Employer: Inclusion Economics India Centre at IFMR
Location: Barwani (Madhya Pradesh), India
Start Dates: As soon as possible
Length of Commitment: 1-2 Years
Principal Investigators:
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Soledad Artiz Prillaman, Stanford University
Who We Are:
Inclusion Economics India Centre at the Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR) is a policy-engaged research initiative that strives to inform and encourage evidence-based dialogue on economic and social inclusion. Our work in India includes research engagements across multiple states and focuses on some of India’s most challenging problems, ranging from pollution and climate change to women’s economic engagement and engagement with technology, to supporting effective governance and building state capacity.
As a policy-engaged research initiative focused on issues of inclusion, we believe that every life is shaped by institutions, from the family to the economy to the state. Through our work, we ask which policies build institutions that enable economies and societies, where everyone can access economic opportunities. Drawing upon economics, political science, and related fields, we conduct cutting-edge research to understand how policy can promote inclusive, accountable economies and societies. We also aim to build a culture of evidence and increase data literacy in the public sector, strengthening leaders’ ability to identify and implement evidence-informed policies. Throughout the research life cycle, we engage closely with policy counterparts to ensure we address questions of immediate relevance, and we regularly communicate data-driven insights with policy counterparts and the general public.
The Study:
Global attention on women’s political inclusion has coalesced into solutions that enable women’s descriptive representation - the guarantee of women’s presence in political spaces. But presence does not guarantee voice. In fact, despite widespread policies aimed at gender equality, women’s voices - their demands, needs, and interests - remain poorly represented in politics and policy. This imperfect representation of the voices of women in political institutions yields the underrepresentation of women’s interests and gender inequalities in policy access and social outcomes. Nowhere is this more salient than in India, where women continue to face chronic underrepresentation in politics. Accordingly, the primary research study will be focused on evaluating a proposed solution to women’s underrepresentation in politics – establishing a feedback loop between women citizens and representatives.
The selected candidate will also have the opportunity to join a team of leading political scientists from Stanford University and public policy experts at other reputed universities, to work on cutting-edge development research and gain first-hand experience working with policy partners, implementing surveys and field experiments, and conducting rigorous data analysis.
Responsibilities:
Research Associates work closely with Research Managers & Principal Investigators who guide and supervise them in their various tasks and work closely with field staff to perform a variety of tasks including, but not limited to:
- Leading the day-to-day implementation of primary research (scoping, surveying, project implementation) – including the management of field personnel, and reporting for the project.
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Identify and manage threats to the research design with support from Research Managers and Principal Investigators
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Working with Implementing partners and government officials to ensure that intervention designs are in line with the research and policy objectives
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Supporting research professors in ensuring all field and data activities are in compliance with IRB and field safety protocols
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Assist in the design and field-testing of survey instruments (paper and digital) and develop and implement appropriate structures and systems for a larger randomized intervention, including the procurement of supplies; development and oversight of field and quality control protocols; recruitment, training, and leading of field staff; and coordination with local partners
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Seek out and collect administrative data from policy partners and government agencies
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Conduct data cleaning, manipulation, and analysis using multiple primary and secondary data sources
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Review and report on academic literature of requested topics in support of policy briefs and research projects
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Contribute to analysis and writing of policy briefs for various government partners and case studies on Inclusion Economics India project components
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Others, as required
Basic Qualifications:
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A Bachelor's/Master’s degree in economics, social sciences, political science, public policy, or related fields
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Fluency and excellent communication skills (verbal and written) in English and Hindi
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Strong potential/familiarity in setting up primary data collection
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Proven analytical skills
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Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Stata
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Excellent management and organizational skills along with strong quantitative skills
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Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, and is a team player
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Ability to work independently and in rural locations
Preferred Qualifications:
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Master's degree or above in economics or related field
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Candidate should have strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to engage with policy partners of various levels
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Familiarity with randomized controlled trials
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Experience working with large datasets
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Experience working with Survey CTO
How to Apply:
If you are interested in this position, please fill out our Screening Questionnaire; you will be asked to upload a single PDF containing your CV, cover letter, and academic transcripts. Label your file “Last name, First name – Research Associate_Barwani”.
To view other open positions, visit the Inclusion Economics Opportunities page. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, particularly women, people of color and other marginalized communities which have historically been underrepresented in the field of economics.