Economist

Contract Duration: One Month

The economist will be responsible for supporting to estimate the: Position Summary:
The Assistive Device Technology Investment case in Bangladesh aims to evaluate the economic feasibility and potential impact of investing in assistive device technology within the country. The economist will play a crucial role in providing economic analysis and insights to support this initiative. The incumbent will work for the Assistive Technology (AT) investment case that is a joint study of WHO, UN Inter Agency Task Force (UNIATF), Hellen Keller International (HKI) and Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP). The investment case aims to investigate the potential benefits, costs, and impact of assistive technologies on the lives of people with disabilities in Bangladesh considering their participation in education, the labour market, civic life as well as prevention of secondary complications. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the existing institutional context, proposed intervention (road map) including its feasibility, expected outcomes, and return on investment. Given the high number of different assistive products across multiple functional areas, the current UNITIAF and WHO methodology focuses on four groups of assistive products: glasses, hearing aids, wheelchairs, prosthetics and orthotics. The country's population includes a substantial number of people with disabilities who could benefit from such technologies. The objective of the study is developing data-driven evidence of need, economic and social return, and a clear rationale for why investing resources into the intervention is beneficial in terms of improving health outcomes, reducing health burden, and achieving broader societal goals.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Conduct a comprehensive economic analysis of the current assistive device market in Bangladesh.
2.  Assess the potential economic impact of investing in assistive device technology on the country's economy, including factors such as employment, healthcare costs, and productivity.
3. Provide recommendations on the financial feasibility and sustainability of implementing assistive device technology within the Bangladeshi market.
4. Collecting and analyzing relevant economic data related to the assistive device market in Bangladesh.
5. Review and suggest necessary changes on the economic modelling report developed and shared by the partners.
6. Evaluating the cost-benefit analysis of investing in assistive device technology, considering both short-term and long-term economic implications.
7. Assessing the potential market demand for assistive devices and the corresponding economic benefits.
8. Collaborating with other stakeholders (conducting FGD, interviews as per necessity) to understand the broader socio-economic impact of assistive device technology investment.
9. The economist will be responsible for supporting to estimate the:
   • Unmet need for assistive technology in the country,
   • Costs of the interventions (products and services) needed to reduce unmet need,
   • Impact of improved access, measured by Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALY) and economic benefits (e. g., employment and productivity rates, and educational outcomes).
   • Return-on-investment of such interventions.
10. The economist will be expected to deliver the following:
    • Economic report outlining the current state of the assistive device market in Bangladesh.
    • Cost-benefit analysis report detailing the potential economic impact of investing in assistive device technology.
    • Recommendations for policymakers and investors based on the economic assessment.

Educational Qualification:

• Minimum a Master's degree. MSS, M. Phil. in Health Economics or Ph. D. in Health Economics, Investment Analysis, Finance, or relevant field is a preferred.
• Advanced graduate degree (master’s level or above) with formal training in related discipline, including health financing, health economics, business modeling.

Additional Requirement:

• Minimum of five (05) years of relevant work experience in research in the health financing/economics area related to technology, disability studies, or similar fields.
• Proven experience in conducting investment cases and cost analyses, particularly in the health sector, preferably the AT sector.
• In-depth knowledge of business modeling and developing investment cases.
• Familiarity with costing of commonly used assistive products in Bangladesh, such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, prosthesis, eyeglasses for low vision etc.
• Strong analytical skills and proficiency in relevant software and analysis tools
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in both Bengali and English.
• The capacity to work both independently and cooperatively in a group setting.
• Familiarity with the Bangladeshi economic landscape and market dynamics.
• Familiarity with the local context and relevant stakeholders in Bangladesh would be an advantage.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to gather and interpret complex data.
• Preferably has exposure to UN rules and regulations.
• Ability to clearly articulate in the technical proposal.

Instruction for Application:

Qualified and interested candidates are requested to send their detailed CVs with a cover letter mentioning contact Telephone/Mobile number, address, email ID, one copy of recent passport size photograph, two references to Human Resource Department, CRP, Chapain, Savar, Dhaka-1343 within September 04, 2024 in hard copy or email at ascon2023@crp-bangladesh.org . Any kind of persuasion will be treated as disqualification of candidature. Please make sure to write the name of the position applied for on the top of the envelope. Any 3rd Division(s)/class(s)/equivalent CGPA in academic career shall not be acceptable. Only short-listed candidates will be called for interview. Women and people with disability are especially encouraged to apply.