Vital Strategies Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Summer Associate

Vital Strategies, headquartered in New York City, is an international public health organization. Our programs strengthen public health systems and address the world’s leading causes of illness, injury and death. We currently work more than 80 countries, supporting data-driven decision making in government, advancing evidence-based public health policies and mounting strategic communication campaigns. Vital Strategies’ priorities are driven by the greatest potential to improve and save lives. They include cardiovascular health, tobacco control, road safety, obesity prevention, overdose prevention, environmental health and vital statistics systems building. Our programs are primarily concentrated in low- and middle-income countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. Please visit our website at www.vitalstrategies.org to find out more about our work.

At Vital Strategies we value learning and personal development which is why we believe it is important to mentor future leaders who will grow personally and professionally and create impact in the public health sector. As a Vital Strategies Summer Associate, you will have the chance to develop skills and contribute to our initiatives through engaging, meaningful work assignments that can help jump start your career the public health.

We believe our programs are strengthened when they are developed and supported by individuals with diverse life experiences, whose understanding of social and cultural issues can help make Vital’s work more inclusive. All Summer Associate roles at Vital Strategies are paid opportunities. We encourage people of all racial, economic, social, cultural, sexual orientation, and gender expressions to apply.

About the Program: 

Vital Strategies offers students the opportunity to contribute to real time projects that advance health equity and build strong public health systems. Throughout the summer, you will meet with organizational leadership, participate in professional development sessions and strengthen critical, technical and operational skills through engaging, meaningful work assignments. 

The Opportunity: 

Vital Strategies’ Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Program and its partners in the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Data for Health Initiative collaborate with governments to provide technical support to low- and middle-income countries around the world to improve their public health data to better inform policymaking and improve public health outcomes. The CRVS Program is working in francophone Africa in two focus countries and is working toward supporting in collaboration with partners a regional strategy for improving CRVS systems. The CRVS Program Summer Associate will support the initiative’s ongoing work in the region to continue to identify opportunities in gaps in our focus countries and beyond. The Summer Associate will also support in the development of a short survey and desk research reviews.  

Responsibilities: 

Work with Regional Deputy Director for Latin America and Francophone Africa to organize and hold regular calls for coordination of efforts in francophpne Africa with various implementing and funding partners. 

Support the further analysis of needs and funding streams in the region on CVRS systems strengthening, performing desk reviews, research on funding streams and other publicly accessible data.  

Support the development of a survey targeting government officials to identify their most pressing need sin terms of CRVS system strengthening.  

Support in the development of a revised document on donor priorities and funding 

Qualifications:  

Education and Work Experience -  

Graduate student pursuing a degree in global public health, nonprofit management, international development, global public policy, international affairs, or related field(s) 

Skills and Knowledge -  

Excellent organizational skills and ability to successfully manage competing priorities and meet deadlines; 

Capacity to work independently and collaboratively in an international team environment and with solid interpersonal and communication skills; and 

Strong Microsoft Office Suite skills 

Knowledge of French language is a plus. 

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