Organization: BRAC USA
Location: United States
Eligible Citizenship: All Non-US Citizens
Application Code: US05-Int
Job Function: Program / Project Management, Strategic Planning / Consulting
Issue Area: Child Health, Food Security / Nutrition, HIV / AIDS, Maternal and Reproductive Health, Noncommunicable Diseases, Water and Sanitation
About
Founded in 1972, BRAC began by serving the poor in Bangladesh. Since that time, BRAC has grown to become the largest NGO in the world, operating in 12 countries worldwide, focusing on health, microfinance, agriculture, education and female and youth empowerment. BRAC incorporates social enterprise into these programs by providing the poor with the tools to improve their own lives. BRAC USA was founded in 2007 to support BRAC's activities by providing technical assistance, public education and fundraising support and is based in New York City.
BRAC operates health programs in seven countries (Liberia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh). The foundation of BRAC's health activities is its Essential Health Care model wherein women from local communities are trained to become community health promoters (CHPs). CHPs receive training in maternal/child health, nutrition, infectious diseases, and non-communicable diseases and engage in a variety of educational, diagnostic, and curative activities, referring patients to government and private health systems when medical problems fall outside of the scope of their training. As health programs grow and mature additional services are added (e.g., mental health, vision care, health facility management).
Position Overview
The Health, Nutrition and Population Program Associate will be based in New York City and will engage in project design, implementation and evaluation for the seven countries in Africa and Asia where BRAC operates health programs, focusing on maternal/child health, HIV/TB/malaria, Ebola prevention, nutrition, clean water/sanitation, and non-communicable diseases. The fellow will have the opportunity to focus on projects and activities across country teams (e.g. Liberia, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, or Pakistan). The program associate will also assist with strategic planning as BRAC seeks to improve its community health worker model and engage in health systems strengthening in partner countries. The program associate may have the opportunity to travel periodically to visit ongoing projects in partner countries.
The Program Associate will be supervised by BRAC USA’s Health, Nutrition and Population Program Manager, a physician with a background in international primary care and health systems strengthening. A member of BRAC USA’s executive staff will also manage the program associate. Because it is a small office, applicants can expect the support from staff throughout the organization and will get to know team members very well. Mentorship and teaching will be emphasized and will be core to the experience to ensure that the fellow grows professionally during his/her tenure at BRAC USA.
Responsibilities
- Collaborating with in-country teams to design and implement health projects focusing on maternal/child health, HIV/TB/malaria, Ebola prevention, nutrition, clean water/sanitation, and non-communicable diseases in partner countries, with special emphasis on West Africa and South Asia
- Managing existing and new health projects in BRAC countries
- Assisting with monitoring and evaluation of ongoing health projects
- Drafting of reports on health issues and BRAC projects
- Assisting with strategic vision of BRAC health portfolio as BRAC seeks to improve its community health worker model and engage in health systems strengthening
- Engaging with partner NGOs, international organizations and funders to develop and implement health projects in BRAC countries
- Assisting with preparation of grants to support new and ongoing health projects
Required Skills and Experience
- Coursework or work/internship experience in at least one of the following fields: public health, health policy, public policy or international development
- Strong interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity required to collaborate with our diverse global team
- Experience working in teams but ability to work independently when needed
- Passion for international development and global health
- Ability to handle multiple projects at the same time
- Ability to apply innovative thinking to existing problems and projects
- Ability to travel periodically to BRAC countries as needed (BRAC USA will assist fellows with obtaining visas)
- Proficiency with technology, including Microsoft Office and Google applications
- Fluency in written and spoken English
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Experience working or studying abroad in developing countries
- Master’s or other graduate degree in public health, health policy, public policy or international development preferred but not required
- Experience working in non-profit sector
- Comfort with quantitative analysis
- Experience with academic research and/or epidemiology
- Experience training, working with or studying community health workers
- Experience working in or studying international health systems strengthening
- Experience and/or interest in social enterprise
Fellowship Logistics
During the fellowship year, all fellows are provided with:
- A pre-tax living stipend of $1100/month
- Housing and utilities
- Health insurance
- A professional development grant of $600
- An award of $1500 upon successful completion of the fellowship year
- Travel costs covered to and from placement site, training and retreats
Living and Working in the United States: Fellows are provided with housing and utilities during the fellowship year. Housing arrangements vary based on location within the country. Fellows placed at BRAC USA will live with other fellows in a furnished apartment in New York City, New York, an urban center.
