Project Associate, Fingerprinting to Reduce Risky Borrowing (Malawi)
- Reports to:Country Director
- Location:Lilongwe, Malawi
- Deadline to apply: February 14, 2014
- Desired start date: Negotiable, but ideally no later than May 1, 2014.
- Length of Commitment: 2 years commitment is required for this position.
Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), is an international non-profit research organization. Based in New Haven, CT, with offices in Washington, D.C. and worldwide, IPA works with development partners and academic researchers to create and evaluate approaches to solving development problems, to communicate 'what works' in development and to scale up successful projects in a variety of fields, including health, education, microfinance, governance and agriculture.
Position Summary:
IPA is seeking qualified applicants for the position of Project Associate for the Fingerprinting to Reduce Risky Borrowing Project. The project aims to improve repayment rates of rural microloans by fingerprinting borrowers at the time of loan application and incorporating collected fingerprints into a credit database. The project will measure impacts on repayment, as well as on borrower outcomes such as production activities and farm profits. The project will be conducted in partnership with microfinance institutions in Malawi. The position offers an opportunity to gain first-hand field management experience in an organization undertaking cutting-edge development research. The principal investigators are Dean Yang, Jessica Goldberg, andXavier Gine, however you will also be working closely with the Project Coordinator as well as partner organizations.
Responsibilities:
The Project Associate will work closely with the Project Coordinator, IPA-Malawi Country Office and the PIs (academic researchers) to perform a variety of tasks including, but not limited to: assisting in logistical planning, management of relations with partner institutions, project design, designing survey questionnaires, running pilot exercises, managing survey teams, checking and analyzing data, cleaning data and conducting preliminary analysis, writing of project reports and policy memos, and other management and administrative tasks. The Project Associate will be based in Lilongwe, with occasional travel within Malawi.
The initial project will be for a two year period, with the possibility to extend based on performance and development of the project.
Qualifications:
- A Bachelor's or Master's degree in economics, social sciences, public policy, or related fields
- Excellent management and organizational skills along with strong quantitative skills
- Fluency and excellent communication skills in English
- Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, a team player
- Demonstrated ability to manage high-level relationships with partner organizations
- Experience living in a developing country is a strong plus
- Familiarity with randomized controlled trials preferred
- Knowledge of and experience working with STATA or other data analysis software
- IT skills is a strong plus
Application Instructions:
Please follow the application instructions below. Any applications or CVs submitted outside this process will not be considered. Note, only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview. Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Complete the J-PAL/IPA common application. Please select the position(s) you are interested in applying for on the 'Submit Application' page. Include two letters of recommendation, statement of purpose (cover letter), CV, and transcripts. We will consider your application even if you are unable to obtain reference letters before the deadline, but please be advised that we will be requiring them should you be invited for an interview.
IPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer.
All persons shall have the opportunity to be considered for employment without regard to their race, colour, religion, national origin, ancestry, alienage or citizenship status, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
IPA will endeavor to make a reasonable accommodation to a qualified applicant with a disability unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business. If you believe you require such assistance to complete this form or to participate in an interview, please contact us atjobs@poverty-action.org.
DISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work to be performed by the Project Associate. 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. Applicants are encouraged to confirm the information listed above with IPA prior to releasing any extensive personal information to the organization. Please direct questions to jobs@poverty-action.org.
