Director, Health Financing for Africa

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

ONE seeks a Director, Health Financing for Africa that is a highly strategic, politically savvy, and technically grounded leader to deliver on the health agenda of improving health outcomes in Africa. This role requires a deep understanding of Africa's health system, economic landscape, development finance, and political dynamics, coupled with expertise in forging impactful partnerships and driving policy reform.

The Director should understand the macro landscape of health financing in Africa and be able to develop and deliver on country-specific advocacy strategies. The Director will support the Africa Executive Director to enhance ONE’s presence and relationships on the continent, while cultivating a culture of collaboration, excellence, continuous learning, and accountability within the Africa team.  They will also work with ONE’s broader team and leaders in ONE’s European and North American markets to create funding and partnership opportunities.

This role requires an in-depth knowledge of global health and financial architecture reform efforts and the ability to translate complex, multifaceted issues into accessible and actionable strategies that resonate across diverse stakeholders. The Director will have exceptional political insight, strong interpersonal skills, and a proven track record in delivering high-impact initiatives. This position is a full-time employment role and can be based in Abuja-Nigeria, Dakar-Senegal, or Johannesburg-South Africa.

 IN THIS ROLE, YOU WILL

 Strategic Leadership & Policy Influence

• Shape and lead ONE’s Africa Health Financing Strategy, aligning with continental frameworks and ONE’s policy agenda
• Provide high-level, evidence-driven counsel to senior leaders, policymakers, and regional stakeholders.
• Lead comprehensive political and economic trend analysis to inform strategy and action across African markets.

Engagement with African Leadership & Institutions

• Cultivate and manage high-level relationships with Heads of State, Ministers of Finance, Health, Planning, and other top-tier policymakers.
• Secure political and policy commitments to increase domestic health investment through budgets, insurance systems, and innovative financing mechanisms.
• Represent ONE at AU summits, regional economic community forums and key presidential and ministerial roundtables.

Health Financing Innovation & Technical Guidance

• Identify and promote sustainable financing models including blended finance, diaspora bonds, results-based financing, and health taxes.
• Provide technical guidance to governments developing health financing roadmaps and reforms.
• Track and influence national budget negotiations, donor transitions, and macroeconomic reforms impacting the health sector.

Communications & Political Positioning

• Lead the development of compelling policy briefs, and communications that translate complex finance concepts into actionable insights for decision-makers.
• Shape national and regional narratives—ensuring health financing is prioritized in presidential speeches, development plans, and media.
• Produce high-impact opinion pieces, talking points, and public content that elevate ONE’s mission across Africa and globally.

Partnerships & Ecosystem Building

• Build and steward trusted relationships with regional institutions (AfDB, Africa CDC, AU), development partners, civil society, and private sector leaders.
• Coordinate with donor coalitions and technical partners to ensure harmonization with initiatives like Global Fund transition planning, Gavi co-financing, etc
• Act as a strategic conduit between African governments and ONE’s global markets and campaign arms.

Organizational Excellence & Leadership

• Drive continuous improvement by evaluating outcomes, adapting strategy, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Champion a high-performance, collaborative culture; mentor and support team development.
• Ensure projects are well-managed, on track, and delivering against measurable impact indicators.

WHAT YOU BRING TO ONE

Essential Skills and Experience

• Strong track record of working with senior government leaders (preferably African presidents, ministers, or their chief advisors).
• Deep understanding of development finance, blended finance, public health economics, and donor transitions.
• Experience navigating multilateral institutions (World Bank, AfDB, Gavi, Global Fund, AU).
• Exceptional relationship builder, negotiator, and influencer at the highest levels.

 Contextual Understanding

• Strong grasp of Africa’s political economy, regional diplomacy, and budget cycles.
• Knowledge of how health intersects with economic growth, debt sustainability, and security.

 Soft Skills

• Gravitas and presence to hold space with Heads of State
• Diplomacy, discretion, and political acumen
• Excellent communication skills across technical and non-technical audiences
• Self-starter, strategic thinker, with a bias toward execution and outcomes

OTHER Attributes 

The Director of Health Financing for Africa will embody the following characteristics:

• Visionary Leadership: Demonstrates a forward-thinking, strategic approach to identifying and capitalizing on opportunities.
• Proactive Ownership: Anticipates needs, takes initiative, and owns their tasks.
• Focus on Execution and Delivery: Prioritize results by setting clear, measurable goals and driving accountability for delivering outcomes on time.
• Culture of Continuous Learning and Improvement: Have a learning mindset that continuously develops skills that support their roles and the team's goals.
• Encourage Proactivity and Personal Accountability: Prospective team members are self-starters who actively seek ways to contribute and improve.
• Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: Prospective team members build a collaborative culture where information is freely shared, and team members work together to solve problems.
• Resilience and Adaptability: Encourage a mindset that can handle setbacks and adapt to changing circumstances without losing momentum.
• Result-Oriented Communication: Ensure all communication is clear, purposeful, and focused on achieving results.
• Humility: Humility is the ability to recognize one’s limitations and value others’ contributions without ego. It involves acknowledging that learning is a continuous process and that others can offer valuable insights.

COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE SKILLS: Excellent communication skills, including the ability to articulate complex issues clearly and persuasively. Fluency in English, French or any international language is an added advantage.

TRAVEL: Travel up to 50% of the time.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: This role is based in either Abuja-Nigeria, Dakar-Senegal, or Johannesburg-South Africa. This is an office work environment and flex work options are available with prior arrangement.