MNCH Intern

Job Title: MNCH Intern

Location: Monrovia with travel to the project counties (Cape Mount, Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Margibi, Bong, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, river Gee, Maryland, Bomi)

Duration: 3 Months

Reports to: MNCH Lead (Health Specialist)

Short Description:

Breakthrough ACTION Liberia is the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) flagship integrated Social and Behavior Change (SBC) Project led by Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP). The project works collaboratively with the Ministry of Health (MOH) at the national and subnational level, and in complementarity to relevant USAID Implementing Partners (IPs), to improve the effectiveness of SBC and implement quality SBC activities that will result in improved demand and use of health services for malaria; maternal, neonatal, and child health (MNCH); family planning/reproductive health (FP/RH); adolescent health; and water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH); and informed communities engaging in behaviors to prevent zoonotic and non-zoonotic infections in line with the Global Health Security Agenda.

Breakthrough ACTION Liberia is implemented in 12 counties to deliver effective, quality SBC activities focused on the following objectives:

1. Significantly influence high impact behaviors related to malaria, maternal, newborn, child health (MNCH), family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH), adolescent health, nutrition, prevention of infectious diseases, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).

2. Develop the SBC capacity in Liberia for innovative behavior change interventions at scale.

3. Strengthen SBC implementation across different thematic areas for improved health outcomes.

Breakthrough ACTION Liberia is building on and complementing existing knowledge, information and partner efforts where possible, while strengthening the capacity of Liberian institutions in SBC.

Breakthrough ACTION Liberia has completed a full year of its SBC project in all the twelve counties targeted in close collaboration with MOH, CHTs and DHTs. During the year two period of implementation, Breakthrough ACTION in collaboration with MOH led the implementation of key SBC interventions in two selected districts across the 12 project counties. Breakthrough ACTION Liberia is also continuing another year of implementation by expanding in additional districts and health facilities. Hence, to ensure an effective implementation of the project year three integrated SBC MNCH activities which entails, providing technical assistance to Family Health Program, roll out public awareness campaign (linked to the Healthy Life campaign), finalize the development of IPCC manual, conduct TOT for national level trainers and facilitate the training of 250 facility-based service providers on effective interpersonal communication and counseling (IPCC) across the 12 counties. With this huge expansion and several activities under the MNCH area, there is a need for additional human resource support in achieving quality and timely implementation of project activities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: specific duties will include:

Under the supervision of the MNCH Lead, the MNCH Intern main roles will be:

· Liaise with the MNCH team to plan and implement MNCH activities across the 12 project counties.

· Carry out administrative functions such as, filing of MNCH project documents, send out communications on behalf of MNCH team to other Units and partners as mandated

· Attend MNCH meetings and properly document minutes for all meetings

· Monitor and follow up with MOH (National, subnational and District level) to ensure effective implementation of activities for timely and quality outcomes

· Review of weekly updates from various counties and consolidate MNCH component

· Coordinate with other units to organize logistics and supplies including printing and packaging of activities tools (Forms, handout, agenda etc)

· Assist in MNCH project data collection

· Other duties as assigned and agreed upon with BA Liberia leadership.

Methodology:

· The intern will work in close collaboration with the MNCH team lead and SBC officers to support activities planning and implementation

· The intern may be required to travel in the field with BA Liberia staff to provide support

· The intern will also work with other key stakeholders/partners (MOH/other BA Liberia staffs) where possible

· The intern will submit weekly updates capturing task achieved, pending and next steps of action

Education and/or Experience: A professional with a Bachelor degree in any field and or with health/social science background is preferable.

Required experience will include:

· Minimum of 2 years’ experience in public health field

· Demonstrate high-level oral and written communication skills (in English) including the capacity to communicate and work with people from diverse backgrounds.

· Ability to exercise sound judgment, make independent decisions and to consistently demonstrate sound ethics and act with integrity

• Good computer skills (particularly Word, PowerPoint, Excel and email usage).

Language Skills: Must be fluent in English