Senior Research Associate - UJALA/University Mohammed VI Polytecnic - Morocco

Background:

Title: Senior Research Associate

Employer: University Mohammed VI Polytecnic (UM6P) 

Location: Rabat, Morocco

Start Date: Spring 2024

Length of Commitment: Three years or more 

Education: Bachelor’s; Master’s preferred

Position Overview (Summary of the Organization and Role): 

We are recruiting a Senior Research Associate (UJALA) to be based at University Mohammed VI Polytecnic (UM6P) in Rabat, Morocco. The UM6P-J-PAL Agricultural Lab for Africa (UJALA) aims to generate rigorous, policy-relevant evidence to answer critical questions around small-scale agriculture and food security in Africa. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in research methods and field activities, project management skills, familiarity with the agriculture sector in sub-Saharan Africa, and some experience developing and maintaining partnerships with the private sector, governments, and NGOs.

Under the supervision of the Senior Research Manager, the Senior Research Associate will support the development of research partnerships under UJALA, focusing on technical skills and training for partners to understand the research methodology. They will build out data analysis tools for researchers and staff to use in conducting randomized evaluations; develop new teaching and reference materials; and help with the planning and delivery of course offerings to train policymakers, practitioners, researchers, and research staff to engage with randomized evaluations. You will work closely with the J-PAL Agriculture sector team, J-PAL regional offices, J-PAL Global’s Research, Education, and Training team, partner organizations, and J-PAL’s network of researchers. You will have the opportunity to travel domestically and internationally to liaise with these partners and support or participate in training courses. You will also be exposed to the latest research in economics (as it pertains to agriculture) and work directly with affiliated researchers as they publish their research data or hire research assistants for their teams.

About UJALA: J-PAL and UM6P are partnering to form the UM6P-J-PAL Agricultural Lab for Africa (UJALA). UJALA funds research to rigorously evaluate agricultural technologies and practices designed to increase small-scale farmers’ food security, productivity, and profitability. UJALA aims to answer critical questions related to designing and delivering effective food and agricultural subsidies, assessing the value of fertilizer customization to crop needs and soil nutrients, reducing low-income households’ reliance on imported food, alleviating farmers’ constraints to adopting and maintaining new agricultural technologies and practices, and connecting farmers to markets that sell at competitive prices.

About UM6P: University Mohammed VI Polytechnic is an institution oriented towards applied research and innovation with a focus on Africa. The University is engaged in economic and human development and puts research and innovation at the forefront of African development. This enables it to consolidate Morocco’s frontline position in these fields, using a unique partnership-based approach, and boost skills training relevant for the future of Africa.

About J-PAL: The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of over 200 affiliated professors at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty.

J-PAL values diversity, equity, and inclusivity in our work and the broader perspectives our staff bring. We encourage people of color, first generation college students/graduates, and other underrepresented groups to apply to this role. In your cover letter, please consider sharing how your racial, gender, socioeconomic and/or other identity has influenced your drive and desire to work at J-PAL. (This is not required, but rather an opportunity for us to get to know you.)

For more information on J-PAL Global's commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion visit this webpage.

Responsibilities:

Your responsibilities may include:

Support the development of research projects and partnerships: You will support the work developing research projects and partnerships with the private sector, identifying programs that can be evaluated using an RCT, working with partners to identify evaluation opportunities, identifying researchers from the J-PAL network to lead the evaluation, and guiding the partnership through to proposals for research funding. 

Direct research support: You will support UJALA-funded research projects and teams in ensuring high-quality research by developing tools for tracking compliance with J-PAL’s research protocols and helping troubleshoot challenges. You may also have the opportunity to develop new tools for UJALA-funded research projects (including written resources, software code, packages, programs, etc.) that increase the efficiency of research staff.

Research method training: You will research and design teaching modules and prepare presentations, case studies, and manuals to train new research staff, partners, policymakers, and researchers on randomized evaluation methods and UJALA’s research agenda.

Research project tracking: You will maintain our tracking, monitoring, and evaluation systems for UJALA-funded projects, ensuring that projects comply with ethical research protocols. 

Data analysis: You may have the chance to conduct data analysis for funded projects and learning priorities for UJALA. Research transparency and data publication: You will contribute to greater research transparency and open data efforts by documenting and preparing research datasets for publication and building tools that streamline and facilitate these tasks for our research partners.

Travel: You are willing to travel internationally as required. Position may require travel to project location(s) or a J-PAL office in the US, Egypt, or South Africa.

Other assignments as needed as the position grows.

Qualifications and Skills:

Education: A bachelor’s degree in statistics/data science, economics, political science, education, public policy, international development, or other related fields is required, with significant training in economics, including intermediate-level economics and econometrics. Master’s degree preferred.

Experience: Three to five years of work experience is required (which may include experience gained as an undergraduate), including in quantitative data analysis and economics or a related discipline. Experience conducting field research in low- or middle-income countries, and/or experience designing and running randomized evaluations is a plus, but not necessary. The ideal candidate will also have a strong interest in poverty alleviation policy and research, as demonstrated by coursework and/or study or work abroad.

Quantitative skills: Knowledge of data management, data analysis, and econometrics is required.

Software: Must have a good command of Stata or R. Comfort using Microsoft Office applications (Powerpoint, Excel) is required. Familiarity with LaTeX and GitHub and exposure to other coding languages are a plus. 

Communication: You are able to adapt to different communication styles and needs while engaging with stakeholders with diverse backgrounds, interests, and experience, and you enjoy public speaking. Your writing and presentation skills are advanced, and you can communicate technical concepts and complex models in a clear and engaging way. You are precise, clear, and creative. Advanced proficiency in English and French is required. 

Organization: You can successfully handle multiple projects at once, meet deadlines, and effectively manage your time. You enjoy preparing polished presentations and teaching materials and pay attention to detail. 

Attitude: You love learning and are willing to stay current with impact evaluation and research methods. Your teaching experience and coursework demonstrate your passion for international poverty alleviation. You are self­ motivated, work hard, and enjoy working in teams.

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 sensitivity, adaptability, and inclusivity in your engagement with people from diverse backgrounds including age, ability, culture, gender, nationality, race and ethnicity, religion, sexuality, socioeconomic status, and other identities. Experience with living in Morocco or a low- or middle-income country is a strong advantage.

Benefits:

This position offers a competitive salary, life & health insurance, retirement benefits, maternity leave and paid vacations.