Intern, Nutrition Research And Policy

Results for Development (R4D) is a leading non-profit global development partner. We collaborate with change agents around the world - government officials, civil society leaders and social innovators - to create strong systems that support healthy, educated people. We help our partners move from knowing their goal to knowing how to reach it. We combine global expertise in health, education and nutrition with analytic rigor, practical support for decision-making and implementation and access to peer problem-solving networks. Together with our partners, we build self-sustaining systems that serve everyone and deliver lasting results. Then we share what we learn so others can achieve results for development, too. 

We have a unique and vibrant culture at R4D. Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the heart of our work environment and help advance our mission. Diversity-of ideas, identities, perspectives and backgrounds-is vital to who we are and what we do. We seek people who embrace these values and will help reinforce them. Our work culture is collaborative, creative and entrepreneurial. We operate based on trust and respect. Teams across the organization frequently collaborate on programmatic work and support each other in continuously building a better R4D.

The internship program is designed to provide students and recent graduates with an opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge and training about our programs and projects in developing countries as well as supporting areas of R4D.

 

R4D's Nutrition portfolio works with global, regional, and country change agents to pursue two ambitious aims using three cross-cutting, strategic approaches.

-         Nutrition in Health Systems: Aim to elevate nutrition as a priority within the health sector and ensure nutrition services are funded and delivered within a package of primary healthcare (PHC) services

-         Nutrition in Food Systems: Aim to strengthen food systems to ensure access and availability of safe and nutritious food year-round

-         Evidence Generation and Translation: R4D supports Nutrition Research and develops user-centered data tools and approaches and advocates for improved data in nutrition to inform decision-making and programming to address malnutrition around the world.

-         Sustainable Nutrition Financing: R4D works with stakeholders at global, regional, national, and sub-national levels to increase the quality and quantity of funding to address and end malnutrition.

-         Multisectoral Policy, Planning, and Coordination: R4D provides strategic support to change agents who are driving global, regional, and national efforts to tackle malnutrition, from conducting analyses and advising on institutional strategies, to using evaluation and adaptive learning techniques to quickly test and optimize program design and implementation.

 

While there may be opportunity for the intern to work on various projects within the portfolio, the focus will be on one of R4D's sustainable nutrition financing projects:   Tracking aid for the WHA nutrition targets . Building on R4D's work in the Global Investment Framework for Nutrition -which estimated the costs to achieve the World Health Assembly targets for nutrition and suggests global financing scenarios for the world to mobilize resources for nutrition-the aim of this project is to track donor disbursements to the package of cost-effective interventions costed in the framework. By tracking these disbursements, we can monitor progress to the targets and assess whether funding is targeted to the places in most need. In this endeavor, R4D has worked closely with the Scaling Up Nutrition Donor Network and multiple advocacy organizations. 

Description of internship

• Conduct qualitative and/or quantitative Research and analysis to support a nutrition project, such as:
• Compile data from public sources into summary data files; create data tables and figures to summarize main findings
• Assist in data cleaning and review. For example, review development assistance project descriptions to determine if nutrition interventions are present and to what extent; standardize entries across the dataset 
• Conduct data analysis relevant to research questions of interest, and suggest key takeaways to project lead
• Produce final presentation (and other communication materials as relevant) to synthesize key findings on research project, as well as deliver presentation to the full Nutrition team


Specific project tasks will be delegated and overseen by a Senior Program Officer and Program Officer for Nutrition. The intern will also work closely with other members of the nutrition team.


Educational Objectives: 
What you will learn during this internship?
• The candidate will gain the following educational knowledge and training by the end of the internship:
• Practical experience in the fields of international development and global health/nutrition
• Experience and understanding of global and country-level nutrition programs and/or initiatives, focused on sustainable financing; evidence generation and translation; or multisectoral policy, planning, and coordination  
• Experience and understanding of the global nutrition partner landscape, including important donors and implementing partners
• Qualitative/quantitative data collection and analysis skills
• Experience translating data analysis and research into policy recommendations and actions
• Experience working independently and as part of a team to accomplish deliverables
• Guidance, support, and mentorship from staff at different levels at R4D
 
Eligibility & Internship Requirements:
• Candidates should be college/university undergraduate students with less than 2 years of work experience; or graduate students with less than 2 years of work experience.
• Interns are expected to work between 20 and 40 hours a week during the internship period (likely mid-Jan to mid-April).
• Part-time Interns are expected to be available for 3-5 days of full-time project orientation at the beginning of the internship.
• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all R4D staff are working remotely. This is a remote position, but candidates based within the Eastern time zone are preferred.


Compensation:
• R4D interns will receive $17.00/hour.


Academic Credit:
• Awarding academic credit for an internship is at the discretion of your college or university. We are happy to assist you with providing appropriate information at your school's request. Interns are responsible for making all arrangements for earning credit prior to the commencement of their internship.


Qualifications: 
• The ideal candidate for this position will possess the following qualifications:
• A demonstrated interest in international development and global health/nutrition
• Preference given to interns with a working knowledge of nutrition programming or at minimum, strong interest in learning
• Proven Research and analysis skills and ability to follow a structured research protocol
• Excellent proofreading and editing skills
• Quantitative and data analysis skills
• High level of organization and attention to detail
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as a team member
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office software (analysis will be conducted with Excel)
• Enthusiasm, energy, good judgment, and flexibility


Plusses include:
• Educational background or work experience in international development and global nutrition
• Understanding of development aid architecture
• Familiarity or experience working in low- and middle-income countries