Qualitative Research Intern

Internship for study on the effects of free maternal health services on access to and quality of maternal and newborn health in Cameroon, Mozambique and Tanzania.

Background

KIT is collaborating with the World Health Organisation’s Africa Regional Office (WHO AFRO) on a multi-country research study examining the experiences and effects of Free Maternal Healthcare Services (FMHS) in the African region. FMHS includes any financing mechanism that eliminates formal user fees for antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care. The research addresses a critical knowledge gap concerning the effects of FMHS on access to and quality of maternal and newborn health (MNH) services, and on MNH outcomes.

Using a mixed-methods approach, the study seeks to:

1. Identify and describe FMHS financing policies in Africa, including hidden costs, implementation gaps, and informal payments.
2. Assess the effects of FMHS on availability, affordability, and utilization of MNH services, as well as quality of service delivery.
3. Evaluate the impact of FMHS on maternal and newborn health outcomes.
4. Document best practices and lessons learned in the design and implementation of FMHS.
5. Provide operational and policy recommendations for effective scale-up of FMHS models.

Following a literature review and secondary quantitative analysis, qualitative data were collected in three case study countries (Cameroon, Mozambique, and Tanzania). The next phase involves a thematic analysis of this data to explore how FMHS are experienced and implemented as well as their impact across different levels.

Internship Description

We are seeking a Qualitative Research Intern to support the analysis of interview and focus group data collected at community and facility levels. The intern will play a key role in coding and synthesizing qualitative data related to experiences with and barriers to free maternal healthcare services in Cameroon, Tanzania and Mozambique. The internship will provide valuable experience in global health research, with opportunities to contribute to policy-relevant findings and outputs.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

• Assist with the analysis of qualitative data (interviews and FGDs), including coding and thematic synthesis, and purposive literature review
• Contribute to the preparation of reports, policy briefs and presentations based on findings.
• Participate in team discussions and analysis workshops.
• Ensure ethical handling of sensitive data, and maintain confidentiality.
• Support other tasks related to global health research and strategy as needed, including contributions to ongoing projects or internal initiatives, in line with the intern’s skills and interests

Requirements

The candidate is expected:

• To be available for at least 24 hours, and up to 40 hours a week in the period between September and December 2025.
• To be enrolled in a postgraduate degree programme (MPH / MSc / MA) in public health, social sciences (e.g., sociology, anthropology, development studies), or a related field at a university within the European Union for the full duration of the internship
• To be a citizen of a European Union member state.
• To be familiar with qualitative research methods, including coding and thematic analysis of interview or FGD transcripts and notes (experience with NVivo, Atlas.ti or similar software is an advantage).
• To have a strong interest in maternal and child health, particularly in low-resource contexts.
• To be capable of contextualizing findings within broader health systems and policy frameworks.
• To have excellent written and verbal communication skills in English (French or Portuguese proficiency is a plus).
• To be detail-oriented, organized, and able to work independently while engaging with a multicultural team

What We Offer

• An internship allowance of EUR 550 / month based on working full-time
• Supervision and mentoring from experienced researchers in global health.
• The opportunity to contribute meaningfully to a high-profile UN-collaborative study.
• Where applicable, support for academic credit or thesis requirements.

How to Apply

Please submit the following documents in a single PDF to Heloise Widdig at h.widdig@kit.nl

Deadline: 10 August 2025

• A brief motivation letter (max. 1 page)
• Your CV (max. 2 pages)

For more information on KIT’s work on global health please visit our website at https://www.kit.nl/institute/impact-areas/global-health/

About KIT

KIT is a knowledge institute, business location and hospitality venue with a mission: to contribute to an inclusive and sustainable world. From our campus in Amsterdam and through our global partner network, we enable people and communities to bring about positive change.

KIT Institute is an independent knowledge institute. The work of our experts focuses on global health, gender equality and sustainable economic development. The institute offers various education programmes, including a Master’s programme in International Health.

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