Malaria In Pregnancy Intern

Malaria Division, Office of Infectious Disease, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development

Location: Washington, DC / Arlington, VA | March 2017 - September 2017: Compensated 6 month internship | INT-P6-008

The Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP-II) is a five year cooperative agreement implemented and managed by the Public Health Institute in partnership with Global Health Corps, GlobeMed, Management Systems International and PYXERA Global. GHFP-II is supported by the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

GHFP-II's goal is to improve the effectiveness of USAID health programs by addressing the Agency's immediate and emerging human capacity needs. The program seeks to accomplish this goal first through the recruitment, placement and support of diverse health professionals at the junior, mid and senior levels. These program participants include fellows, interns, corporate volunteers and Foreign Service National professionals. The program then provides substantial performance management and career development support to participants, including annual working planning assistance, and ensures that professional development opportunities are available.

Looking to the future, GHFP-II also seeks to establish a pool of highly-qualified global health professionals that will ensure the Agency's ongoing technical leadership and effectiveness. This objective is supported by an extensive outreach program that brings global health opportunities and specialized career advice to a diverse range of interested individuals, with a particular focus on those underrepresented in the field of global health.
BACKGROUND 

The Malaria Division under the Office of Infectious Disease within the Bureau for Global Health leads the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI). With passage of the 2008 Lantos-Hyde Act, funding for PMI was extended and PMI's strategy was revised to achieve Africa-wide impact by halving the burden of malaria in 70 percent of at-risk populations in sub-Saharan Africa-or approximately 450 million people. After five years of intervention, all-cause child mortality has been reduced from 16% to 50% in the original 15 PMI countries. Building on the success to date, PMI will be launching a new six-year strategy that will focus on five strategic areas: 1) Achieving and sustaining scale of proven interventions; 2) Adapting to changing epidemiology and new tools; 3) Improving countries' capacity to collect and use information; 4) Mitigating risks against the current malaria control gains; and 5) Building capacity and health systems towards full country ownership. For more information about PMI, please visit  http://www.pmi.gov/about .
INTRODUCTION 

The Malaria in Pregnancy (MIP) Intern will primarily assist the MIP Team to gather, analyze, and disseminate information on progress in scaling-up intermittent preventative treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) in PMI supported countries.
 
S/he will assist with supporting priority activities of the interagency MIP Working Group and maternal health flagship project, Maternal and Child Survival Project (MCSP) that provides technical support to USAID Missions and national governments to improve coverage of MIP interventions.  The Intern will contribute to MIP Team operations, such as reviewing Malaria Operational Plans (MOPs), including conducting analysis of MIP country programs as detailed in the MOPs. S/he will work closely with the MIP team lead as his/her onsite manager. 
LEARNING OBJECTIVES 
  • Gaining understanding of MIP programming needs and approaches to improve coverage of MIP interventions (ITNs, IPTp and case management) that, in turn, contribute to maternal and newborn health outcomes. 
  • Developing an understanding of technical and programmatic issues and best practices related to PMI programs, including MIP programming in FY2016 MOPs.
  • Strengthening competencies in process management, qualitative and quantitative analysis, collaboration, planning and prioritization.
  • Deepening skills in collaboration and coordination within a complex organizational and implementation structure.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES 
  • Assisting the PMI MIP Team by managing MIP work plan of actions and activities, updating IPTp barriers table with current and future activities, and reviewing project related documents.
  • Conducting a review of MIP activities in MOPs: analyzing and assessing PMI investments in MIP programming, tracking status of countries' adoption of new IPTp policy recommendations and developing a report on findings and recommendations.
  • Reviewing and assisting in the development of a health facility assessment tool for IPTp and MIP programming.
  • Assisting the PMI team to support countries in testing a new MIP case management job aid and document feedback from PMI country staff and partners.
  • Supporting meetings with implementing partners, PMI technical team meetings, and program related events to better understand project coordination and technical concepts.
  • Other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned based on organizational and programming need and/or the Intern's own interests.
QUALIFICATIONS
  • Currently enrolled master's or other post-bachelor's degree candidate in public health, international health, international development, social sciences or a related field; or, completion of such within the past 12 months.
  • Experience with quantitative or qualitative analysis a plus.
  • Experience working on malaria and/or other health programs (especially maternal and child health) in developing countries, ideally in Africa, is preferred. 
  • Demonstrated interest in international development and global health issues.
  • Ability to serve as a motivated self-starter with excellent oral and written communication skills.
  • French or Portuguese language skills desirable.
  • US citizenship or US permanent residency required. 
COMPENSATION
$1,826 bi-weekly (exempt, salaried position).
TO APPLY 
Detailed information, including an online application and instructions, is available on our website at https://www.ghfp.net/
All online applications must be submitted by February 1, 2017 by 5:00 pm Eastern time.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Employer.
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