2014 DHS Fellows Program in Population and Health

2014 DHS Fellows Program in Population and Health for University Faculty from Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, or Zimbabwe

ICF International is pleased to announce it is accepting applications for the 2014 round of the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Fellows Program. The DHS Fellows Program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is designed to increase the capacity of countries to conduct further analysis of DHS data. The primary objectives of the program are as follows:

• To teach fellows to analyze DHS datasets, produce result tables, and conduct research with DHS data;

• To strengthen skills that fellows will use to integrate DHS data in teaching;

• To increase the ability of fellows to build the capacity for using DHS data at their home universities

Eligibility and Requirements
Applications must be from teams comprised of three faculty members from the same university who teach in departments of demography, public health, economics, sociology, geography, or other social sciences. The universities they represent must be in Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, or Zimbabwe.

Teams must include one senior faculty member1. All three team members must be available to attend two workshops organized by ICF International, one at the beginning and one toward the end of the program (see anticipated timeline below). Each Fellow must bring a laptop loaded with Stata and/or SPSS for the duration of each workshop. Each team will also be expected to jointly complete a publishable-quality manuscript on policy-relevant questions that are primarily related to one or more of the following topic areas: family planning, HIV/AIDS, sexual behavior, fertility, or reproductive health. Papers must use data collected in the DHS, AIDS Indicator Surveys (AIS), or Service Provision Assessment (SPA) surveys.

In addition, each team will be expected to design a plan for building capacity in the use of DHS data for teaching and research to be implemented at their home universities and report back on implementation prior to completion of the program.

The language for the program is English. Manuscripts that meet the required standards will be published by ICF International in their Working Paper series. Fellows will be encouraged to submit their completed papers to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.

1A senior faculty member is defined as: (1) Currently holds or has previously held a senior position at the university such as Head of Department, Dean of School/Faculty, Director of an Institute, and/or (2) Associate professor (or equivalent) or higher.

Anticipated Timeline
January 20, 2014: Applications due 

February 10, 2014: Selected candidates are notified. 

March 31-April 11, 2014: First two-week workshop to be held in an African country to prepare Fellows to use DHS datasets, refine research questions, and start data analysis. 

May 15, 2014: Fellows submit interim drafts of their paper and capacity-building plan to ICF. 

June 10-19, 2014: Second two-week workshop to be held in an African country for fellows to finalize their capacity-building plans and papers for publication. Fellows will be required to prepare and make brief presentations. 

July 14, 2014: Fellows submit final papers and capacity-building plans to ICF. Corresponding author responds to reviews and edits throughout the publication process. 

September 1, 2014: Fellows report back on capacity-building activities implemented at their home universities. 

Awards
The fellows program for 2014 will select four to six teams based primarily on the merits of their research proposal and on the applicants’ potential for building the capacity of their home university to use DHS data. 

Each selected fellow will be awarded a $3,000 stipend to cover his or her research expenses, which will be paid in installments based upon satisfactory completion of the deliverables. In addition, ICF International will cover economy airfare from the home university in Africa, lodging, and per diem expenses for each fellow to attend both workshops at a location in Africa.

Application Procedure
Each team should submit a single application that contains the following items in pdf format:

1. A brief research proposal (3 to 4 pages), clearly outlining the research question(s), scope of analysis, and how DHS, AIS, or SPA data will be used to answer these questions. Please describe the potential policy significance of the proposed study and how it relates to the scientific literature.
2. A brief plan for internal capacity-building (1 to 2 pages) that describes realistic activities the applicants will undertake during and after the fellowship; these activities should enable fellows to pass on knowledge and skills learned through the program to students and faculty at their home university.
3. In addition, the joint application should include the following from each member:
4. 1. A brief (<1 page) personal statement from each applicant that includes:
      1. Prior experience working with DHS data
      2. Current level of proficiency in using SPSS and/or Stata
      3. Information on the courses the applicant is teaching
      4. Research areas she/he plans to explore in the next five years
   2. A curriculum vitae with complete contact information, a list of publications, and names and contact information for three references
   3. Proof of status as a current university faculty member and duration of employment

If selected, each candidate will be asked to provide evidence, such as a letter of approval from their department chairperson, that the university/department agrees to her/his participation in the fellowship program, including full-time participation in both workshops.

Applications are due no later than January 20, 2014. 

Contact Information
Please send applications to: Ms. Toni Jones, International Health and Development Division, ICF International, 530 Gaither Road Suite 500, Rockville MD USA 20850. Email: toni.jones@icfi.com. 

For information on Demographic and Health Surveys, AIDS Indicator Surveys, and Service Provision Assessment Surveys, visit www.measuredhs.com.