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Job
Title:              Research
Associate 

Organization: Innovations
for Poverty Action (IPA)

Duty Station: 
Kampala, Uganda

Reports to: Research
Manager

Duration: 3 months

About US:

Innovations for
Poverty Action (IPA) is a research and policy non-profit that discovers and
promotes effective solutions to global poverty problems. IPA brings together
researchers and decision-makers to design, rigorously evaluate, and refine
these solutions and their applications, ensuring that the evidence created is
used to improve the lives of the world’s poor. In recent decades, trillions of
dollars have been spent on programs designed to reduce global poverty, but
clear evidence on which programs succeed is rare, and when evidence does exist,
decision-makers often do not know about it. IPA exists to bring together
leading researchers and these decision-makers to ensure that the evidence we
create leads to tangible impact on the world. Since its founding in 2002, IPA
has worked with over 400 leading academics to conduct over 600 evaluations in
51 countries. This research has informed hundreds of successful programs that
now impact millions of individuals worldwide.

Job Summary:  The Research Associate (RA) will take a lead
role in designing survey instruments, conducting quantitative and pilot
exercises to inform study and/or questionnaire design, training and managing
survey teams, ensuring data collection protocols are adhered to, ensuring data
collected is of highest quality, delivering clean databases, assisting in
preliminary analysis, assisting in the writing of project reports and policy
memos, and managing communication and relationships with stakeholders
(researchers, implementing partners, donors, etc). The position requires
excellent interpersonal and organization skills. It also requires proficiency
with Stata.

IPA is seeking
highly motivated and qualified individuals with outstanding research project
management, data analysis, people management and communication skills as
Research Associate, to lead one of IPA Uganda’s ongoing studies. Funding has
been secured for three months of Research Associate time on a study for
strengthening the effectiveness of Uganda’s Consumer Protection Framework.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

·        
Liaise
with Principal Investigators and Survey Coordinator in the design of survey
questionnaires.

·        
In
collaboration with the Survey Coordinator, ensure local and international
Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals are obtained.

·        
Work
with the data manager to program survey tools using ODK, high-frequency checks
and data flows.

·        
Work
with the Survey Coordinator to ensure translation of survey tools in local
languages.

·        
Develop
data collection protocols and data quality assurance protocol.

·        
Develop  a 
data  collection  plan 
(procurement,  logistics and  route 
plan)  that ensures adherence  to 
data collection budget.

·        
Manage
the project budget.

·        
Supervise
training and hiring of team leaders, auditors and surveyors.

·        
Conduct
daily data quality checks.

·        
Ensure
implementation of survey spot checks back-checks.

·        
Compile
clean databases.

·        
Assist
the PI team in data analysis.

·        
Manage
critical high-level relationships with donors, partner organizations and
researchers.

·        
Produce
technical reports for donor and/or other stakeholders (e.g. policy brief for
Government).

·        
Keep the
Research Manager and the PI team appraised of all project activities.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience: 

·        
The
applicant for the Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) Research Associate job must
hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, Statistics, Social Sciences, Public
Policy or related field;

·        
Two to
three years of research project experience at a field research management or
analyst position;

·        
Experience
with Open Data Kit (ODK) programming language;

·        
Proficiency
with Stata and Microsoft Office tools is necessary, particularly Word and
Excel;

·        
Experience
managing large datasets;

·        
Strong
written communication skills;

·        
Excellent
command of English, both spoken and written;

·        
Excellent
management and organizational skills;

·        
Demonstrated
ability to coordinate work effectively over email and phone

·        
Flexible,
self-motivating and team player;

·        
Demonstrated
ability to manage relationships with stakeholders (PI and partner
organizations);

·        
Demonstrated
commitment to IPA’s high standards of data quality;

Desired
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

·        
At least
a Bachelor’s degree in economics, statistics, public policy, social sciences,
or related field;

·        
Knowledge
of another data analysis software is a plus;

·        
Familiarity
with randomized controlled trials is a strong plus;

How to Apply:

Please email your
updated CV (2 pages max) including 3 professional referees, a cover letter and
highest level academic certificates to jobs-uganda@poverty-action.org and
eatuhumuza@poverty-action.org

NB: Please indicate
any preference for a particular study or research thematic in your cover letter.
Applications will be processed on a rolling basis. Only candidates who meet the
required specifications will be contacted.

Deadline: 30^th June 2019

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