Job Description

E T Consultant

Job #: req39245 Organization: World Bank Sector: Other Grade: EC2 Term Duration: 1 year 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Buenos Aires,Argentina Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 11/20/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

At the World Bank, a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. For more information, visit International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Background

The World Bank has a long-standing technical and financial engagement with the Ministries of Health of Argentina, Colombia, Dominican Republic, and Paraguay, aimed at improving equitable access to quality health services, strengthening the efficiency of public spending, and consolidating the integration of health systems. The active and pipeline portfolio in the four countries combine investment operations, Programs for Results (PforR) and technical assistance (financed by Bank budget and trust funds).

Argentina. The public health agenda in Argentina is focused on consolidating progress toward effective access to a comprehensive, quality package of health services, improving the integration of the health system, and promoting the overall efficiency of the sector. The National Ministry of Health (MoH) has improved effective and equitable coverage of health services through the Nacer and Sumar programs, supported by the World Bank (P071025, P095515, P106735, P163345, and P174913), which introduced innovative results-based financing mechanisms. Building on these experiences, the MoH adopted the National Integrated Health Plan (NIHP) 2023-2028, which is supported by the Program for Effective Universal Health Coverage and National Health System Integration (P179595), and is under discussion a potential additional financing. Complementing this national program, the Bank's portfolio in Argentina includes a project focused on digital health in the Province of Buenos Aires, Strengthening the Digital Health Agenda in the Province of Buenos Aires (P179534). In addition, several technical assistance activities on digital health are under implementation in other provinces.

Colombia. The Government of Colombia's 2022-2026 National Development Plan prioritizes health, including the link between public health and climate change. To support it, the World Bank approved in February 2024 the Program for Improved Access to Effective Health Services for the Vulnerable and Enhanced Health System Resilience (P180534). It builds on the first health sector PforR in Colombia (P169866) and is complemented by a grant from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. With the new Government administration, a shock plan (plan de choque) for the health system has been launched, and the Government has requested World Bank technical support and the possible preparation of a new PforR operation.

Dominican Republic. The World Bank approved in December 2023 the Investment Project Financing (IPF) Strengthening the National Health System of the Dominican Republic, which aims to improve the capacity of public healthcare providers to deliver quality services, with an emphasis on maternal and neonatal care, and to strengthen the stewardship capacity of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MISPAS). To achieve such objectives, the Project will be articulated around four components: (i) Strengthening the capacity to deliver quality public health care services, (ii) Strengthening the stewardship and public health oversight function of the MISPAS, (iii) Reinforcing health information systems and digital health tools, and d) Project management and monitoring. In addition to the investment operation, the Bank engages with the MSPBS through technical assistance and analytical work.

Paraguay. The World Bank supports the Government of Paraguay through the Paraguay Public Health Sector Strengthening Project (P167996), an Investment Project Financing (IPF) operation implemented by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare (MSPBS). Its objectives are to strengthen the public primary health care micro-networks, expand access to quality primary health care services for the population covered by the MSPBS, and strengthen the national health system to respond to the COVID-19 emergency. The Project finances, among other activities, a results-based financing scheme that transfers resources to Local Health Councils (LHCs) to promote community health governance and improve health outcomes. In addition to the investment operation, the Bank engages with the MSPBS through technical assistance and analytical work, as is currently starting conversations to prepare a Health Compact.

Given the level of Bank engagement in the four countries, the teams led by the Task Team Leaders (TTLs) require additional support for implementation supervision, technical monitoring, management of technical assistance, and production of operational documents. This ToR sets out the activities of a consultant who will work under the direction of the TTLs of each country.

Objective

The objective of this consultancy is to provide technical and operational support to the TTLs and World Bank task teams in the implementation of the health portfolio and associated technical assistance in Argentina, Colombia, Dominican Republic, and Paraguay, contributing to the quality of supervision, progress towards results, policy dialogue with counterparts, and knowledge generation.

