Coordinator, Research, Irregular Migration, The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab’s Middle East and North Africa, School of Business, Grant Position

Job Purpose: About J-PAL MENA at AUC: 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 200 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.

The Coordinator, Research will play a key role in implementing the fieldwork on a new impact evaluation led by J-PAL affiliated professors and partners. This project will evaluate the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency’s (MSMEDA) program addressing the root causes of irregular migration. The study will focus on exploring the impact of cash-for-work as well as training and employment programs on attitudes and perceptions towards irregular migration. As part of J-PAL MENA’s Research team, the Coordinator will play an important role interfacing between MSMEDA regional offices, implementing NGOs and associations, and the research teams, and will work closely on the data collection activities with study participants. Teamwork, communication, mobility and problem-solving are central to the role. The position requires extensive travel between governorates.

The project evaluation will take place in 9 governorates. Field coordinators will be placed in 4 hubs with extensive travel between governorates in proximity of the hub.

The evaluation governorates are: Luxor, Assiut, El Minya, Fayoum, Dakahleya, Sharqeya, Gharbeya, Beheira, Qalyoubeya.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Maintain and grow effective relationships with partner organizations from Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency’s MSMEDA, survey firms and Non Government Organization (NGOs) to ensure smooth implementation of research project in the field.
• Oversee field research activities, including the implementation of the evaluation by contracted survey firm, according to the research design and in coordination with partners.
• Train survey enumerators in data collection methods and protocols.
• Supervise data collection and ensure quality of the data.
• Provide periodic updates on project activities to Principal Investigator (PIs) and subject experts.
• Participate in the planning and design of any outreach activities.
• Ensure that project activities are on schedule and prepare project update reports according to agreements with funders and partners.
• Foresee and highlight any threats to Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) study design to primary investigators as required.
• Write regular progress reports.
• Conduct background research in conjunction with field research activities.
• Support on other research projects as needed.
• Perform other tasks as needed to support organizational development.

Requirements:

Minimum Education Requirement:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline

Experience:

• Minimum 2-3 years of professional experience, ideally in the government or NGO sector
• Some experience with field work in a research context is a plus
• Fluent Arabic; ability to speak and read English at intermediate level

Skills:

• Ability to write clearly and concisely
• Team player
• Willingness to travel between governorates
• Strong self-management, time management, and organizational skills
• Proactive and solutions-oriented
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Comfort working with computer applications and quick to learn new software

The position is open until November 24, 2021

Placement is based on the candidate’s experience and skills. Only candidates who make it to the short list will be contacted.

“We thank all individuals who have expressed interest in working at The American University in Cairo.”