Policy and Research Manager - J-PAL Europe

J-PAL is looking for a Policy and Research Manager to support the development of policy-relevant impact evaluations in Côte d’Ivoire, building upon the work initiated through the civil servants training on public policy evaluation. 

About ENSEA

Founded in 1961, the École Nationale Supérieure de Statistique et d'Économie Appliquée (ENSEA) in Abidjan is a public higher education and research institution that trains statisticians for African countries. To date, it has trained more than 4,500 statisticians from over 20 African countries and Haiti. The quality of its training and its prominence in the field of statistics earned it the designation of a "Regional Center of Excellence" by UEMOA in 2005 and a "Center of African Excellence" by the World Bank in 2015. Since 2020, ENSEA has been recognised as a Regional Impact Center by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). ENSEA is a member of the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) and the Network of African Statistical Schools (RESA).

About J-PAL

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research centre that works to reduce poverty by informing policymakers with evidence-based research. With a network of over 1,000 affiliated professors at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomised impact evaluations to address critical questions in poverty reduction.

About the J-PAL / ENSEA Collaboration

Since September 2023, ENSEA and J-PAL Europe have launched an ambitious training collaboration to strengthen capacity in impact evaluation and provide resources for using rigorous research in public policy decisions in Côte d'Ivoire. This initiative was prompted by discussions with the Ivorian government on how best to support the implementation of a recent law on public policy evaluation.

One key pillar of this work involved launching an in-service certificate for civil servants on public policy evaluation with a specific focus on randomised evaluations. Launched in January 2024, the program has since trained over 150 civil servants from 10+ ministries and combines theoretical knowledge on the core technical features of randomised evaluations with practical sessions where civil servants workshop their own impact evaluation ideas. Beyond civil servants, the training collaboration also targets students and ambitions the launch of a new master’s in impact evaluation at ENSEA by the end of 2026.

With the first phase of the civil servants’ training approaching the end, J-PAL Europe is seeking to hire a Policy and Research Manager to develop new research partnerships between the Ivorian government and academic researchers. Building on the human capital and impact evaluation leads stemming from the training, this person will help turn promising evaluation ideas into concrete projects, working at the intersection between research and policy. The Policy and Research Manager will also support the Ivoirian government with institutionalising evidence generation and use, in supporting the implementation of the 2022 Law on evaluation of public policies.

Responsibilities

• Develop new research projects and partnerships, which includes tasks like
  • Identify and map the most promising research ideas from the training
  • Collaborate with ministries and governmental bodies to explore the implementation of new research
  • Matchmake program implementers with academic researchers (in Côte d’Ivoire and beyond, leveraging the J-PAL network)
  • Support with seeking and applying for research funding
  • Provide technical assistance and mentorship to civil servants who have passed through the training program in the design of policies and programs based on rigorous evidence 
• Build and manage strategic relationships, which includes liaising with
  • The Ministry of Planning and Development and other governmental partners (such as the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and Ministry of Health, which are the most represented in the civil servants training).
  • The French Development Agency (AFD) and other bilateral organisations interested in policy-relevant research in Côte d’Ivoire (such as Hewlett, The Jacobs Foundation)
  • Ivorian researchers, including ENSEA faculty, CAPEC researchers and others
  • The J-PAL network of Invited Researchers and Affiliates, in particular those interested in, or currently undertaking research in Côte d’Ivoire
  • Alumni from the civil servants training, in particular building a community of practices across ministries.
• Provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Planning and Development and line ministries as relevant in support of institutionalising evidence generation and use. Topics may include: 
  • Identifying potential funding mechanism for impact evaluation
  • Setting up an impact evaluation help desk to support civil servants looking to draw on rigorous evidence in the assessment of or design of public policies
  • Jointly designing events and other mechanisms to promote greater diffusion of relevant evidence.

Qualifications

Your technical expertise, strong communication and organisational skills, and interest in poverty reduction and training make you an ideal candidate for this role. 

• Education: You hold a Master’s degree in applied economics, statistics, or a closely related field, including coursework in microeconomics, econometrics, and programme evaluation. Candidates with Master’s-level degrees in other fields may be qualified as long as they have a solid understanding of quantitative research methods, including randomised evaluations. A PhD is a plus, but not required.
• Experience: You have five or more years of relevant experience, preferably with concrete experience conducting randomised impact evaluations (PhD years count, if relevant). This should include:
  • Experience in data analysis, familiarity with the economics academic literature.
  • Experience of field research management (which includes budget and team management, and a good understanding of data collection and data analysis)
  • Experience in project writing and grant seeking.
  • Experience collaborating with partner organisations and managing high-level partner relationships.
  • Experience disseminating research results and using them to shape public policy
• You also have 
  • a successful track of project development, including identifying opportunities, building relationships, developing and managing external partnerships (previous work with the government is a plus) as well as relevant experience in communication.
  • a deep knowledge of the Ivorian context including its public administration structure, the broader socio-economic context and an ability to operate effectively within Côte d’Ivoire’s institutional and professional culture. 
• Skills: You have strong project management skills, as well as excellent written and oral communication skills in French and good English proficiency. You have a good knowledge of quantitative research and randomised impact evaluations and a proven ability to manage high-level partners and researcher relationships.
• Organisation: You are a strategic thinker. You can handle multiple projects at once with little supervision, meet deadlines while conducting high-quality work, and effectively manage your time. 
• Attitude: You love learning. Deep interest in international development policies, the research behind them, and the training that supports them. Strong motivation and ability to work in a team and with colleagues from diverse nationalities and cultures. This position requires strong interpersonal skills to facilitate collaboration between Ivorian, European, and American teams.

Location: Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan