as a link between the Watsi development team and the daily pilot users of the platform in Tigray — visiting participating health facilities and claims processing branch office and observing users, gathering information and feedback on how software and processes are working, and surfacing areas that need attention to the Watsi and CHAI team


Use proximity to day-to-day pilot activities and knowledge of local context to help plan for implementation, scale up, and ongoing support for the roll-out of the insurance information system


Provide input and technical support to CHAI staff working on the enhanced CBHI pilot implementation in improving the use of technologies to increase efficiency and effectiveness of systems for premium collection, financial management, claims processing, enrollment and other core areas


Maintain a registry of hardware and set up systems for maintenance.


Set up systems to facilitate monitoring and early identification of problem areas during the roll-out and implementation of the insurance scheme and work with relevant bodies to address these problems as they arise


Act as a resource for the Watsi team when they travel to participating health facilities to explore and examine user experience, prototype and test pieces of the platform -- coordinating logistics, helping to arrange meetings with the appropriate people, translating conversations, and providing other local context and support


Other responsibilities as requested by CHIA Health Financing program and CBHI Pilots program managers. 


 
Job Requirements

Qualifications:
We work in a fast-paced, results-driven environment and this health insurance reform is a top priority for the Government. We are seeking a highly motivated individual with relevant experience in the Ethiopian health sector. This individual would be a fast learner who is both detail oriented and has the ability to ask the key questions or see the “big picture.” We place great value on resourcefulness, responsibility, tenacity, flexibility, independence, energy, work ethic and humility.
 
Qualifications include the following:

Strong command of the English language, Amharic, and Tigrinya required;


Advanced degree in a relevant field including project management, public health, information technology and/or business;


5-7+ years of professional experience including in implementing health programs and working on IT projects; Experience working in the not for profit sector and/or with government is a plus;


Understanding of the Ethiopian health system an advantage;


Demonstrated understanding of mobile and new technologies;


Experience designing, managing and implementing projects;


Excellent problem solving, analytical and quantitative skills, including attention to detail;


Strong communication skills, including delivery of compelling presentations and documents;


Strong interpersonal skills and ability to achieve consensus amongst stakeholders;


Ability to work independently, set priorities and handle multiple tasks simultaneously;


Ability to learn on the job quickly and absorb and synthesize a broad range of information;


Ability to navigate ambiguous and complex processes and be flexible;


Willingness to travel within Ethiopia as needed (estimated 30%) with significant travel to woreda schemes

 

How to Apply
[email protected] and/or www.etcareers.com