Global Health Fellows Program II
The Center for Accelerating Innovation and Impact Innovation Scale-up Intern
Global Health Initiative, Office of the Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Global Health, United States Agency for International Development
Anticipated timeframe: February 2016 – April 2016, compensated 12 week internship
Location: Washington, DC/Arlington, VA
INT-P5-017
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.
BACKGROUND:
The Center for Accelerating Innovation and Impact (CII) is a cross-functional unit within the Global Health Bureau. CII applies business‐minded approaches to the development, introduction and scale-up of health interventions to accelerate impact against the world’s most important health challenges. CII works across two teams: the Innovation Team and the Market Access team. CII’s Innovation Team sources and supports new and innovative ideas from all around the world, and from various sectors. One of the main ways this is accomplished is through the Saving Lives at Birth Grand Challenge.
Saving Lives at Birth – a partnership of USAID, the Government of Norway, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, Department for International Development (DFID), and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) – calls on the brightest minds across the globe to develop groundbreaking prevention and treatment approaches for pregnant mothers and newborns during the vulnerable hours surrounding birth. After five rounds of awards, the portfolio supports the development of 92 novel technologies and solutions for use in low-resource settings. Some of the scientific and technological maternal health advancements include the development of low-cost, non-refrigerated inhaled and sublingual forms of oxytocin to prevent post-partum hemorrhage; aerial delivery of blood and other life-saving medicines; and development and testing of a substandard and counterfeit medicines rapid detection and screening platform.
The Market Access Team focuses on identifying best practices and applying relevant private sector tools to drive the scale up of innovations with the most potential for impact.
INTRODUCTION:
Saving Lives at Birth supports a robust pipeline of innovations, including the development and critical testing of two bubble continuous positive airway pressure devices (bCPAP), which provides breathing support to newborns suffering from Respiratory Distress Syndrome. One of them, called Pumani, has successfully launched in Malawi and is planning for scale-up in other developing countries. At the same time, the Helping Babies Survive program at USAID is also looking to identify priority countries to introduce bCPAP to save lives of pre-term babies.
The Intern will work closely with both the Innovation and Market Access teams to support these activities. The Director of the Center for Accelerating Innovation and Impact will serve as his/her onsite manager.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
• Gaining experience in the field of application of business-minded approaches and solutions to scaling up global health innovations.
• Gaining a greater understanding of USAID, its work in global health and the broader global health community
• Deepening skills in collaboration and coordination within a complex organizational and implementation structure.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Intern will assist with conducting a market landscape analysis for bCPAP scale-up by:
• Researching 1-2 top priority countries to be selected for field work.
• Assisting with the arrangement of and participating in field work to consult USAID mission(s), healthcare practitioners, key opinion leaders, healthcare facility administrators, Ministry of Health officials, lead non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and local medical device distributors in order to understand/identify:
i. Different segments of market demand for bCPAP.
ii. Key product features required by each segment, and the availability of devices that complement the use of bCPAP.
iii. Current treatment practices for Respiratory Distress Syndrome, and collect feedback on existing bCPAP products used in the field, if any.
iv. Existing programs focused on neonatal survival, potential third party payers and their willingness to pay.
v. Facility procurement mechanism and process for bCPAP, and their willingness to pay.
vi. Lead local wholesalers or distributors for medical devices.
● Comparing bCPAP products that are targeting low-income country markets and have obtained regulatory approval.
● Producing a summary report of key findings and recommendations for market entry strategies.
● Other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned based on organizational and programming need and/or the Intern’s own interests.
QUALIFICATIONS:
● Currently enrolled in master’s or other post-bachelor’s degree programs related to business administration; or completion of such degree within the last 12 months.
● Strong analytical skills with relevant market entry, strategy, management consulting, or investment experience.
● US citizenship or US permanent residency required.
COMPENSATION:
$1,690 bi-weekly (exempt, salaried position)
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