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Senior Research and Policy Associate

IPA Rwanda

Background: IPA is a research and policy Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that discovers and promotes effective solutions to global poverty problems. IPA designs, rigorously evaluates and refines these solutions and their applications together with researchers and local decision makers, ensuring evidence is used to improve the lives of the world’s poor. Since being founded in 2002, IPA has worked with over 400 leading academics to conduct over 500 evaluations in 51 countries.

IPA Rwanda was established in 2013 and has multiple active projects spanning Education, Agriculture, Finance, and   Health. IPA   Rwanda   predominantly   implements   randomized evaluations in collaboration with the academics, the Government of Rwanda and other development NGOs to evaluate the impact of new development concepts to help inform future government policy and development projects. 

 

Sector
Research
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https://www.poverty-action.org

Innovations for Poverty-Action (IPA)

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Research and Policy Associate

Division/Department: Education Embedded Evidence Lab

Work Location: Kigali

Length of contract: 1 year renewable

Reports to: Associate Policy Manager 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is an international research and policy nonprofit that discovers and promotes effective solutions to global poverty problems. IPA has been engaging with Rwanda’s Ministry of Education and Rwanda Education Board since 2013, a collaborative partnership underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding. Through that collaboration, we are seeking a highly motivated Senior Research and Policy Associate under the embedded lab.

The Embedded Evidence Lab is housed within MINEDUC/NESA and REB and jointly supported by IPA Rwanda and Georgetown University. This Lab draws on, and catalyzes investments in, the increasingly rich array of administrative datasets available within Rwanda's education system. It aims to support the development of data infrastructure, as well as capacity for both analysis and data-driven policymaking within MINEDUC and its affiliated agencies. As part of this initiative, IPA is supporting the placement of embedded staff in the Rwanda Education Board (REB) to provide technical assistance to the Rwanda Basic Education Board on the implementation of centralized teacher recruitment and data& systems.

Responsibilities include:

  • Support REB on strategic implementation plan for centralized teacher deployment in Rwanda by adopting computer-based teacher deployment system.
  • Support REB and the Ministry of Education to fully operationalize TMIS and provide technical support to the users at all levels
  • Oversee all aspects of the research study, including IRB, timeline, partner relationships, recruitment, and management of field staff.
  • Manage project data from collection point to cleaning using STATA.
  • Undertaking necessary desk-based reviews of relevant literature and policy partnership management
  • Working with Ministry of Education and REB to help identify other evidence best practices that IPA could support
  • Facilitation of workshops and key stakeholder engagement to support the development and effective use of enhanced software.
  • Organize and coordinate the research dissemination events with the Ministry of Education and other key stakeholders, including local academicians
  • Undertaking necessary desk-based reviews of relevant literature and policy partnership management and play a role of IPA contact person for Education Technical Working Groups.
  • Conduct data mapping exercise and identify the relevant research questions based on government policy priorities.
  • Manage the project budget and handle different requests from the projects in line with budget.
  • Ensure project adherence to pre-set budgets by creating field budgets and tracking field expenses.
  • Write regular project reports, both narrative and financial, as necessary and whenever requested.
  • Organize and Facilitate workshops and key stakeholder engagement to support the evidence use for policy decisions.
  • Plan and implement capacity assessment for the enhanced training & coaching activities to the ministry staff to own and drive data for policy planning and implementation.
  • Organizing and coordinating cross-country evidence lab learning exchange and other events of the Rwanda evidence lab.
  • Other duties assigned by the supervisor

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements:

  • BS or Masters in Economics, data science, statistics or other related field.
  • Proven experience working on data management and analytics with government institutions or international organizations.
  • Proven experience in data cleaning and analysis of admin/survey data
  • In-depth knowledge of STATA, R.
  • Familiarity with data collection platforms, survey CTO/ODK/KOBO.
  • An analytical mind, ability to interpret and organize data.
  • Extensive skills in stakeholder engagement and build relationships.
  • Strong written and oral communication skills and complete fluency in English is required.
  • Skills in presentations and report writing.
  • Cultural sensitivity and demonstrated ability to work successfully with diverse; constituencies required; developing country experience required.
  • Flexible and proactive work ethic with a demonstrated interest in the vision and mission of IPA.
  • Demonstrated ability to work with donors and/or partner organizations.
  • Knowledge of the Rwandan Education system is an asset.

IF YOU MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION,

PLEASE APPLY BY SUBMITTING YOUR CV AND ACADEMIC CERTIFICATES. COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION AT THIS LINK: https://poverty-action.formstack.com/forms/iparw_senior_research_and_policy_associate_job_application_may_2025

APPLICATIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED ON A ROLLING BASIS, ALL APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED PRIOR TO 5 PM RWANDA TIME on 10th June 2025 WILL BE CONSIDERED. APPLICATIONS AFTER THIS TIME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. DUE TO THE VOLUME OF APPLICATIONS ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE NOTIFIED.

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