ECI Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Fellow
MATERNAL, NEWBORN AND CHILD HEALTH (MNCH) FELLOW
Founded by Ben Affleck, Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI) is the only U.S. based advocacy and grant-making initiative wholly focused on working with and for the people of eastern Congo. We envision an eastern Congo vibrant with abundant opportunities for economic and social development, where a robust civil society can flourish.
ECI believes that locally driven, community-based approaches are essential to creating a sustainable and successful society in eastern Congo. Futher, we believe public and private partnerships, combined with advocacy that drives increased attention and public policy change, will create a sustainable future for the people of eastern Congo.
POSITION SUMMARY
ECI exists to increase awareness of the challenges facing the Congolese and to empower their voices to drive solutions that we support as Congo advocates. ECI is seeking innovative, sophisticated and expert input for a fellowship focused on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH).
This 12-month Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Fellowship will support and advance ECI’s advocacy goal of improving maternal health and reducing child mortality in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). ECI’s specific objectives are to decrease the number of women who die in childbirth, increase the survival rate of newborns and children in DRC and improve access to MNCH healthcare through grant-making and advocacy.
The long-term impact of maternal health on developing societies is now widely recognized. The fellow will help identify the core issues that affect maternal and child health in DRC. The fellow’s field investigation, analysis and recommendations will increase the impact of ECI’s current MNCH grant-making, and he or she will develop a wide spectrum of advocacy opportunities through research, innovation and partnerships with community-based organizations, bilateral donors, international NGOs and government ministries in DRC.
MNCH FELLOW ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The MNCH fellow will review content and collaborate on ECI’s strategic advocacy goals for the next 12 months. The fellow will consolidate progress towards ECI’s MNCH goals by:
- Researching and identifying root causes and plausible solutions to MNCH issues in DRC
- Collaborate with local and international stakeholders in DRC to support the development of a national strategy for the prevention of child mortality
- Coordinate partners to convene an advisory committee which will be responsible for:
- Providing recommendations for the development of policies and strategies for the effective implementation of child survival-related programs;
- Providing recommendations and guidelines for better involvement of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the implementation of the GDRC Child Survival Strategic Plan, and the creation of an enabling environment for the successful integration of CSOs and the private sector in child survival-related activities;
- Enhancing the collaboration/coordination between entities working the Child Survival sector under an agreed-upon national strategic framework and operational national plan; and
- Representing NGOs/CBOs as a national platform for community-level perspectives
- Reviewing and providing input on the development of the national operational plan and budget for child survival to improve cost-effectiveness and efficiency;
- Supporting capacity-building of national institutions and civil society organizations, and coordinating skills, expertise and experience already embedded in related sectors;
- Identifying unnecessary bureaucratic challenges and bottlenecks to child survival-funded initiatives; and
- Making recommendations to strengthen and improve coordination between ECI’s MNCH partner’s programming and advocacy:
- Empowering women and girls to make healthy reproductive choices and act on them
- Removing barriers that prevent access to quality services
- Expanding the supply of quality services, delivering cost effective interventions for family planning, antenatal care, safe delivery and emergency obstretric care, postnatal and newborn care – delivered through stronger health systems with public and private providers
- Enhancing accountability for results at all levels with increased transparency.
In addition to these key activities, the ECI fellow may be asked to conduct secondary research related to the MNCH policy and programming (literature review and synthesis of secondary research), collaborate on grant work in Eastern DRC and perform a gap analysis of the DRC’s public sector MNCH programming.
ECI’s advocacy focuses on developing specific, actionable goals for the USG and the international community. The ECI fellow will provide advocacy guidance and collaboration on event-specific items, development of ECI materials (including policy talking points and advocacy publication such as op-eds) on a quarterly basis, policy coordination and collaboration with partner organizations and DRC-based organizations as needed.
POSITION QUALIFICATIONS:
- BA/BS required; current Master’s or completed Master’s in Public Health preferred. PhD candidates welcome.
- 4-5 years’ experience in International Public Health, field research, and/or public health policy.
- Fluent in French required; Swahili is highly desired.
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal with all levels of the organization.
- Deep knowledge of and experience working with issues related to maternal, newborn, and child health, required.
- Experience working in or deep knowledge of great-lakes region and/or Democratic Republic of Congo, preferred.
- Experience working in a private foundation or non-profit organization; experience working with USAID preferred.
- Experience with or demonstrated commitment to international development, health, and advocacy.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, both internally and externally, in driving execution.
- Demonstrated ability to multi-task and support multiple staff members simultaneously.
- Extreme attention to detail and accuracy in documentation and data integrity.
- Experience working closely with finance and legal staff in compliance matters.
- Strong organization and workflow skills.
- Strong analytical and research skills.
- Experience with creating and managing detailed project plans.
Desirable personal qualities include strong initiative, hard-working, self-starting approach and a balanced mix of self-confidence and humility. Must be able to work and thrive while under pressure or in stressful circumstances with a positive approach and can-do attitude. Proven ability to be solution-focused and approach challenges or conflicts by thinking outside the box. Applicants should be good-natured and charismatic with a good sense of humor.
FELLOWSHIP STIPEND
The MNCH Fellowship offers a stipend of $48,000. All travel and other out-of-pocket expenses are covered, in accordance with USAID regulations.
LOCATION
This fellowship will be dually located in the ECI offices in Goma, DRC and USA. Percentage of time in DRC to be determined collaboratively with MNCH Fellow, in accordance with program needs.
HOW TO APPLY
- Please send your resume, cover letter and writing sample to jobs@easterncongo.org (subject lin must read: “MNCH Fellow”)
- Candidates under consideration will be scheduled for a phone interview.
- Successful candidates will be invited to interview with ECI team members, CEO and with key advisors.
Learn more about us, our partners, and our work at www.easterncongo.org.
MATERNAL, NEWBORN AND CHILD HEALTH (MNCH) FELLOW
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