Fulgence Niyibitegeka completes internship with UNICEF Headquarters

Fulgence Niyibitegeka, a PhD candidate with the Economics of Global Health and Infectious Diseases Unit, Melbourne Health Economics, recently completed an internship with UNICEF Headquarters in New York. His placement was with UNICEF’s Department of Immunization Financing, where he contributed to high-impact projects aimed at strengthening global immunization policy and financing.

While getting exposure to real-world challenges in immunization financing, Fulgence had the opportunity to apply his PhD research skills in practice by directly contributing to global initiatives such as supporting decision-making for malaria vaccine introduction and rollout, developing the Global Immunization Budget Database, and exploring financing dynamics of Gavi-supported versus traditional vaccines.

The internship also provided him with a unique platform to disseminate his PhD research findings, receiving feedback from global health experts and ensuring that his work has direct relevance and potential impact on policy.

Reflecting on the experience, Fulgence said:
“This internship was a unique opportunity to apply my training in health economics to real-world policy questions at global scale. It also gave me the chance to share and refine my doctoral research in ways that can directly inform immunization policy and financing.”

Alongside his PhD supervisor, A/Prof Natalie Carvalho, Fulgence will share his experience and lessons learned from the internship with other graduate researchers at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health (MSPGH).

This internship marks an important step in Fulgence’s doctoral journey, where his research focuses on vaccine economics and health financing. His contribution underscores Melbourne Health Economics’ commitment to producing research and training that informs policy and strengthens health systems worldwide.