Switzerland: HIV Programmes and Advocacy Intern

Do you want to grow your career in public health with a focus on HIV?

Do you want to work with committed colleagues towards a common goal of helping to end the global HIV epidemic?

Do you want to learn about the interface between HIV, research and the biomedical industry?

Do you want to understand more about the intersections of HIV with hepatitis C virus (HCV), tuberculosis (TB), sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs)?

Are you passionate about contributing to efforts in support of under-served populations?

If your answer to all or most of these questions is ‘yes’ then this IAS internship might be perfect for you!

About the IAS:

Founded in 1988, the International AIDS Society (IAS) is the world's largest association of HIV professionals, with members from more than 180 countries. IAS members work on all fronts of the global response to AIDS, and include researchers, clinicians, policy and programme planners and public health and community practitioners on the frontlines of the epidemic.

The IAS organizes the world’s two most prestigious HIV conferences, each convened biennially in alternating years. The International AIDS Conference is the largest conference on any global health or development issue, and provides a unique forum for the intersection of science and advocacy. The IAS Conference on HIV Science brings together a broad cross section of HIV professionals and features the latest HIV science, with a focus on implementation – moving scientific advances into practice.

In addition, the IAS advocates for urgent action to reduce the global impact of HIV, including increased investment in HIV cure research; optimizing treatment and care for infants, children and adolescents with HIV in resource-limited settings; preventing and treating HIV-related co‑infections; and expanding access to prevention, treatment and care for key populations at higher risk for HIV – such as men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, sex workers and transgender individuals – including protecting their human rights by combatting punitive laws and discriminatory policies.

Five IAS Values: We are evidence-based, human rights-focused, inclusive and accountable partners in the HIV response.

More information on IAS can be found at www.iasociety.org.

Details of the Internship:

The internship is based at the IAS Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland. It is full-time and will last 8 months from 8 January 2018 to 10 August 2018. The intern will report to a Research Officer in the HIV Programmes and Advocacy Department.

Purpose of the Internship:

The IAS is seeking an intern to work within the HIV Programmes and Advocacy Department under the direct supervision of a Research Officer. The intern will be involved in a diverse set of activities related to the Industry Liaison Forum (ILF) and HIV Co-Infections and Co-Morbidities (HCC) initiative. He/she will get insights into project management, event organization, reporting and strategic planning, as well as knowledge of the HIV, HCV, TB, STIs and NCDs epidemics, drug policy and the different stakeholders (including industry, academia, governmental and intergovernmental organizations, NGOs, etc.).

The ILF promotes and facilitates the full contribution of the biomedical industry to the global HIV response with a focus on expediting the development, approval, uptake and utilization of HIV prevention, diagnostics and medicines. The ILF collaboration platform focuses on two areas: paediatric HIV and regulatory affairs.

The HCC initiative works to advance research, advocate for sound policies that allow equitable access to care, and remove structural barriers in at least three areas: HIV/HCV co-infection, TB/HIV co-infection and HIV/NCDs co-morbidity. HCC recognizes synergies as well as overlapping populations and service delivery needs across these diverse disease areas.

Main Responsibilities:

Potentially also including, but not restricted to:

• Participating in the organization of thematic roundtables on emerging topics in global health (e.g., regulatory pathways and clinical trial design for long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis and vaccines)
• Contributing to the development of policy briefs aimed at incentivizing the development of priority paediatric ARV formulations
• Performing a broad consultation of the biomedical industry on their perception of the WHO Prequalification Collaborative Procedure for Accelerated Registration
• Participating to the development of a needs assessment at the intersection of HIV with non-communicable diseases
• Developing the outlines of information briefs, aimed at policy makers, on HCV re‑infection in PWID in different settings
• Drafting technical documents (e.g., briefing notes on organizations and persons, concept notes for different activities, slide sets, minutes, surveys, short reports)
• Providing logistical support (e.g., venue, audio-visual, catering, travel support) to pre‑conferences prior to the 22nd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018)
• Providing administrative support (e.g., scheduling meetings and conference calls, liaising with the ILF Advisory Group, maintaining a contact database)
• Assisting in the overall planning and evaluation of activities
• Other department activities as needed.

Academic Qualifications:

• Currently studying or recently graduated in public health, international relations, international law, biological sciences, medicine, pharmacy or a related field is highly favourable.

Experience:

• Scientific or academic writing and desk literature research advantageous
• Project management and/or event organization skills a plus
• HIV, HCV, TB, STIs and NCDs and/or broader global health exposure beneficial
• Advocacy experience valuable.

Skills/Competencies:

• Basic understanding of global health challenges of to the HIV epidemic and related co‑infections and co-morbidities, including where the biomedical industry is involved
• Good time management and organizational skills
• Meticulous attention to detail.

Languages:

• Excellent written and oral English communication skills (other UN languages a plus).

Benefits from the Internship:

The intern can expect to gain skills and experience in the following areas:

• Insights into the work of an international, non-governmental organization
• Insights into project management, event organization, reporting and strategic planning
• Insights into HIV-related policies, research and structural barriers
• Insights into advocacy, research promotion and partnership building activities
• Opportunities to grow a professional network and collaborate with leaders from different organizations
• Unique exposure to the interface between global health, research, drug policy, activism and the biomedical industry
• Attendance to the 22nd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018) from 21-27 July in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Stipend: 2’000 CHF/month gross (full time).

How to Apply:

This internship is ideally suited to a qualified, motivated and eager-to-learn graduate willing to prepare his/her professional life in a challenging and dynamic setting, with high international exposure.

Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and a cover letter, in English and by email only, torecruitment@iasociety.orgby Friday 24 November 2017. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Only candidates from Switzerland, from an EU/EFTA country or candidates already having a valid Swiss working permit will be considered.

The IAS is committed to recruiting and sustaining a skilled, effective, diverse and gender‑balanced secretariat, and to the greater involvement of people living with HIV (GIPA) in all aspects of its work. People openly living with HIV are strongly encouraged to apply.