Project Associate, Agricultural Labor Markets (Zambia)
Africa/Middle East
Background
• Location: Chipata, Zambia-– a small town in Eastern Province, with considerable travel
• Start date (month/year) and duration: ASAP/One-year commitment. The position may lead to opportunities for additional years of employment.
IPA-Zambia seeks qualified applicants for a Project Associate interested in economic behavior, environment and agriculture, to help design and implement a study based in Chipata, Zambia.
The project is being conducted by researchers at Tufts and Harvard School of Public Health, in partnership with local implementers and international donors.
About the research: Labor is a key input to agricultural production and rural labor markets frequently suffer from numerous frictions that lower overall productivity for smallholder farmers.
In particular, the seasonal nature of both on-farm labor demand and food shortages lead to a cycle in which poor farmers sell their labor to satisfy short run liquidity constraints neglecting their own land and crops This results in lowered yields and further food shortages the following year. The research project will explore this cycle and pilot alternative strategies for overcoming this negative cycle (agricultural poverty trap) for smallholder farmers in Eastern Zambia.
The first year of project implementation will occur on a pilot scale with the goal of identifying successful interventions for scaling up and evaluation in future years. Piloting activities will include a baseline survey, experimental games and small scale (around 200 households) implementation of interventions targeting small scale farmers.
Primary responsibilities: Managing field data collection, supervising data entry, maintaining relationships with field partners and working with researchers in the US on the design and implementation of data collection activities.
Specific responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
• Contributing to survey and study design
• Organizing and managing collection of monitoring and survey data, including training and supervising data survey team, performing quality checks on incoming data, and organizing data storage
• Significant fieldwork, including rural travel
• Training and supervising data entry staff
• Performing preliminary data analysis
• Acting as a logistical coordinator with implementing partners
• Basic budget management
• The opportunity to work with and contribute to other research projects in the IPA-Zambia office
Required qualifications, experience, and skills
• Experience in social science research in a developing country (preferably African) context
• Management/program coordination experience
• Data management experience, preferably involving survey data collection
• Strong organizational skills and a high level of attention to detail
• Relevant experience in a developing country work environment
• Willingness to travel throughout Zambia and live in rural conditions
• Flexibility, self-motivation, and an ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks effectively
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in a cross-cultural setting
• Curiosity about the study question
Additional helpful skills
• Familiarity with randomized evaluations and experimental methodologies
• Degree in economics, public health, public policy, supply chain management, social sciences or related fields
• Knowledge of agriculture and/or labor markets
• Knowledge of STATA strongly preferred
How to Apply
If you are interested, please do two things:
1. Send an email to jobs@poverty-action.orgl, and jobs-zambia@poverty-action.org following these instructions exactly:
• In the subject line: Put your full name, first (given) name followed by last (family) name.
• Attachments: Please attach ONLY your resume & cover letter .
• In the email body: Copy exactly the following position line: 100690 IPAZambia, Project Associate, Agricultural Labor Markets: A Pilot Study
2. Complete the J-PAL/IPA common application indicating that you are interested in applying for a "Type 1: Research Analyst or Project Associate" position. Please include two letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and transcripts.
Please do not include any text besides the position line(s) in the body of the e-mail. Adding extra text will interfere with the processing of your application.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.
DISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being 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-info@poverty-action.org.
IPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE), adhering to the laws that prohibit discrimination in the terms and conditions of employment. The IPA EOE policy provides equal employment, volunteer, and service opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, national origin or ancestry, religion, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, marital status, veteran status, disability (including HIV/AIDS), or any other status protected by applicable law.
Background
• Location: Chipata, Zambia-– a small town in Eastern Province, with considerable travel
• Start date (month/year) and duration: ASAP/One-year commitment. The position may lead to opportunities for additional years of employment.
IPA-Zambia seeks qualified applicants for a Project Associate interested in economic behavior, environment and agriculture, to help design and implement a study based in Chipata, Zambia.
The project is being conducted by researchers at Tufts and Harvard School of Public Health, in partnership with local implementers and international donors.
About the research: Labor is a key input to agricultural production and rural labor markets frequently suffer from numerous frictions that lower overall productivity for smallholder farmers.
In particular, the seasonal nature of both on-farm labor demand and food shortages lead to a cycle in which poor farmers sell their labor to satisfy short run liquidity constraints neglecting their own land and crops This results in lowered yields and further food shortages the following year. The research project will explore this cycle and pilot alternative strategies for overcoming this negative cycle (agricultural poverty trap) for smallholder farmers in Eastern Zambia.
The first year of project implementation will occur on a pilot scale with the goal of identifying successful interventions for scaling up and evaluation in future years. Piloting activities will include a baseline survey, experimental games and small scale (around 200 households) implementation of interventions targeting small scale farmers.
Primary responsibilities: Managing field data collection, supervising data entry, maintaining relationships with field partners and working with researchers in the US on the design and implementation of data collection activities.
Specific responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
• Contributing to survey and study design
• Organizing and managing collection of monitoring and survey data, including training and supervising data survey team, performing quality checks on incoming data, and organizing data storage
• Significant fieldwork, including rural travel
• Training and supervising data entry staff
• Performing preliminary data analysis
• Acting as a logistical coordinator with implementing partners
• Basic budget management
• The opportunity to work with and contribute to other research projects in the IPA-Zambia office
Required qualifications, experience, and skills
• Experience in social science research in a developing country (preferably African) context
• Management/program coordination experience
• Data management experience, preferably involving survey data collection
• Strong organizational skills and a high level of attention to detail
• Relevant experience in a developing country work environment
• Willingness to travel throughout Zambia and live in rural conditions
• Flexibility, self-motivation, and an ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks effectively
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in a cross-cultural setting
• Curiosity about the study question
Additional helpful skills
• Familiarity with randomized evaluations and experimental methodologies
• Degree in economics, public health, public policy, supply chain management, social sciences or related fields
• Knowledge of agriculture and/or labor markets
• Knowledge of STATA strongly preferred
How to Apply
If you are interested, please do two things:
1. Send an email to jobs@poverty-action.orgl, and jobs-zambia@poverty-action.org following these instructions exactly:
• In the subject line: Put your full name, first (given) name followed by last (family) name.
• Attachments: Please attach ONLY your resume & cover letter .
• In the email body: Copy exactly the following position line: 100690 IPAZambia, Project Associate, Agricultural Labor Markets: A Pilot Study
2. Complete the J-PAL/IPA common application indicating that you are interested in applying for a "Type 1: Research Analyst or Project Associate" position. Please include two letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, and transcripts.
Please do not include any text besides the position line(s) in the body of the e-mail. Adding extra text will interfere with the processing of your application.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for an interview.
DISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being 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-info@poverty-action.org.
IPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE), adhering to the laws that prohibit discrimination in the terms and conditions of employment. The IPA EOE policy provides equal employment, volunteer, and service opportunities to all qualified persons without regard to race, color, national origin or ancestry, religion, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identification, marital status, veteran status, disability (including HIV/AIDS), or any other status protected by applicable law.
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