Supply Chain Internship at RTI International

Overview

The RTI University Collaboration Office is seeking a candidate for the Supply Chain Internship within the International Development Group (IDG).

The USAID Western Kenya Sanitation Project (WKSP) is a five-year initiative covering Busia, Bungoma, Homa Bay, Kakamega, Kisii, Kisumu, Migori, and Siaya counties. The project’s overarching aim is to establish a financially sustainable, transformative, replicable, and locally owned sanitation marketplace in these Western Kenyan counties. The objectives to achieve this goal are (1) to increase access to and adoption of market-based improved sanitation and fecal sludge management (FSM) products and services, and (2) to increase access to and adoption of market-based improved menstrual hygiene management (MHM) products and services at the household level.

The internship’s purpose 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 enterprise performance related to stock and sales.
• Capacity assessment report for enterprises.
• Capacity building plan for enterprises.
• Capacity building report for enterprises.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain an understanding of various actors in the sanitation and MHM supply chain and their roles in facilitating access to products and services.
• Learn about organization capacity assessment approaches and capacity-building interventions suitable for different supply chain actors.
• Develop skills in documenting emerging, promising, and best practices in sanitation and MHM product and service supply chains.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a database of enterprises and entrepreneurs engaged by WKSP.
• Collaborate with the supply chain manager to monitor enterprise performance regarding stocks and sales.
• Participate in mentorship and coaching sessions for Sanitation and MHM Enterprises.
• Create monthly workplans and prepare weekly and monthly reports for project documentation and reporting.
• Provide day-to-day support for specific supply chain activities, ensuring adherence to scope, timelines, and budget.

RTI’s Internship Program

RTI’s Internship Program emphasizes experiential and mentored learning experiences. It provides students and recent graduates with an opportunity to apply their academic knowledge and skills in a practical way. The program aims to develop the future workforce, allowing interns to explore various career paths in a nonprofit research institute setting that values diversity and inclusion.

Additional Information

• This academic credit (with a stipend) internship can be hybrid or fully in-person, running from September 2023 through December 2023.
• The internship requires a minimum commitment of 20 hours per week, with flexible hours during business days (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, finance, or a related field.
• Eligible to receive academic course credit or fulfill an academic program requirement (documentation from your university or academic institution is required).
• Willing and able to travel across the project’s target counties.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent analytical skills and the ability to express facts and ideas clearly and persuasively in writing.
• Exceptional organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple demands effectively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, results-driven environment, working as part of a team.
• Highly motivated, entrepreneurial, resourceful, flexible, independent, and energetic.
• Excellent communication skills, cultural sensitivity, and experience supporting technical assistance projects.
• Access to a personal laptop for work during office hours is strongly preferred.