Global Health Fellows

Global Health Fellows Program II

Country Ownership and Sustainable Transitions Intern

Implementation Support Division, Office of HIV/AIDS, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development

Anticipated timeframe: Summer 2014: Compensated 12 week internship

Location: Washington, DC

INT-P3-038

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.  

 

INTRODUCTION:

In cooperation with the US Department of State's Office of the US Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC), other US Government (USG) partners, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations, USAID provides global technical leadership on the full range of issues related to HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment; manages numerous research and field support programs; and monitors the impact of the Agency's HIV/AIDS programs. In this endeavor, USAID works very closely with a range of USG agencies involved in the fight against AIDS, such as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Defense, and Peace Corps. More information about the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) may be found athttp://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/global-health/hiv-and-aids. Information on USAID's work in HIV testing and counseling can be found at http://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/global-health/hiv-and-aids/technical-areas/promoting-high-quality-hiv-testing-and.

As USAID and OGAC embark on the third phase of PEPFAR, the focus has shifted from an emergency response to a transition to a more country led, managed, implemented and eventually financed HIV/AIDS response, known as Country Ownership and Sustainability. This transition requires a thoughtful, gradual and responsible shift of roles and responsibilities for prevention, care and treatment activities and the strengthening of in-country capacity and systems along the four dimensions of country ownership: political commitment and stewardship, local and community ownership, capacities and accountability. This process requires increasing responsibilities of host country governments, civil society and the private sector. Within OHA, a working group has formed to provide technical leadership and support to the field, the Country Ownership and Sustainable Transitions (CO&ST) working group. The CO&ST working group is seeking an Intern to support the many activities planned for this group. The Intern receives day to day guidance from the OHA Country Ownership Advisor as his/her onsite manager.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

• Gaining a greater understanding of country ownership and sustainability global concepts, sustainability planning processes, implementation support, and responsibilities of PEPFAR and country ownership within global health at USAID.
• Deepening skills in collaboration and coordination within a complex organizational and implementation structure.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Documenting learnings/issues from field experience. May include travel to a field Mission to develop a case study around a best practice.
• Assisting the CO&ST working group in finalizing tools related to country ownership and sustainability assessment tools.
• Assisting the working group on the documentation of lessons learned in USAID graduations and transitions.
• Developing a sustainability and country ownership training curriculum.
• Analyzing country ownership and sustainability activities from annual reports and country operational plans.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Currently enrolled masters or other post-bachelor's degree candidate in a program related to public/global health, social sciences, and/or international public policy with a focus on health systems, HIV/AIDS and/or sustainable development; or, completion of such within the past 12 months.
• Strong written communication and qualitative data analysis skills.
• Demonstrated interest and experience working in the areas of country ownership, sustainability, health systems strengthening and institutional/organizational capacity building. 
• US citizenship or US permanent residency required.

COMPENSATION:

$1,680 bi-weekly (exempt, salaried position).

TO APPLY:

Detailed information, including an online application and instructions, is available on our website at www.ghfp.net. All applications must be submitted by Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 5:00 pm eastern time.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Employer.