Summary
Date Posted: Wednesday, November 30, 2022 , Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:

The Takunda Amalima Loko 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. 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 Zambia is seeking a highly motivated and qualified individual with outstanding project management, data analysis, people management and communication skills as a Research Associate (RA) to support the implementation of the Takunda Amalima Loko Study. The RA will serve as the central point of contact for IPA research projects supported by BHA and the Implementer-Led Evaluation and Learning (IMPEL) Associate Award led by Save the Children. The RA will work with BHA, SC, and implementing partners (including CARE and CNFA) as well as leading academic researchers (at IPA and Northwestern University and other top schools) and IPA country office in Zambia to ensure that projects are carried out on time and at the highest quality. 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. We are looking for a minimum commitment period of two years for this position with a possibility for a longer-term position for exceptional candidates.

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
Education:
• Bachelor’s degree in economics, public policy, or other quantitative social science disciplines
• Quantitative Skills: Demonstrated proficiency in Stata,
• and experience with data management, and data cleaning
• A minimum of 1-year of work experience is required.
• Excellent management and organizational skills; ability to successfully completing assigned tasks and meeting deadlines, required
• Communication Skills: strong oral and written communication skills in the English language required
• Master’s degree preferred
• Experience managing field work/staff in developing countries strongly preferred


Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 12

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

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