Policy Associate - Inclusion Economics India Centre at IFMR

About the organization

Inclusion Economics India Centre (IEIC) is an initiative affiliated with Inclusion Economics at Yale University (YIE), founded and based out of the Yale Economic Growth Center and MacMillan Center. IEIC is based at the Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR) Society.

Inclusion Economics’ vision is a world where research and dialogue ensure economic justice, social opportunity and environmental protection. Drawing upon economics, political science, and related fields, we conduct cutting-edge research to understand how policy can promote inclusive, accountable economies and societies. Our core research focuses on gender as it relates to labour economics and broader economic empowerment; political economy and governance; and climate and environmental economics. 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 role

You will be embedded in Madhya Pradesh State Employment Guarantee Council, Department of Rural Development Department, Madhya Pradesh. You will anchor relationships with key stakeholders within the department and Knowledge Partners, identify opportunities for strengthening evidence adoption for policymakers. This includes conducting exploratory research, producing written outputs with support from research staff.

Responsibilities

• You will anchor IEIC’s engagement with officials at MPSEGC as an embedded fellow in the government department.
• You will support IEIC research teams working in MP to ensure we are regularly sharing project insights and progress with all relevant levels of govt and key stakeholders in the space.
• You will ensure policy support for a large-scale randomized evaluation on increasing rural women work participation via the workfare program, MGNREGS.
• You will produce high quality communication outputs to regularly update stakeholders in Government of Madhya Pradesh about the work IEIC is doing.
• You will conduct exploratory scoping work to develop policy responsive research projects in Madhya Pradesh. This includes field visits, analyzing existing admin data, talking to relevant officials
• You will ensure our MoU with relevant departments reflect the range of current and potential work we plan to do based on our funding and hiring timelines.
• You will identify anchor relations between government and non-government stakeholders to understand policy priorities and opportunities for collaboration to increase uptake of data and evidence to make policies gender intentional in a sustainable way.

Basic qualifications

• Bachelor's candidates with at least 2 years of experience with working with government on evidence based implementation
• At least 2 years of familiarity in working with government systems at state and district level in key government department
• Understanding of data-based research, preferably in economics or a related field
• Data collection experience is a plus
• Strong interest in public policy and economic development in low-income countries
• Excellent oral and written English and Hindi communication skills and proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite
• Mature, self-directed individual with ability to balance multiple tasks and prioritize effectively to meet deadlines in a fast-paced working environment
• Interest in working with government policy partners
• Intellectually curious with a growth mindset
• Interest and ability to contribute to a dynamic research and policy team in Bhopal
• Demonstrate commitment to uphold Inclusion Economics’ organisational values.

Preferred qualifications

• Master's degree in economics, public policy or related field.
• Candidate should have strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to engage with policy partners of various levels.

Location: Bhopal, India