Costing and Evaluation Specialist @YLabs

ABOUT YLABS

YLabs is a leading global design and research organization designing technologies that amplify youth power, agency, and opportunity. Founded in 2014 at the Harvard Innovation Lab, YLabs partners with young people to co-create inclusive digital products and services that improve their lives. Our design process opens spaces where young people’s ideas can become a reality – where they are the architects of the solutions to their most pressing challenges. 

YLabs multidisciplinary team delivers youth-driven innovation and impact at scale. Our team combines expertise in youth-driven design with adolescent health, climate, livelihoods, digital product design, behavioral science, and epidemiology. Based in Rwanda and the USA, we’ve worked in 18 countries to date on projects spanning three focus areas: optimum health and wellness, improved economic opportunity, and increased climate resilience. 

Find out more about our projects here: https://www.ylabsglobal.org/work

JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking a Costing and Evaluation Specialist to support our Climate-SRHR project by leading development of a climate-SRHR cost model for Ethiopia. This position is ideal for someone with strong skills in health program costing, economic evaluation, and health benefit estimation who is looking for flexible, project-based work. Over the course of approximately 55 working days, the Costing and Evaluation Specialist will play a key role in developing a methodologically rigorous cost model structure that is transparent in its assumptions, defensible to donor and government audiences, and replicable as a global public good. In this position, you will work with internal climate change and SRHR technical experts at YLabs, as well as an Ethiopia-based in-country specialist, to provide additional technical input and guidance to ensure the model outputs are relevant, accurate, and meaningful.

JOB TYPE

This is an independent contractor (Consultancy) position. The position is fully remote. 

LOCATION

This is a fully remote role open to candidates globally. Strong familiarity with Ethiopia’s health system and/or prior experience working with Ethiopian health data is strongly preferred. 

ABOUT YLABS’ COMPENSATION

YLabs adheres to Project Fair’s principles and standards to establish equity in pay with the overriding principle of “equal pay for work of equal value” outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals. All salary ranges are based on level within the organization and are competitive to regional and national salary benchmarks, based on the respective office location. 

PAY RATE

The estimated contract length is 55 days.

Compensation is benchmarked to the candidate’s region. Indicative ranges:

• US: $59–$87.50 USD per hour

• Rwanda: $24–$38.50 USD per hour

• Other regions: Determined based on local market rates and shared early in the hiring process.

YOU WILL:

Cost Model Development – 28 Days

• Lead the design and development of a climate-SRHR cost model for Ethiopia, estimating the incremental cost of climate-proofing existing SRMCH investments
• Select and apply an appropriate costing methodology (e.g., ingredients-based costing, activity-based costing, or incremental cost analysis), drawing on established frameworks from WHO, the World Bank, or equivalent sources
• Populate the model using publicly available datasets (e.g., World Bank, WHO UHC Cost-Effectiveness Compendium, DHS) alongside Ethiopia-specific inputs provided by the In-Country Specialist
• Document all assumptions, data sources, and uncertainty ranges explicitly to ensure the model is transparent and reproducible
• Collaborate with the YLabs team to refine the cost model approach and ensure technical alignment with established climate-SRHR risks, approaches, and priorities

Health Benefit Estimation and ROI Analysis – 23 Days

• Develop a return-on-investment (ROI) framework estimating the health benefits of climate-adaptive SRMCH interventions compared to a business-as-usual baseline
• Estimate health outcomes associated with each intervention across a spectrum from light-touch to intensive adaptations, using accepted evaluation and benefit-estimation approaches
• Model the projected amortization of climate-adaptive SRMCH investments over a 5–10 year window
• Ensure the ROI logic follows accepted health economics conventions and is structured for replication across other country contexts
• Collaborate with the YLabs team to refine the health benefit estimation approach and ensure technical appropriateness and comprehensiveness for the intended audience 

Decision-Support Tool Development – 4 Days

• Support the YLabs team and in-country specialist to translate model outputs into accessible, actionable tools for Ministry of Health stakeholders and donors, including a tradeoff analysis tool and example implementation roadmaps
• Document a reusable costing methodology that enables other countries and researchers to replicate and adapt the model
• Stress-test model outputs with the YLabs team and in-country specialist to ensure results are credible to Ethiopian ministry and donor audiences

YOU ARE:

• Collaborative and integrative, comfortable working with quantitative data, qualitative program inputs, and contextual knowledge from in-country partners to inform your modelling
• Detail oriented and analytically rigorous, with deep experience building cost models that withstand donor and peer scrutiny
• Transparent in your methodology, with a habit of documenting assumptions and flagging uncertainty 
• Self-motivated and reliable, able to manage your time and responsibilities independently while contributing to overall team success

YOU HAVE:

• At least 5 years of relevant work experience in SRMNCH health program costing, economic / health evaluation, or a closely related field 
• Demonstrated experience designing and building cost models or cost-effectiveness analyses that have been reviewed by donors, governments, or for publication 
• Demonstrated experience estimating the health benefits / health risks associated with different potential intervention pathways
• Familiarity with established costing frameworks and data sources, including WHO and World Bank tools
• Strong organizational and communication skills, including excellent written communication skills in English, with the ability to produce clear technical documentation and accessible summaries 
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, including proficiency in Excel or equivalent modelling tools
• Basic proficiency with Google Workspace

DESIRABLE:

• Experience working at the intersection of climate change and health, including climate-health costing, climate adaptation investment planning, or related fields. Experience at the intersection of climate change and SRHR is highly desirable. 
• Familiarity with Ethiopia’s health system data and/or prior work on SRMNCH and/or climate programs in Ethiopia 
• Experience working on program design and evaluation for SRHR and/or climate-health programming 
• Prior experience working with international NGO teams, bilateral donors, or multilateral organizations NGOs (e.g., FCDO, Gates Foundation, UNFPA, World Bank)
• Experience presenting technical findings to government or donor audiences
• Advanced (graduate-level) training in public health, economics, evaluation, climate adaptation, or another related field. 

All YLabs offers of employment are conditional on satisfactory background check and criminal record clearances.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

YLabs is committed to building teams and policies that promote equity, justice, and belonging at work.  We strongly encourage people from all cultures, races, educational backgrounds, socio-economic classes, sexual orientations, age, gender, and physical abilities to apply. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, familial status, marital status, caregiver status, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.