Expression of interest: Lead economist - mental health investment case

1. Purpose

To develop the mental health investment case for Zimbabwe.

2. Background

The United Nations Interagency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases (UNIATF) was established by the UN Secretary General in 2013. Its role is to bring the United Nations system together to tackle non-communicable diseases and to promote mental health and well-being. Bringing together over 40 UN agencies, as well as the World Bank and regional development banks, the Task Force promotes a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.

Under the Task Force, WHO and UNDP have developed a Joint Programme to catalyse multisectoral action on NCDs at the country level (WHO/UNDP Joint Programme). This includes providing support to countries to develop the case for investing in NCDs. Thanks to the financial support from the Russian Federation, NCD investment cases were developed for 11 countries in 2017-2019.

The second phase of the WHO/UNDP Joint Programme (started in 2020) incorporates national cases for investment in mental health. Mental health investment case provides quantification of the current costs of mental health conditions to the health sector and to the national economy at large, and of the benefits of scaled up action. It includes a return on investment (ROI) analysis that compares the current costs of mental health conditions in the country with the estimated health and economic returns that implementing a set of cost-effective interventions (both scaled up treatment of mental health conditions and population-based preventive programmes) would have over a five, ten and twenty-year period. A guidance for development of mental health investment cases (1) is now available and the methodology was piloted in the Philippines in February 2020. Mental health investment cases for Uzbekistan, Uganda and Kenya are also under way. The mental health module of the OneHealth Tool (2) and Excel based spreadsheet for calculation of the return of investment (ROI) (3) are used for the economic analysis. Assessment of the national mental health system and an institutional context analysis are part of the exercise. The international team undertaking the mental health investment case will comprise of a lead economist, supporting economist (optional), global and regional mental health expert(s) and social development specialist(s). The international team works closely with the national team of experts (nominated by the Ministry of Health), and WHO and UNDP Country and Regional experts.

The Task Force is now looking for a consultant Lead economist to develop the Mental Health Investment case for Zimbabwe.

3. Duties and Responsibilities

Overall responsibility for adapting the WHO/UNDP mental health investment case methodology to meet the country needs and context;

• Coordinate national data collection;
• Ensure national data collection is complemented by relevant regional and international proxy data where no national data is available;
• Ensure timely delivery of the four main components of the model:
  • estimate of the economic burden of the mental health conditions (present health care costs and productivity losses associated with mental health conditions;
  • estimate of the health and economic benefits of the key mental health interventions;
  • estimate of the costs of the modelled mental health interventions;
  • quantification of the return-on-investment in those interventions;
• Contribute to the development of the advocacy strategy for the Investment Case findings;

• Deliver the economic part of the Mental Health Investment Case report, with inputs into other parts of the report as relevant, in coordination with WHO and UNDP;
• Contribute to briefing on the findings to the UN Country Team and the national Government.

4. Duration of contract:

30 days

5. Deliverable

Report summarizing the findings of the economic analysis (including the estimate of the economic burden of the mental health conditions; estimate of the health and economic benefits of the modelled mental health interventions; estimate of the costs of the interventions; quantification of the return-on-investment in those interventions).

6. Specific requirements

Qualification and experience Requirements

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Health Economics, Public Health, Economics or Social Sciences
• At least 5 years’ experience in research, writing, modelling
• Experience in undertaking health investment case analysis (or Health spending cost/benefit analysis), including return on investment
• At least three years relevant work experience in mental health and/or NCDs, especially in a development context
• Research, writing, and analytical skills

Functional

• Familiarity with and experience in global health economics, including mental health or NCDs
• Knowledge of the development dimensions of health
• Familiarity with national health and development planning processes
• Familiarity with the sustainable development goals and targets
• Competence with Microsoft Word and Excel

Project and Resource Management

• Exceptional organizational skills
• Ability to work independently, produce high quality outputs

Partnership Building and Teamwork

• Demonstrated flexibility to excel in a multi-cultural environment
• Provides and receives constructive feedback

Communications and Advocacy

• Exceptional writing skills
• Ability to clearly and briefly generate insights based on analysis of data
• Strong capacity to communicate clearly and quickly
• Provides and receives constructive feedback.

Language Requirement

Fluency in written and spoken English required.

7. Place of assignment

Home-based

8. Travel

No travel is expected under this contract, all meetings will be held through Zoom.

9. Payment modalities and Administrative Arrangements

Payment upon submission of the deliverable. The consultant will be remunerated at a rate that is commensurate with his/her experience.

10. Application and deadline

Interested candidates should apply by sending a CV, a covering letter and a financial proposal to johnsonr@who.int. This should be received by 31 March 2021.