Research Associate

The Okhokelamo Ni Solha Study is one of the USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) supported studies under IPA’s Social Protection Program evaluation Resilience Food Security Activities (RFSAs). BHA-supported RFSAs typically provide a combination of interventions to improve the economic and nutritional status of target households, including agricultural extension services, inputs and investments, cash for work programs, vocational training programs, direct food or cash assistance, savings groups, and water and sanitation, and nutrition-focused behavioral change communication campaigns. Other related current projects include Graduating to Resilience (Uganda), Titukulane (Malawi), Amalima Loko and Takunda (Zimbabwe), with potential for additional projects. Each of these projects has a randomized evaluation or other rigorous research design, often with sub-experiments to evaluate specific project components or test different approaches for improving food security and nutrition for poor households.

IPA is looking for a highly motivated and qualified individual with exceptional project management, data analysis, people management, and communication skills As a Research Associate (RA), to help with the implementation of the Okhokelamo Ni Solha Study. The RA will serve as the project's primary point of contact, working collaboratively with the BHA, SC, and implementing partners, as well as leading academic researchers (from IPA, Northwestern University, and other reputed institutions) and the IPA country office in Kenya, to ensure that projects objectives are met. 

As an ideal candidate, you should not only have a rock-solid technical foundation in impact evaluation methodology, but should also be able to independently guide and direct the activities that happen both upstream and downstream of any rigorous, randomized evaluation. You should enjoy leading high-performing teams that drive the production of the highest quality research for our clients and partners. You should excel in solving problems using clear, strategic, and creative thinking. You should have a strong social acumen, and be excited about the opportunity to broaden, deepen, and manage meaningful relationships with high-level clients and partners across the public and private sector.

Responsibilities 

The Research Associate will perform a variety of tasks related to managing day-to-day research activities, from planning to implementation, and monitoring quality. These include, but are not limited to: 

• Plan, conduct and lead field research including training field staff, team planning and logistics, and data collection 
• Create annual project plans • Assist in questionnaire development - conduct pilot survey exercises, provide feedback on field operations and survey instruments, and refine and finalize survey instruments in collaboration with the Principal Investigators 
• Managing 1-2 long term project staff Recruiting, training, supervising and evaluating field-based teams 
• Supervising and monitoring data collection to ensure high-quality of the data 
• Running data quality checks and fixing issues with data collected during data collection 
•  Assisting in data cleaning and preliminary analysis and ensuring ready access to all data for researchers and/or supervisors 
• Ensure that research data and outputs are stored in a confidential and systematic fashion 
• Documenting in detail all activities related to the project 
• Maintaining accurate records of interviews, safeguarding the confidentiality of subjects, as necessary 
• Preparing high-quality progress and results reports to PIs, research partners, and funding agencies, and sharing them timely 
• Providing timely updates and responses to partner organizations, and participating in meetings with key stakeholders 
• Managing project finances including budgeting, expense tracking and financial reporting 
• Ensuring that all team members follow necessary protocols and procedures 
• Handling day to day PI and partner communication

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s, advanced degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience in economics, international development, financial inclusion, public policy, or other relevant field. 
• Four to six years of prior professional experience in economics research, impact evaluations, financial inclusion, international development; or financial sector policy; preferably with experience managing research activities on the ground. 
• Experience working in the payments ecosystem in the Philippines; strong understanding of local ecosystem dynamics is preferred. 
• Experience using statistical software such as Stata or R is required. 
• Strong project management ability. Experience managing multi-stakeholder and multi country projects is a plus. 
• Strong professional writing skills. 
• Strong client facing and presentation skills. 
• Fluency in English and Portuguese a must. 
• Experience with randomized controlled trials strongly preferred. 
• Experience interacting with researchers and practitioners, especially high-level government officials and c-suite executives is a strong plus. 
• Self-starter, entrepreneurial mindset, versatility and strong multi-tasking skills. 
• Passion for making data-driven decision making a reality in the development sector. 
• Team player, with the ability to lead and coordinate across teams and external partners.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Master’s degree preferred Experience managing field work/staff in developing countries strongly preferred

Location:

• Mozambique