Job Posting

POSITION: Intern, Rebuilding Basic Health Services (RBHS) in Liberia

DURATION: Three months starting in April 2012, with a possible extension up to 6 months
LOCATION: Monrovia, Liberia

BACKGROUND: Rebuilding Basic Health Services (RBHS), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is the US government’s major project supporting Liberia’s Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW). RBHS works with the MOHSW at all levels and has major health service delivery, health systems strengthening, and behavior change communication activities. This is a 5-year project that commenced in November 2008. RBHS is implemented by JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc., a contractor of USAID.



Under the leadership of MOHSW, Liberia is described as a model for post-conflict health system reconstruction. As one of the MOHSW’s key partners, RBHS has documented significant progress towards meeting each of its objectives over the past three years. With substantial progress made in health service delivery and infrastructure development, RBHS is now focusing on building capacity and strengthening the health system during the remaining two years. RBHS capacity building is led by a Capacity Building and Health Systems Strengthening Director with support from three Capacity Building Officers, each located in three target counties – Lofa, Nimba, and Bong. Capacity building is planned at three levels - individual (e.g. health workforce), organization (e.g. health services), and system levels (e.g. leadership and governance). The goal of capacity building is to strengthen the Liberian health system in order to promote sustainability, country ownership, and decentralization. The intern will work on capacity building activities at central ministry and County levels. The internship is a paid position. JSI will pay for air travel, accommodation, and living expenses.



SUMMARY:

The intern works under the supervision of Capacity Building and Health Systems Strengthening Director, and jointly with Capacity Building Officers (CBO). The intern will assist with analyzing data from capacity building assessments and provide support towards building a capacity building strategy based on the results. The CBOs and intern will work under the guidance of Capacity Building and Health Systems Strengthening Director to involve stakeholders and implement the capacity building strategy. The intern will have an opportunity to collaborate with international NGOs partnering with RBHS, and other divisions of RBHS – service delivery, performance based financing, and monitoring and evaluation. Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assist with data analysis of capacity assessment;

Support the Capacity Building and Health Systems Strengthening Director and CBOs in developing an overall capacity building strategy with a structure and staffing plan that supports the strategy;

Collaborate with County Health and Social Welfare Teams (CHSWT) to develop a implementation plan with agreed-upon objectives, activities, outcomes, targets, responsibilities, and timelines;

Engage RBHS technical staff and resources to support implementation of the capacity building activities;

Assist with monitoring and evaluation of capacity building activities;

Identify and document lessons learned on a consistent basis. Communicate them clearly to the Capacity Building and Health Systems Strengthening Director;

Coordinate with the CBOs to ensure that respective roles, responsibilities and activities are complementary and synergistic;

Make relevant contributions to the capacity building plan, and semi-annual and/or annual reports as required;

Assist with technical, logistic, and administrative support as required;

Other activities as negotiated with supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS:

· Advanced (2nd year) MPH student, or a PhD/ DrPH student, or a recent MPH graduate

· Experience in international health

· Interest and/or experience in health systems strengthening and capacity building frameworks

· Basic to intermediate data analytic skills

· Excellent technical writing skills

· Excellent written and oral communication skills in English

· Ability to work independently as well as work with colleagues in diverse cultures, with minimum supervision

· Ability to move to Monrovia, Liberia

· Proven ability to adapt and live in harsh living conditions

· Experience working with NGOs and/ or government

Computer skills in word processing, presentation software, and spreadsheets

Excellent organization skills, time management, and attention to detail.

SUPERVISOR: Vamsi Vasireddy – Capacity Building and Health Systems Strengthening Director, RBHS

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS:

February 24, 2012. Applications have to be submitted from http://www.jsi.com/JSIInternet/Jobs/internships.cfm. No phone calls please.