LEAP Program Description

Global Solutions Ventures (GSV) – a joint-venture partnership between ZemiTek, LLC and Dexis Consulting Group – is implementing the Long-term Exceptional Technical Assistance Project (LEAP Global), a mechanism originally used by USAID to battle against infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, and pandemic influenza. As of July 1, 2025, LEAP Global transitioned to the U.S. Department of State (DOS). This initiative aims to address the complex human resource challenges faced by national infectious disease programs in the USA-supported countries.

The intervention of this project is to hire and embed technical expert advisors and subject matter experts within government entities. By directly embedding the technical expertise within the national programs, LEAP provides long-term, sustainable lifesaving support to empower host governments to lead and manage key aspects of their infectious disease portfolios and improve coordination between the U.S. Government and the host country.

About the Position

The Health Financing Advisor serves as the principal technical advisor to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health, Hygiene and Social Security (MOH) on all financial aspects of the U.S.-DRC Health Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), reporting directly to the Ministry of Finance and maintaining close liaison with the MOH Secretary General,  the U.S. Embassy Office of Foreign Assistance, and the other related Ministries and DRC Government Agencies. In alignment with the America First Global Health Strategy and the new Presidential Executive Order (EO) directives, this role provides strategic guidance and hands-on technical assistance to government focal points on MOU financial requirements, co-investment tracking, budget preparation, and financial reporting systems in carrying out life-saving humanitarian assistance (LHA) service delivery. The Advisor ensures that DRC Government commitments – including the progressive annual increase in domestic health expenditure, including co-funding of lab and health commodities, and transition of essential front-line healthcare workers and community health workers to domestic budget – are properly planned, budgeted, executed, and verified. The Advisor builds Ministry capacity to independently manage financial tracking, audit readiness, and compliance with MOU provisions, while identifying opportunities for domestic resource mobilization and sustainable health financing mechanisms that support U.S. priorities for transparency and results.

This position supports financial oversight across all MOU co-investment commitments (including the $300 million domestic health expenditure increase, progressive co-funding of commodities, and healthcare worker transitions), strengthening the entire health system rather than individual disease programs.This role will contribute to improved financial sustainability for the delivery of integrated HIV, malaria, tuberculosis and maternal and child health programs as well as disease surveillance and outbreak response including the important work of polio eradication in the DRC.

A critical function of the Health Financing Advisor is defining the functionality and tools to support the Joint Health Cooperation Steering Committee's funding oversight role. The Advisor designs and implements the Committee's finance monitoring operational framework, including quarterly financial review processes, real-time co-investment tracking dashboards, performance monitoring systems, and protocols for triggering consultations when co-funding targets are at risk. Additionally, the Advisor supports Government-to-Government (G2G) funding readiness reviews, assesses financial system strengthening progress, and recommends mitigation measures based on performance data and contextual factors during the initial start-up months of the MOU implementation period.

Responsibilities

Strengthening Co-Investment Monitoring

• Establish and verify baseline financial data for DRC health expenditures (2024 baseline), considering the decentralized nature of DRC’s health system and the diversity of funding flows at national and provincial levels.
• Develop and implement protocols for collecting and validating annual budgeting and spending on laboratory and health commodities, healthcare worker salaries, and community health worker stipends, ensuring alignment with DRC’s budgetary cycles and public financial management procedures, and in close coordination with the Ministry of Budget and provincial health authorities.
• Facilitate access to financial records for co-investment audits, working closely with relevant ministries and directorates at both central and provincial levels.
• Document existing government funding flows and health budget line items.
• Ensure financial tracking systems capture health expenditures across all MOU Areas of Cooperation (surveillance, laboratories, commodities for HIV/TB/malaria/MCH/nutrition, healthcare workers, data systems, strategic assistance) to support integrated health system strengthening.

Capacity Building on Joint Financial Requirements and Tracking

• Establish dedicated advisory support to Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Budget focal points on: MOU financial commitments and co-investment requirements, Financial tracking systems and reporting protocols, Budget preparation for 2027 co-funding obligations, and Quarterly and annual financial reporting requirements
• Work with Ministries of Health, Finance and Budget to appoint focal points to form advisory support team; provide weekly technical assistance sessions to the team during initial 3-month start-up phase.
• Design and deliver training, and technical assistance to focal points from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Budget at the central level, focusing on MOU financial commitments, co-investment requirements, and financial tracking systems.
• Develop simplified financial tracking tools, dashboards, reference guides, and verification procedures for use as part of the US-GDRC co-investment framework and ensure their adoption by all relevant ministries.
• Establish direct communication channels and rapid response protocols for funding issues or commodity stockouts, considering the logistical and infrastructural challenges in DRC’s provinces, and coordinating with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance.

Providing Health Financing Expertise to Implementation Plan Start-Up

• Support costing estimates for strategic assistance plans and essential service packages, leveraging DRC-specific data and collaborating with local technical experts from relevant ministries.
• Collaborate with the LEAP Human Resources for Health Advisor and ministry focal points to ensure the transition of all U.S.-supported frontline providers to government or faith-based organization (FBO) payrolls and verify that pay rates are consistent with DRC public sector standards.
• Advise on budget allocation gaps and develop contingency plans for health workforce and commodity financing in consultation with all relevant ministries.
• Provide technical assistance as requested by the MOH on the UHC essential service package costing and domestic resource mobilization modalities.

Deliverables

• Baseline financial data report and verification system for 2024 health expenditures, with provincial breakdowns, endorsed by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Budget.
• Annual and quarterly financial tracking and co-investment monitoring reports, adapted for DRC’s reporting requirements and shared with all relevant stakeholders.
• Training materials, workshop agendas, and attendance records.
• Financial tracking tools and dashboards tailored for DRC national and subnational levels.
• Documentation of funding flows and audit-ready financial records, accessible to all relevant ministries.
• Contingency plans and technical memos on health workforce and commodity financing, developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
• Rapid response procedures and communication protocols endorsed by ministries.
• Costing analysis report for essential services packages and financing scenarios.

Reporting

The advisor will submit an inception report with a six-month work plan within 30 days of contract signature. Detailed monthly progress reports are due to the Department of State during the first week of each subsequent month. At the end of the performance period, a final report will summarize achievements, risks, and recommendations for continued MOU implementation.

Reports should demonstrate how financial oversight activities support integrated health system strengthening across all MOU Areas of Cooperation.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in health economics, public finance, public health, or related field.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in health financing, public financial management, or related technical advisory roles, preferably in sub-Saharan Africa or fragile contexts.
• Demonstrated experience in co-investment monitoring, budget preparation, and financial reporting in low- or middle-income countries, with a strong understanding of DRC’s public sector environment.
• Experience working with decentralized government structures and building capacity in resource-limited settings.
• Strong capacity-building, training, and communication skills.
• Fluency in French and proficiency in English required.