Research Intern (Summer 2023) - J-PAL MENA

J-PAL Title: Research Intern (Summer 2023)

Reports To: Research Associates

Location: Cairo, Egypt

Start Date: June 1, 2023

End Date: August 15, 2023

Length of Commitment: 10 weeks

Education: Undergraduate

Paid position: This internship pays a modest stipend

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab’s Middle East and North Africa regional office is based at The American University in Cairo School of Business. J-PAL (povertyactionlab.org) is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of more than 260 affiliated professors at universities around the world, J-PAL draws on results from randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty.

J-PAL’s mission is to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is based on scientific evidence, and research is translated into action. We do this through three main activities: 

• Conducting rigorous impact evaluations: J-PAL-affiliated researchers conduct randomized evaluations to test and improve the effectiveness of programs and policies aimed at reducing poverty. 
• Policy outreach: J-PAL’s policy group analyzes and disseminates research results and builds partnerships with policymakers to ensure that policy is driven by evidence, and effective programs are scaled up.
• Capacity building: J-PAL equips practitioners with the expertise to carry out their own rigorous evaluations through training courses and joint research projects. 

J-PAL MENA at AUC is recruiting a Research Intern to contribute to its mission of promoting evidence-based policy. This is a paid, full-time position (40 hours per week) and we ask for a ten-week, in person commitment at minimum.

Responsibilities:

The Research Intern supports the efforts of the Research Group at J-PAL MENA to support project development and coordination.

• Research material preparation: Preparing survey instruments and other project materials
• Coding: Supporting in reviewing and cleaning data using statistical packages
• Field coordination: Working closely with local implementation partners and assisting with coordination of enumerators’ work
• Research writing: Assisting writing tasks that involve formatting, and editing literature reviews, reports, etc.
• Sector-specific work: Completing small research and writing tasks that involve working with policy staff for J-PAL MENA’s sectors (Education, Environment, Energy, & Climate Change, Finance, Firms, Gender, Health, Social Protection, and Labor Markets)
• Miscellaneous: Other tasks as needed

Qualifications: 

Your strong research and organizational skills, as well as your background in economics/statistics and your interest in poverty alleviation, make you an ideal candidate for the Research Intern position.

• Education: You are a fresh graduate or a junior or senior with high grades in economics coursework, including econometrics/statistics.
• Experience and interest: You have demonstrated strong interest in research and international development through coursework, study abroad, or previous internship experience. You have
• demonstrated interest in developing advanced programming and analytic skills. Familiarity with randomized evaluations and econometric methods is preferred. Experience with at least one statistical analysis language required; STATA, R, or Python strongly preferred.
• Communication: Your strong communication skills help you write clear and concise documents.
• Organization: Your robust organizational capacity and ability to pay attention to detail enable you to handle several projects at once and meet deadlines.
• Cultural competencies: You are comfortable and adept at working in a diverse and multicultural work environment, with colleagues, partners, and policymakers from around the world. You display cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality, and age sensitivity and adaptability.  
• Attitude: You are willing to work hard, excited to learn, and enthusiastic about taking on a broad range of assignments.