Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) Recruitment – Health and Behavioral Economics Student Volunteer

Please Note: All IPA Volunteerships are remote due to COVID-19

IPA's office in Sierra Leone (SL) and the Principal Investigator, Anne Karing (University of Chicago), are looking for remote student volunteer(s) to support ongoing research on the intersection of health and behavioral economics.

In Sierra Leone, where immunization is valued, but not fully adhered to, researchers worked with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to test the impact on immunization rates of highly visible bracelets for children, signaling whether and to what extent children had completed their immunization schedules. The study found that bracelets signaling timely completion of all immunizations increased vaccination rates by 14 percentage points. The aim of the follow-up research is to assess the long-term impacts of the signals on immunization and other health behaviors, its social welfare effects, and to identify a path to scale for the intervention.

The research team is further working on new projects in health in the urban setting of Freetown. The research investigates e.g. the demand for informal markets for medicines, physical pain and its impacts of labor supply, the operation of pharmacies and impact of market competition on altruistic preferences.

Position Summary: The Student Volunteer will work closely with a research staff and communicate with the PI team to:

• Support the cleaning and analysis of survey data
• Support High Frequency Checks and other data quality assurance processes
• Design and refine survey instruments, and code them on Survey CTO
• Support with the training and monitoring of field teams
• Distil critical information from discussions and academic research into briefs to drive policy formation
• Support capacity building and trainings with local staff
• Engage in frequent communication with the PI, Research Manager, and the field team
• Perform other tasks assigned by the supervisor

Qualifications

• • Bachelor's degree in economics, social sciences, public policy, health, or related areas of study
    • Preferably a master's degree or currently enrolled student in one of the above fields
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English

• Strong attention to detail
• Self-starter, resourceful and detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills
• Demonstrated ability to work independently
• Desire for intercultural exchange and capacity-building
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully with diverse constituencies
• Eager to learn, and gain experience in a fast-paced organization
• Willingness to support capacity building with local staff
• Prior knowledge of quantitative data collection instruments and tools is a plus
• Prior knowledge of quantitative data analysis packages (Stata) is a plus

Application Instructions

1) Send a resume and a cover letter to [email protected]

• In the email body: Put your full name, first (given) name followed by last (family) name.
• Attachments: Please attach your resume and cover letter
• In the subject line: Copy exactly the following position line:

IPA-SL: Health and Behavioral Economics Student Volunteer

About IPA

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a research and policy nonprofit 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 600 leading academics to conduct over 830 evaluations in 52 countries. This research has informed hundreds of successful programs that now impact millions of individuals worldwide.

Innovations for Poverty Action is an affirmative action equal opportunity employer. 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 [email protected] or via phone at 1-202-386-6200. 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 [email protected].

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

How to Apply

Qualified and interested individuals should click on the button below to apply.