Annual Progress Report: Global Health Fellows Program II (GHFP-II) Program Year Three

The program is implemented by the Public Health Institute in partnership with Global Health Corps, GlobeMed, Management Systems International, and PYXERA Global. The program's primary objective is to support the development of global health professionals and provide them with opportunities to work on various projects and programs. During Program Year Three (PY3), which spanned from October 1, 2013, to September 30, 2014, GHFP-II underwent significant changes, including the streamlining of its organizational structure and the acquisition of new talent. The program also strengthened its systems, clarified policies and procedures, and evaluated Year Two activities while designing and approving the Year Four Workplan. Transitions during this period included changes in Agreement Officer's Representatives (AORs) and shifts in procedures regarding the placement of fellows overseas. GHFP-II continued to explore the future of the American Global Health Professional and expanded its Diversity Initiative during PY3. The program also increased its use of relevant technology to serve its goals, including the launch of IMARS, a web-based Information Management and Reporting System. This system allowed USAID and program staff to create customized dashboards to track program activities and finances, resulting in improved recruitment processes and decreased recruitment time. The program exceeded its targets regarding outreach, including efforts to reach diverse audiences. Hiring managers and fellows gave GHFP-II high marks for its recruitment process and on-program support. Internships, including partner activities, exceeded all program goals, as did support for the program's strengthened Diversity Initiative. The program also continued to upgrade the management of participant performance and support to On-site Managers (OSMs), with OSMs averaging a 96 percent satisfaction rating regarding the value and responsiveness of GHFP-II technical assistance. GHFP-II's contribution to USAID continues to be perceived as valuable, with 90 percent of fellows rating GHFP-II services as "good/excellent" and 96 percent of OSMs indicating they are satisfied/very satisfied with the value and responsiveness of assistance provided to them. The program's efforts to improve performance management, including the use of competency-based self-assessments, remain a priority.