Activities

Specific activities will be organized according to countries’ priorities and TTL requests. The main assignments will include:

Cross-cutting implementation support across project cycle (all four countries)

• Review and analyze documentation sent by the Governments (e.g., indicator descriptions, target populations, verification protocols, operational manuals, results frameworks, governance frameworks, implementation progress reports, relevant technical specifications and terms of references) and provide technical advice to the operational teams.
• Contribute to all aspects of the preparation and supervision of the programs and projects in the portfolio (including PforR operations and IPF), and monitor results frameworks and indicators, including disbursement-linked indicators where applicable, identifying risks, bottlenecks and corrective actions.
• Support the preparation of supervision and implementation support missions, including agendas, mission terms of reference, checklists, and follow-up of agreed actions.
• Provide inputs for the preparation of project-specific documents such as aide-mémoires, Implementation Status and Results Reports (ISRs), mid-term review reports, briefings, background reports, technical documents, restructuring or additional financing documents, and closing documents.
• Support follow-up of Program Action Plans, agreements from previous missions, and recommendations from evaluations and audits.
• Contribute to the management of technical assistance (ASAs and trust-funded activities), including review of consultant ToRs and deliverables, tracking of timelines, coordination with counterparts, and technical quality control.
• Provide support to the operational teams on health economics, financing and spending efficiency issues, and other health-related topics, at the request of the TTLs.
• Participate in technical discussions with government counterparts on relevant health issues, in close collaboration with the Task Teams, the relevant government agencies, and development partners.
• Participate in virtual and in-person missions and meetings with government counterparts, and in World Bank internal meetings, at the request of the TTLs.
• Provide advice on policy dialogue and interactions with government counterparts, country stakeholders, and development partners.
• Systematize evidence, good practices and lessons learned, from the region and internationally, to inform implementation and policy dialogue.
• Support mobilization of new resources (ie trust fund applications, GFR) as relevant.
• Respond to ad hoc information requests from internal and external parties, as requested by the TTLs.

Outputs

• Written document reviews, at the request of the TTLs.
• Minutes and technical notes on the main issues discussed during virtual and in-person meetings and missions.
• Inputs for aide-mémoires, ISRs, review reports, restructuring and closing documents, as applicable.
• Progress reports by country on indicator monitoring and technical assistance.

A work plan with outputs, dates and days allocated by country should be agreed with each TTL within the first two weeks of the assignment.

Selection Criteria

• Advanced degree (master or PhD) in Economics
• At least 10 years of relevant experience, including on all steps of the World Bank project cycle.
• Capacity to work independently and to work efficiently in a geographically scattered team.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of health systems issues, political economy, institutional economics, and governance.
• Solid knowledge on and operational experience in public health and health service delivery, particularly in primary health care and hospitals. Demonstrated capacity to understand the political economy and local context of situations and develop context-appropriate solutions.
• Proven ability to think strategically, connect the dots easily across a range of topics to develop a broader coherent approach; ability to analyze and integrate information into conclusions and recommendations.
• Client orientation and results focus; pragmatism and effectiveness. Ability to develop and foster new relationships.
• Leadership and interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to work in teams. Experience in working across disciplinary boundaries and with multiple stakeholders. Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication. Able to synthesize, analyze, and effectively present material from a wide range of sources. Articulates ideas, verbally, and in writing, using the most effective means of delivery. Integrity, tact and discretion.
• Ability to deal sensitively in multi-cultural environments
• Language: Native Spanish and Advanced level English speaker

Reporting

The consultant will work closely with the counterpart teams and other members of the World Bank team in carrying out the activities, analysis, and preparation of reports. The consultant will report to the following TTLs:

• Argentina: Vanina Camporeale
• Colombia: Vanina Camporeale
• Dominican Republic: Gianluca Cafagna
• Paraguay: Daniela Romero

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

As per WBG policy, an Extended Term (ET) appointment is subject to a lifetime maximum of three (3) years. Former and current ET staff who have completed or are in the process of completing their third-year ET appointment are not eligible for future ET appointments.

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