Intern, Information Systems (Nairobi)

About Evidence Action

Evidence Action is a global nonprofit organization with an approach distinctive in international development - we exclusively scale interventions that are backed bystrong evidence and can be delivered with exceptional cost-effectiveness. Our programs have grown since our founding in 2013 to reach over 515 million people globally with our interventions. We deliver high impact for every dollar spent, as recognized by GiveWell, The Life You Can Save, and Charity Navigator.

We do development differently. We take a data-driven approach to identifying, scaling, and continuously improving programs which deliver immense impact, ensuring these solutions measurably improve the lives of millions. Our Deworm the World Initiative has helped governments in Africa and Asia deliver over 1.8 billion childhood deworming treatments, improving health, education, and incomes. Dispensers for Safe Water provides sustained safe water access to over 10 million people in rural Africa, preventing childhood illness and deaths. 

We drive innovation: Our Accelerator builds the next generation of exceptional programs, taking an approach most similar to a venture capital model. We are ruthless in exiting programs which do not meet our criteria; those that advance deliver outsized impact for millions of people. 

We need great people. Our success to date is due to the collective work of our amazing staff. To achieve our ambitious goals, we are looking for people who share our passion for evidence, cost-effectiveness, and scale. We seek individuals who take an entrepreneurial approach, enjoy tackling hard problems, and have a bias to action and results. If our vision and approach excite you as much as it does us, we invite you to join us.

Job Purpose

The Intern, Information Systems will be responsible for technical support of key Information Systems, which drive Evidence Action’s operations and expansion. The Intern will primarily focus on delivering solutions and supporting information for the Evidence Action’s programs ensuring high availability and accessibility of critical operational services for teams. This will happen through platforms and technical implementations that aim to streamline workflows and deliver important data indicators. In addition, the Intern will provide support to the Associate, Information Systems and the broader Data Learning and Analytics team on all requests delivered.

Reporting to the Associate, Information Systems, the position holder’s role requires strong problem-solving skills to ensure program Information Systems are effectively supported technically in a timely manner.

Position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya. In addition, you should have the ability and willingness to travel to field offices when the need arises.

Application development and support (40%-50%)

• Develop and manage application solutions that help meet user needs, help manage data interoperability, and support process and data improvement with the view of program needs.
• Applications will be developed using common modern web technologies. MVC models and OOP design disciplines are commonly used as well as Git or other version control systems. 

Information Systems maintenance and support (20%-30%)

• Upon program request and as part of routine IS operations, perform support and maintenance of existing systems and contribute to workflows in all the ways called upon.

End-user support (20%-30%)

• Utilizing a user-focused development approach; troubleshoot technical user issues, perform routine general maintenance to ensure reliable application uptimes, and data uploads and imports on DHIS2 and other platforms in use by the programs and analytics teams.
• This would involve providing timely responses to both internal and external user requests and overall project management support to the Associate which includes but not limited to participating in meetings related to demos and various user presentations as well as contributing to user-testing.

Data Management and Reporting (15%)

• Support the existing and additional reporting mechanisms for data contained in DHIS2 and other platforms through dashboards, pivot tables, charts, data exports and any other form as needed.
• Also support the data management team with data uploads to the PostgreSQL and MySQL databases and other database requests.

District Health Information System (DHIS2) support (5%-10%)

• Support development and maintenance of DHIS2 application(s) used by programs within the East and Southern Africa sub-region implemented as the central platform for project planning, reporting, analysis, and dissemination of information with internal and external stakeholders.

• The applicant should hold a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems or any related field from a recognized university.
• Fresh graduates who are not more than three years out of University will be preferred.
• Interest in web application development. Demonstrated experience in the same is preferred.
• Knowledge in at least one object-oriented web framework.
• Knowledge in database design and development using relational database management systems including MySQL and PostgreSQL.
• Knowledge of DHIS2 development and maintenance would be an added advantage.
• Knowledge of Power BI and R tools for data visualization would be an advantage.
• Interest in user-centered interaction design.
• Agile thinker and capable of working effectively as part of a team. Motivated to learn new technologies and frameworks.
• GitHub repository of previous and current projects is preferred. Please attach the link to this application.
  

In addition, this position requires a candidate to:

• Support other members of the IS team in specific tasks as assigned. 
• Have a strong commitment to evidence-based practice and policy in the development field.
• Be enthusiastic to develop personally and professionally as part of a growing global team.
• Possess a strong attention to detail and a genuine love of working with data and information systems.
• Be strongly self-motivated and have the ability to work independently.
• Have the ability and willingness to travel to field offices when the need arises.

Please note that this is a paid internship position in accordance with Evidence Action’s intern policy guidelines.