Liberia: Liberia fellows

The Government of Liberia, working in cooperation with the John Snow, Inc. Research and Training Institute (JSI R&T) and the Center for Global Development (CGD), is seeking young professionals to serve as Fellows working in various Ministries in Liberia for one year beginning in February 2009. The role of the Fellow will be to provide senior Liberian government officials with effective support in the realms of policy, speechwriting, ministerial coordination and administration (particularly in areas related to economics and finance). Liberians are especially encouraged to apply. [This program is identical to the Scott Family Liberia Fellows program. You can discover more about it and read bios and blogs of the current fellows here.

Major Duties:

The Fellow’s responsibilities will vary from position to position and will depend on the specific senior official with which they work, but generally will include:

Coordinating and communicating within the Ministry/Agency, across other government agencies, and with major international agencies;
Providing research, analysis and advice to the senior official on selected substantive policy issues;
Drafting policy papers;
Drafting talking points, speeches, letters, notes, correspondence, etc.;
Taking notes and keeping records of meetings, and ensuring follow-through by key personnel on policy decisions;
Helping the senior official to manage his/her schedule, set priorities among commitments, and delegate responsibilities where possible;
Assisting in building the capacity of a Liberian to assume similar responsibilities over time; and
Other duties as required.
Qualifications:

Applicants should have a strong familiarity with the history, culture and political-economic environment of Liberia.
A graduate degree in economics, public policy, finance or other related development fields and one year of related experience, or a bachelor degree with at least three years of related experience.
Superior oral and written communication skills, a strong work ethic, and the ability to interact effectively with all levels of staff, government officials, and the public.
Applicants should also have outstanding organizational skills, be flexible, reliable and able to handle multiple tasks under tight time constraints.
Ability to work behind the scenes in a supportive role.
Benefits:

Those selected will be fellows of JSI R&T, a leading international public health organization, but will report on a daily basis to the relevant government official. They will receive a stipend of $35,000 with a $500 monthly housing allowance, international health and evacuation insurance, and will be expected to work in Monrovia for one year. In addition, the program will provide an economy class round trip ticket. Fellowship assignments will begin in February 2009. Fellows will be expected to complete a short paper on their experience by the end of their assignment. The Fellowships are funded though generous support to Liberia from the Open Society Institute.

How to Apply:

The application process is being managed by JSI R&T (not by CGD). Applicants should submit a cover letter of no more than two pages describing key qualifications, areas of expertise and career objectives, along with a CV/resume by close of business Monday, December 1, 2008 to: Sharon Rocco, Program Manager, JSI, [email protected] Please indicate “OSI Liberia Fellow Application” in the subject line.

JSI R&T and CGD are committed to attracting and maintaining a diverse and dedicated workforce. Minorities, women and developing country nationals with I-9 employment status are encouraged to apply.