Jobs Research Associate, Market Linkages, Trade Costs and Technology Adoption in Rural Tanzania

Worldwide, more than 1.2 billion people are engaged in subsistence agriculture in rural areas (World Development Report, 2007), mostly in developing countries where transportation infrastructure is lacking. Poor transportation infrastructure will tend to limit market access for farmers – both for buying inputs like chemical fertilizer, and for selling maize output.

 

 

The goal of this project is to evaluate three important questions regarding transport costs and economic activity in rural markets: 1) How much do transport costs (due to poor quality roads) contribute to spatial price

dispersion, and how much do they increase input prices paid, and decrease output prices received by farmers? 2) How do transport costs affect entry of intermediaries in input and output markets and how does selection of markets by intermediaries affect input and output prices? 3) How do transport costs affect technology adoption decisions? In particular, to what extent do these inefficiencies make it unprofitable to invest in chemical fertilizer?

 

To answer these questions, we will be conducting surveys in hundreds of villages in Tanzania, surveying various market actors on the input and output supply chains. We will collect information on input usage and maize sales, transportation costs, road quality, and intermediary entry into markets. This project will involve managing large-scale data collection over a fairly wide geographic area.

 

The Research Associate’s main responsibility will be to coordinate and supervise the day-to-day implementation of the evaluation. The Research Associate will report to the Country Representative for IPA-Tanzania as direct supervisor and work closely with Jon Robinson (University of California Santa Cruz), Alan Spearot (University of California Santa Cruz), Shilpa Aggarwal (Indian School of Business) and as well as other members of the research team. His/her main responsibilities will be:

Responsibilities 

Effective Cooperation

• Provide daily coordination between the research team and counterparts, ensuring that concerns are effectively communicated between parties, flagging emerging issues that may be of potential concern to parties, and ensuring that effective and productive collaboration is maintained;
• Interact with the government of Tanzania, local authorities and other partners on evaluation-related issues;
• Help ensure that targets are met on time, and that all activities are carried out in accordance with the study design.

Impact Evaluation Field Coordination and Supervision

• Developing and piloting the survey instruments, including programming questions onto a mobile phone/tablet and managing the translation of the survey into local languages;
• Hiring, training, and managing field teams who will conduct the interviews and implement the intervention monitoring;
• Managing all field logistics, procuring equipment, and ensuring the study and the intervention have approvals from local authorities;
• Overseeing all the data collection and ensure strict application of security measures on the field
• Ensuring all data quality protocols are followed including auditing enumerators and performing daily checks of the incoming data; correcting the errors of staff iteratively to ensure the data is of the highest quality;
• Managing the data from collection to delivery of a final, cleaned dataset;
• Managing the budget including tracking all expenses to ensure costs are within project funds;
• Writing regular progress reports and leading project meetings to ensure deadlines are met.

Data Analysis and Reporting

• Assist in the analysis of the survey data, and the writing of project reports and policy memos;
• Prepare written reports with feedback and analysis on the piloting and fielding of survey and other measurement instruments.

Qualifications 

• A bachelor's degree in economics, social sciences, public policy, or related field is required
• Excellent management and organization skills, along with keen attention to details
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage a complex plan with quick-moving parts
• Knowledge of and experience working with a statistics software package is required (Stata is strongly preferred) 
• Experience managing logistics and budgets for complex/dynamic projects is preferred
• Strong interest in economic and quantitative research
• Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, and team player
• Demonstrated ability to manage high-level relationships with partner organizations
• Fluency in English, with strong communication skills in both; working knowledge of KiSwahili is preferred

Tanzanian applicants possessing required skills are encouraged to apply.

Application Instructions 

Complete the J-PAL/IPA common application. After completing a brief registration, choose the Research job category, then select “Research Associate, Market Linkages, Trade Costs and Technology Adoption in Rural Tanzania."  Most applications for research positions require you to include at minimum two letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose (cover letter), CV, and transcripts.

Note that you are able to submit your application before your references complete their recommendation letters; however, you must include their contact information before submitting your application.

Given the volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

About IPA 

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. 

Disclaimers 

Innovations for Poverty Action is an EO Employer-MF/Veteran/Disability. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other protected class. 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 at jobs@poverty-action.org or via phone at 1-203-772-2216. Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work to be performed by the specified position. 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.

** Please note that only qualified applicants will be contacted by the hiring manager.