Overview

The RTI University Collaboration Office seeks a prospect for the Supply Chain Internship within the International Development Group (IDG).

The USAID Western Kenya Sanitation Project (WKSP) is a five (5) year project which will be implemented in Busia, Bungoma, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, and Siaya counties. The overall goal of the project is to create a financially sustainable, transformative, replicable, and locally owned sanitation marketplace in the target counties of western Kenya. The objectives to achieve this goal are (1) increased access to and uptake of market-based improved sanitation and fecal sludge management (FSM) products and services; and (2) increased access to and uptake of market-based improved MHM products and services at the household level.

The goal of the assignment is to support the implementation of the USAID WKSP Supply Chain activities. EXPECTED DELIVERABLES:

• Identification and enrollment of at least 3 enterprises per county.
• Database of entrepreneurs and enterprises engaged by WKSP.
• Weekly reports on performance of enterprises in relation to stock and sales.
• Capacity assessment report for enterprises.
• Capacity building plan for enterprises.
• Capacity building report for enterprises.

Learning Objectives:

• To learn about different actors in sanitation and MHM supply chain and their role in facilitating access to products and services.
• To learn about organization capacity assessment approaches and capacity building interventions suitable for different actors in the supply chain.
• To develop skills in documentation of emerging, promising, and best practices in sanitation and MHM products and services supply chain.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain data base of enterprises and entrepreneurs engaged by WKSP.
• With support from the supply chain manager, follow up on enterprises performance with regards to stocks and sales.
• Participate in mentorship and coaching sessions for Sanitation and MHM Enterprises.
• Develop monthly workplans, weekly and monthly reports as part of project documentation and reporting.
• Provide day-to-day support of specific supply chain activities, ensuring work is completed against the scope, timelines, and budget.

RTI’s Internship Program emphasizes experiential and mentored learning experiences, providing students and recent degree recipients an opportunity to apply their academic knowledge and skills in a meaningful and practical way. We are committed to developing the future workforce by encouraging interns to explore various career paths in a nonprofit research institute setting that values diversity and inclusion. Through this program, interns will be exposed to RTI’s open and educational culture; support RTI’s mission to improve the human condition; and build upon their career goals.

Additional Information

This academic credit (with a stipend) internship can hybrid or fully in-person. Internship will take place from September 2023 through December 2023. Pending completion of onboarding compliance, start date may change. The internship requires a minimum commitment of 20 hours per week. Hours are flexible during business hours, Monday through Friday.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Must be a local resident of Kisumu, Kenya
• Currently enrolled as a senior undergraduate student pursuing a degree in management, business administration, economics or finance or a related field
• Must be eligible to receive academic course credit or fulfill an academic program requirement. Please provide documentation from your university or academic institution in your application confirming eligibility.
• Able to travel across the project target counties.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent analytical skills, as well as the ability to express facts and ideas in a clear, convincing, and organized manner and good writing skills.
• Highly organized and able to set priorities and handle multiple competing time and resource demands.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products.

Preferred Qualifications

• It is expected that the team members must be able to work in a fast-paced, results-driven environment – with one team – one project concept.
• The ideal candidate should be highly motivated, entrepreneurial, resourceful, flexible, independent, and energetic with excellent communications skills, cultural sensitivity and has demonstrated experience supporting technical assistance projects.
• Access to a personal laptop to use during work hours strongly preferred