Innovations for Poverty
Action (IPA)
Job Vacancy: Research
Associate – Aspirations Project
Reporting To: Research Coordinator
Start Date: 4th October, 2017
Reporting To: Research Coordinator
Start Date: 4th October, 2017
Duration: 6
Months
Location: Oyugis
Eligibility: Position
open to local Kenyan hires only
IPA works in partnership with
development partners and academic researchers to create and evaluate approaches
potential solutions to poverty problems using randomized evaluations in the
fields of health, education, microfinance, governance and agriculture.
We also mobilize and support
these decision makers to use these solutions to build better programs and
policies at scale.
About the Project: Development
assistance tends to focus on the ‘external’ constraints that poor people face,
while largely ignoring ‘internal’ ones.
However, social psychology
suggests that poor people’s sense of self-efficacy and control may be beaten
down by the nature of living in poverty, limiting the options they
consider.
The project aims to do a
randomized controlled trial to examine the combined effect of lifting external
and internal constraints simultaneously, providing a cash transfer and an
intervention to boost poor people’s sense of self-efficacy and alter their
understanding of their opportunities, encouraging poor people to set and pursue
their own goals without directing their choices.
The research will test if a
brief, standardized psychological intervention can alter psychological outcomes
and future-oriented behaviors in a developing country and examine if such
interventions can enhance the already- known benefits of cash transfers.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Oversee large
scale data collection activities
- Manage
logistics for new pilot activities
- Develop and
pilot survey instrument
- Design forms
for electronic data collection (using SurveyCTO) and manage survey data
- Recruit, train
and manage teams to conduct surveys
- Ensure
adherence to data quality protocols and assist with data cleaning and
preliminary analysis
- Monitor
project timeline and budget, including tracking project expenses and
adherence to the project budget and timeline
- Work closely
with local partners to ensure study protocols are followed
- Assist with
donor reporting
- Other duties
as assigned
Qualifications and Experience
- Master’s
degree in economics, social sciences, public health, public policy, or
related fields.
- Candidates
with a Bachelor’s degree and significant fieldwork experience will also be
considered.
- Excellent
verbal and written English communication skills, including ability to
effectively communicate with internal and external customers
- Knowledge of
Stata (strongly preferred), SAS, or other data analysis software
- Must be able
to work under pressure and meet deadlines, while maintaining a positive
attitude and providing exemplary customer service
- Ability to
work independently and to carry out assignments to completion within
parameters of instructions given, prescribed routines, and standard
accepted practices
- At least two
year of work experience required. Previous experience with IPA/JPAL
preferred.
- Demonstrated
ability to manage enumerators teams and survey operations at different
levels (programming and data flow, financial budgeting and reporting,
human resources and team building)
- Responsible,
accountable and able to manage problematic situations
- Experience
living and working in a developing country
- Fluency in Luo
a big plus
- Bachelor’s
degree required, Master’s degree preferred.
How to Apply
CLICK HERE to apply
online
Deadline to Apply: 20th
August, 2017
DISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the Research Associate - Aspirations Project.
The statements are not
intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible duties, tasks, and
responsibilities.
Management reserves the right
to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as
necessary.
Please note that IPA will
never request any form of payment from an applicant.
