Freedom from Hunger-Integrating and , UNC Gillings School of Global , University of North Carolina

Role: Research Intern to be based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Davis, CA

Project Lead: Freedom from Hunger Research and Evaluation Specialist

Project Stipend: $2,500 from UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Student is responsible for his/her own transportation to/from Davis, and living expenses in Davis.

Project Period: Approximately 10-12 weeks between May and August 2013, exact dates negotiable. At least two weeks at Freedom from Hunger International Center, Davis, California.

Background:

Freedom from Hunger is a forerunner in integrating health protection services and products onto the platform of microfinance in order to reach the rural poor with a sustainable, affordable, reliable and effective mechanism to provide services that will help protect them against financial and health shocks. In 2005–2010, under the first Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation microfinance funding, Freedom from Hunger partnered with 5 MFIs in 5 countries to develop and sustainably offer a package of health protection services that included combinations of health education, health savings, health loans, linkages to health providers and products, and health micro-insurance to improve the health and financial stability of their clients while also contributing to the sustainability of the institutions themselves. Impact research and cost-benefit analyses from the MAHP pilot initiative showed clear and compelling results of positive benefit to the microfinance client as well as to the institution itself, supporting further replication and scale of these innovations. Current strategies involve active engagement in West Africa, , the , and the Andes region of Latin America with regional initiatives that encompass the following areas of work:

 Support (to MFIs, self-help groups, Associations, and Supporting Organizations) for replication and to build capacity to reach scale;  Innovation – to improve methods, design and test new products and new applications for integrated health and microfinance;  Research and evaluation – to understand what works and in what settings;  Knowledge transfer and dissemination – Sharing of findings, materials, lessons from our work and that of others to support health and microfinance practitioners around the world. Fostering regional communities of practice as a model for what can be achieved globally within the Latin America region as a Center for Health Market Innovation partner and within India in collaboration with Microcredit Summit Campaign.

As an evidence-focused organization, impact research is an important component of Freedom from Hunger’s performance management work. Freedom from Hunger collaborates with external researchers to employ randomized control trials, and quasi-experimental and qualitative evaluations to answer important questions about how well the programs demonstrate changes in client, family and community well-being. Research

Scope of Work- Summer 2013 Freedom from Hunger seeks a research intern to work closely with its Research and Evaluation Specialists and Sheila Leatherman of the Gillings School of International Health at the University of North Carolina. Although the exact scope of work is subject to change depending on the status of ongoing research projects, it is anticipated that the intern will assist with analysis of data and findings to update and develop a more comprehensive research report and related monographs or papers destined for publication on the impact of Freedom from Hunger’s support for health and microfinance with our partner Bandhan in India.

During Freedom from Hunger’s Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded initiative (2006-2010) the most measureable impact on maternal and child health knowledge and behavior change was documented in India. Subsequently, Freedom from Hunger has supported achievement of scale of health and microfinance with its first partner (Bandhan) and has provided technical and other resources to more than 10 other Indian MFIs and SHPIs to support the development of integrated health and microfinance programs. Evaluation has been limited by available funds and resources, but has included simple pre- and post client surveys to look at changes in client reported knowledge and behavior (three partners). Additional follow-up research is planned for Bandhan in the first part of 2013 to include client impact stories and a small quantitative survey (somewhat dependent on resource availability) to examine current MCH related behaviors (TBD, but likely to include prenatal care; early and exclusive breast-feeding; use of ORS to manage diarrhea; and complementary child feeding). The Bandhan data has proved to be extremely important in disseminating evidence to other MFIs and health sector actors. Organizing existing data, adding to and updating this, and analyzing this within the context of other data from India on client impact into a paper for publication would be an important contribution to Freedom from Hunger’s objective of continuing to build a strong evidence base for integrated health and microfinance. An intern working on this analysis would be responsible for the following activities:

1. Review all past Freedom from Hunger research studies from India; 2. Collect and review other health and microfinance published and unpublished research studies from relevant India based programs; 3. Work closely with Freedom from Hunger research staff and researchers from UNC to analyze new data from Bandhan; 4. Assist staff at Freedom from Hunger and at UNC to prepare one or more draft(s) of research paper(s) for further development and publication by UNC and Freedom from Hunger research staff.

Intern Qualifications The following skills will be necessary to deliver project goals: 1. Familiarity with public health, and particularly international health, likely achieved through progress towards a masters or doctoral degree in public health 2. Familiarity with microfinance. 3. Experience with reviewing, organizing and analyzing data and information. 4. Excellent writing skills, sufficient to deliver detailed, understandable, and accurate final project report and/or draft of summary research paper(s). 5. Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and with internet searches and communication 6. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. 7. Ability to work independently and in collaboration with other development and research professionals.

Required Application Materials  Application  Resume or CV  2 recommendations: 1 from academic advisor/faculty member and 1 from former employer or professional recommendation  Current official transcript (can be provided by your registrar directly to the OGH). If already submitted for other OGH opportunity for 2013, please indicate. You do not need to submit another copy.