The position requires a good understanding of agriculture and rural development, solid theoretical foundations in microeconomics, and experience with quantitative methods including econometric analysis of panel data and management of large datasets. The specific duties of the Policy Analyst will include:
- Survey design and management
- Econometric analysis of survey data and other large datasets
- Writing and editing of research reports, policy notes, academic papers and other documents
- Reviewing policy documents including strategies, implementation plans, acts and bills to assess their development impact
- Interacting with officials from the government, civil society and development partners on topical issues related to agriculture, food security and poverty reduction in Malawi.
- Responding to urgent requests for rapid analytics by government, donors and other stakeholders
- Representing IFPRI in meetings, debates, panel discussions, media interviews etc.
Requirements
- Master’s or PhD degree in economics or a related field
- At least 5 years of work experience
- Good Stata coding skills
- Experience programming surveys in ODK or similar CAPI software
- Familiarity with theoretical and technical issues related to agriculture, economic development, poverty, and food security in Malawi
- Ability to see the big picture of development challenges facing Malawi and that of the research policies and initiatives that aim to address them
- Ability to express complicated analytical findings to non-scientist but expert audiences
- Ability to network with government officials and development actors at all levels
- Excellent English writing skills, especially technical and academic writing
- Malawi citizenship or permanent residence
Desired Qualifications and Skills:
- Work experience with a reputable research, government or non-governmental institution working in the fields of agricultural or development policy
- Published research outputs in peer reviewed journals or high-quality discussion papers or policy briefs
Disclaimer:
This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skills, competencies, duties and responsibilities associated with the position.