The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.
The IRC has been in Liberia since 1996, providing health and education support for the large numbers of repatriating refugees. Currently, IRC Liberia implements multi-sector programming with a specific focus in Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE), Child and Youth Protection and Development (CYPD) and Health in Lofa, Nimba and Motserrado countries. In addition, the IRC provides services to Ivorian refugees who fled from the 2010 election violence in Cote d’Ivoire.
Background
IRC Liberia seeks a research intern to oversee the operations research component on a new multi- year grant funded by USAID’s Child Survival Health Grants Program (CSHGP). The project aims to reduce maternal and child mortality by increasing Liberian women’s access to quality family planning services within the MOHSW’s Essential Package of Health Services ten-year health care plan. The project will target the catchment population of JDJ Hospital in Monrovia, Curran Hospital in Zorzor, Lofa County and five health clinics in rural Lofa. The IRC partners with the MOHSW, implementing project activities through their facilities and cadre of community health workers. The project strategy includes piloting and extending approaches which have the support of the MOHSW, but have not yet been tried in Liberia. These approaches include: • Introduction of injectable contraception into the service package of Community Health Volunteers (CHV), who currently deliver child and maternal health interventions in a house-to-house model • Development school reproductive health programs for adolescent girls • Integration of family planning services into other service delivery areas in primary health care facilities such as childhood immunization • Dispensing long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) and promoting PPIUCD as a routine part of post-abortion and post-partum care at two hospitals and one health center
The purpose of the Operations Research (OR) component of the “Better Future, Better Lives: Reducing Child and Maternal Mortality in Liberia” is to provide essential information to policy-makers on effective mechanisms to expand family planning use in Liberia. The OR study will use a quasi-experimental design to measure the effects of integrated FP/MNCH service delivery at health facilities and in communities on FP and MNCH acceptance and continuation in Lofa County. The research methods employed will be a cohort study of family planning acceptors; exit interviews with health facility clients; surveys of health staff and community volunteers; and analysis of HMIS.
This study is a collaboration between IRC and Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
Scope of Work Coordinate the OR field activities including: o selection and training of the data collection workers for each study o development of standardized procedures for regular data collection, processing and storage o logistics for study implementation Work with IRC staff and Columbia MSPH faculty to analyze data and prepare reports
Learning Objectives Observe and work with professional staff on various tasks related to the research – specifically, organizing FGDs, recruiting women to the study and organizing exit interviews Develop research skills related to Reproductive health in the development context Gain an understanding of the management process through observing technical staff and coordinating activities
Qualifications
• Currently pursuing an MA in Public Health (or a recent graduate) • Experience and openness to working with communities in the field • Strong M&E and research skills • Highly proficient in MS Word, Excel, and Power Point • Excellent problem-solving and interpersonal skills • Some experience working on RH programs in African context, preferred • Fluent in written and spoken English
Please note: this internship is unpaid with no flight provided. All can apply. Applicants in Liberia are encouraged to apply.
Internship is for approximately 6 months.
How to apply:
Please apply online: http://ch.tbe.taleo.net/CH02/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=IRC&cws=1&r... .
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