Application Guide

How to Apply for Epidemiologist, Research Associate, Malaria & NTDs

at Clinton Health Access Initiative

🏢 About Clinton Health Access Initiative

The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) is a global health organization that leverages business principles to drive large-scale impact in low- and middle-income countries. Unlike many NGOs, CHAI focuses on market-shaping and government partnerships to create sustainable health systems, offering employees the chance to work directly with ministries of health and see tangible results from their analyses.

About This Role

This role involves leading epidemiological analyses to inform malaria elimination strategies in Francophone West and Central Africa, a region with high burden and complex challenges. You will translate complex data into actionable recommendations for country teams, directly influencing resource allocation and intervention design to save lives.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve cleaning and analyzing a household survey dataset in R to estimate malaria prevalence, then joining a virtual call with a country team in Côte d'Ivoire to discuss preliminary findings. Later, you might draft a policy brief or review a partner's M&E framework, ensuring your analyses are translated into clear recommendations for decision-makers.

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🎯 Who Clinton Health Access Initiative Is Looking For

  • A public health professional with a Master's in epidemiology and at least 2 years of experience in malaria or NTDs, preferably in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Expert in R and STATA for analyzing large-scale health surveys (e.g., DHS, MIS) and geospatial tools (ArcGIS/QGIS) for mapping disease risk.
  • Fluent in French and English, with experience writing reports for government stakeholders in Francophone Africa.
  • Comfortable with remote work and cross-cultural collaboration, able to independently lead analyses while supporting country teams with limited analytical capacity.

📝 Tips for Applying to Clinton Health Access Initiative

1

Tailor your CV to highlight specific epidemiological analyses you've led on malaria or NTDs, including the software used and the impact on decision-making.

2

In your cover letter, explicitly mention your fluency in French and experience working with Francophone African countries or partners.

3

Prepare a writing sample that demonstrates your ability to synthesize complex data into clear, actionable recommendations for non-technical audiences.

4

Research CHAI's current malaria projects in West Africa (e.g., in Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire) and mention how your skills align with their specific challenges.

5

Highlight any experience with sample size calculation, survey design, or M&E frameworks, as these are explicitly required in the job description.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Emphasize your experience with statistical and geospatial analysis of malaria data, and how you've used it to inform policy or program decisions.", 'Demonstrate your ability to work in a remote, cross-cultural team by citing examples of collaboration with partners in low-resource settings.', "Show your commitment to CHAI's mission by linking your career goals to their focus on market-shaping and government partnership.", "Quantify your impact: e.g., 'My analysis of insecticide resistance led to a 30% change in vector control strategy in X district.'"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read CHAI's annual reports and recent press releases on malaria to understand their current priorities and language.
  • → Review the WHO Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030 and how CHAI's work aligns with its targets.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the malaria epidemiology in Francophone West Africa (e.g., seasonal patterns, insecticide resistance, intervention coverage).
  • → Look into CHAI's 'Elimination' workstream and any published studies or reports from their malaria team.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk me through an epidemiological analysis you led from start to finish. How did you ensure data quality and validity?
2 How would you approach a meta-analysis on malaria elimination feasibility in a high-burden setting with limited data?
3 Describe a time you had to communicate complex statistical findings to a non-technical government official. What did you do?
4 How do you prioritize tasks when supporting multiple country teams with competing deadlines?
5 What is your experience with geospatial analysis for malaria? Give an example of a map you created and how it informed a decision.
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention malaria, Francophone Africa, or CHAI's specific approach.
  • Overlooking the requirement for French fluency—if you're not fluent, don't apply; if you are, make it prominent.
  • Failing to provide concrete examples of your analytical work with R/STATA and geospatial tools in your CV or interview.

📅 Application Timeline

⏰ Deadline: May 25, 2026

We recommend applying at least a few days early to avoid last-minute technical issues.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

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Good luck with your application to Clinton Health Access Initiative!

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