Traditionally the major proportion of public transport in Dar es Salaam is provided by privately owned mini vans, so called “daladalas”. While daladalas run fixed routes, they will also stop anywhere along their route to drop someone off or allow a prospective passenger to board. Hence, in most cases they do not provide passengers with a direct and thus fast service. Furthermore, especially during peak hours commuting in daladalas is relatively uncomfortable as they get increasingly overloaded. Due to the substantial number of daladalas operating in Dar es Salaam this transportation system is highly inefficient in the sense that it results in high degrees of congestion, low travel safety, and high degrees of air pollution, etc. Thus, the current public transportation system has adverse effects on Dar es Salaam inhabitants, particularly the part of the population that is dependent on public transport, and thereby Tanzania’s economic growth due to i.e. long commuting times and relatively high safety risks while commuting.
In order to provide a faster, safer, and environment friendlier mode of transportation and ultimately support Tanzania’s economic growth the Dar es Salaam Rapid Transport (DART) agency was appointed to plan, construct, and ensure operation of a BRT system and thereby provide enhanced urban transport facilities that are reliable and cost effective. The project is subdivided into 6 phases each including the construction of a corridor on which contracted firms exclusively run rapid transit buses. The interim rollout will take place on the corridor, which has been constructed during phase 1. Construction for phase 2-6 has not started yet.
The IE of the DART system aims to measure the impact of the provision of a BRT system in several ways. The primary outcomes, which will be measured, are if in fact improving public transportation via a BRT system can:
• Reduce travel times and increase urban mobility?
• Increase employment and growth by reducing job search costs and raising worker and firm productivity?
• Increase inter-firm trade and competition between markets?
• Improve air quality by displacing polluting vehicles, reducing private vehicle use and lowering vehicle idle time?
• Increase road safety, via fewer vehicles and better roads?
• Improve individual welfare, by increasing commuter income, health, leisure consumption, and property values?
Establishing a BRT system in Dar es Salaam is expected to fundamentally improve urban mobility and thus economic growth. In this context the DART agency recognizes the importance of rigorously verifying the BRT system’s impact on economic growth – in order to be able to demonstrate results, convince key stakeholders and overcome potential resistance. It has therefore requested the World Bank’s assistance to embed an IE into the rollout over the next years.
The Senior Research Associate’s main responsibility will be to coordinate and supervise the day-to-day implementation of the Impact Evaluation in Dar es Salaam, working closely with implementing partners including (but not limited to) DART agency and partner survey firms. The consultant will report to the Country Representative for IPA-Tanzania as direct supervisor and work closely with Bilal Murtaza Siddiqi (Economist, DECIE), Melanie Morten (Assistant Professor, Stanford University), and Gharad Bryan (Assistant Professor, London School of Economics), Clare Balboni (London School of Economics) as well as other members of the research team.
Responsibilities
His/her main responsibilities will be to support (i) the detailed impact evaluation design, (ii) the collection and analysis of survey data, (iii) capacity development for the client team, (iv) reporting on IE-related activities, and (v) implementation support.
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
• Work with the joint implementation/research team on the elaboration of a rigorous impact evaluation identification strategy. This includes working with researchers and implementers to identify the key questions to be addressed, the outcome indicators to be used, data sources and sample sizes (including sampling framework and field procedures), timeline and budget;
• Closely supervise and support the implementation in the field;
• Work closely with the implementing organization(s) to ensure compliance with IE protocols and that treatment assignments are administered according to the agreed up-on protocols and plans;
• Visit study sites as possible to ensure that they have the assigned program status and gather general information about the implementation process;
• Monitor implementation activities so that the evaluation team understands and has documented the details of implementation across study areas. This includes supporting the implementation partners in setting up monitoring protocols for tracking progress.
Data collection and analysis
• Prepare written reports with feedback and analysis on the piloting and fielding of survey and other measurement instruments;
• Finalize data collection instruments, including questionnaires and field procedures;
• Monitor the entire data collection process, from training of enumerators, quality control during the field work to data entry, to ensure data quality;
• Assist in the analysis of the survey data, and the writing of project reports and policy memos;
• Build capacity for data collection, data management and data analysis within the implementing agency;
• Participate in workshops and other dissemination events.
Qualifications
- Academic specialization: A Master’s or Undergraduate degree in economics, public policy or related field with strong quantitative research skills is essential, preferably with a concentration in development economics, impact evaluation and applied micro-econometrics.
• Experience: The candidate must have technical expertise in impact evaluation and econometric analysis (including proficiency in STATA), and experience working with governments. Previous work with the Tanzanian government and familiarity with the DART agency, in particular, is strongly preferred.
• Capacity Building Skills: Demonstrated ability and experience in designing and delivering training and capacity building activities.
• Language: Superior written and verbal communication skills in English are required.
• Interpersonal skills: Demonstrated ability to work effectively and sensitively in teams and with government counterparts and across cultures.
We encourage Tanzanian candidates who possess the required skills to apply for this position.
Application Instructions
Complete the J-PAL/IPA common application. After completing a brief registration, choose the Research job category, then select “Senior Research Associate, BRT”. 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.
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