Organization Mission

The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations Public Health Organization established in 1948. The objective of the World Health Organization shall be the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.
World Health Organization achieves its goals by performing its essential functions:
1. Take a leadership role in key health issues and create partnerships when joint action is needed;
2. Set research priorities and encourage the acquisition, application and dissemination of useful knowledge;
3. Setting standards and criteria and encouraging and monitoring them;
4. Develop ethical and evidence-based policies
5. Provide technical support, be an agent of change and build institutional capacity in a sustainable way;
6. Monitor health status and assess health trends.

Context

The World Health Organization (WHO) was established in 1948 as the United Nations’ specialized agency for health. Its mandate is to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. The WHO Regional Office for Africa supports Member States in strengthening health systems, advancing universal health coverage and improving health outcomes across the Region. Within the Health Systems and Services Cluster, the Health Financing and Governance Team provides technical support on health financing reforms, health economics and economic evaluation, resource tracking and National Health Accounts, financial risk protection analysis, public financial management, strategic purchasing and efficiency in health spending.

The Health Financing and Governance Team under the Health Systems and Services Cluster supports Member States in strengthening health financing systems through analytical work, technical assistance and evidence generation. From 2026 onwards, the team will implement an expanded portfolio of grants supporting multi‑country interventions that require advanced health economics and data analytics. These activities increase the analytical, operational and coordination demands on the team. The Health Economics and Data Analytics UN Volunteer will provide analytical and technical support to strengthen data analysis, health financing assessments and the production of technical outputs to inform policy dialogue and decision‑making at regional and country levels.

Key Responsibilities

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Team Lead – Health Financing and Governance or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer will:
• Compile, clean, manage and analyse quantitative datasets related to National Health Accounts and health expenditure
• Analyse public and private health financing flows, including out‑of‑pocket spending and financial risk protection indicators
• Conduct descriptive, trend, cross‑country and comparative analyses for the African Region
• Support health financing and health system diagnostics at regional and country levels
• Contribute to health economics analyses relevant to health financing reforms, including costing and cost‑effectiveness analyses where applicable
• Assist in synthesising economic evidence to inform health policy and financing decisions in low‑resource settings
• Draft and contribute to technical reports, background papers, policy briefs and analytical annexes
• Translate quantitative results into clear, policy‑relevant narratives
• Prepare tables, figures, charts and visualisations for reports and presentations
• Contribute to internal technical reviews and analytical publications, as relevant
• Work closely with technical officers within the Health Financing and Governance Team and the wider Health Systems and Services Cluster
• Participate in meetings and activities aligned with AFRO working hours.

Required Skills and Experience

• Advanced higher degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Health Economics, Economics, Public Health, Health Policy, Biostatistics, Data Science, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level in in health financing, health economics, or health systems analysis; experience working with health expenditure and financing data in low‑ and middle‑income countries; experience contributing to analytical reports, technical documents, or publications.
• Strong quantitative analysis skills using statistical software such as Stata, R, or Python
• Experience in data visualisation and presentation of analytical results
• Familiarity with health financing resource tracking and financial risk protection metrics.
• Solid overall computer literacy, including advanced proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.
• Desirable: A PhD in Health Economics, Economics, Public Health, Health Policy, Biostatistics or Data Science.
• Have affinity with or interest in health economics, health financing, and data analytics in support of universal health coverage, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Core Competencies

• Accountability
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Producing results
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Professionalism
• Self-management
• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

Living Conditions

The Republic of Congo is a low-middle income country, located in Central Africa sub-region.
The country shares boundaries with Gabon in the South-West, Cameroon and Central Republic Africa in the North and North-East, the Democratic Republic of Congo in the East, Angola and Atlantic Ocean in the South.

Since 2014, the Republic of Congo is experiencing an economic downturn, affecting the economic growth (-5 per cent in 2017). Because of the persistent drop in the price of oil, this situation drove to the decline of the gross domestic product per capita, from $3,196 in 2013 to $1,658 in 2017. Nevertheless, the country is globally stable and safe in the main urban and rural areas.

Frequent disruptions are recorded in the electricity supply, particularly in Brazzaville (political capital) and Pointe-Noire (economic capital). The living cost is relatively affordable, but some concerns with the cost of decent housing should be noted. The population enjoys dressing in style and loves music both profane and religious.

According to United Nations security standards, life and travel in Brazzaville and in the other areas major are secure.

The Republic of Congo is a unique country. It provides for an interesting and enriching environment, but also requires a mature level of cultural awareness, as well as more stamina and commitment than elsewhere to make life comfortable and affordable. Therefore, flexibility and the ability and willingness to live and work in harsh and potentially hazardous conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort, are essential.