The Policy Associate works closely with country management and global leadership to develop relationships with decision-makers, disseminate evidence, and help incorporate evidence in decision-making in Zambia.
Responsibilities
Policy Outreach
• Share evidence-based policy lessons with policymakers and practitioners through in-person meetings, memos, workshops and conferences
• Represent IPA in policymaker engagements
• Building and maintaining institutional knowledge on policy relevant research in Zambia (identify pressing challenges, conduct stakeholder mapping and literature reviews)
• Maintain expertise in the results of randomized evaluations applicable to Zambia
• Writing about IPA’s evaluations in relevant documents with a clear, accurate, and non- technical format for a policy audience
• Managing the organization of trainings, evidence workshops, seminars, and other policy events
• Collaborate closely with the global policy communications team in the preparation of materials for IPA’s policy outreach work, including drafting summaries, briefs, memos, updates, and presentations
• With direction from the Country Director, building and maintaining relationships with key partners in governments, NGOs, foundations, and multilateral aid agencies in the region
Capacity Building
• Supporting the development, coordination and oversight of IPA Zambia’s capacity-building and knowledge sharing partnerships
• Preparing presentations, training materials, manuals and knowledge products for capacity building initiatives
• Supporting stakeholder engagement, partnership development and outreach activities
Project Development
• Support IPA Zambia in the development of new research
Qualifications
- Education: An Undergraduate degree (preferably in Economics, Public Policy or International Development). Training in project management, policy dissemination, policy writing, microeconomics, development economics, econometrics and statistics. Master’s degree preferred.
• Knowledge of and interested in public policy issues in Zambia and/or Southern Africa as demonstrated by coursework and/or professional experience.
• Experience: Minimum of 1 – 2 years of relevant experience preferred.
• Communication: Attention to detail and advanced writing and presentation skills for communicating policy lessons from academic papers in ways that policymakers understand. This requires clear, precise, non-technical writing, and creativity in presentation.
• Time Management: Proven ability to handle several different projects/tasks at one time, successfully complete tasks assigned, and meet deadlines with little supervision. Self- motivation and willingness to learn will be essential for doing well in this position.
• Willingness to travel: Position may require travel throughout the country and internationally to meet with policymakers in government agencies, NGOs, foundations and international development organizations as well as follow-up work to promote research projects and other policy and capacity building initiatives.
• Languages: High proficiency in English.
Application Instructions
Complete the J-PAL/IPA common application. After completing a brief registration, choose the Policy job category, then select “Policy Associate, Zambia”. Applications require a statement of purpose (cover letter), CV, and transcripts.
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.
More Information
- Job City Lusaka
