Research Fellow- Women's Economic Empowerment and Digital Connectivity Initiative

Job Description

Title: Research Fellow- Women's Economic Empowerment and Digital Connectivity Initiative

Company Name: BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC University

Vacancy: Not specific

Job Location: Dhaka

Employment Status: Full-time

Educational Requirements:
∎ PhD or PhD coursework with 2023 dissertation completion in Economics/Public Policy/Development Studies or other relevant disciplines

Job Context:
∎ Position Summary: Brac Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), based at Brac University in Dhaka, Bangladesh, seeks a Research Fellow for the new research initiative on Women`s Economic Empowerment and Digital Connectivity (WEE-Connect) which is being considered for funding by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. We are looking for a promising early-career researcher with a strong interest in research at the intersection of gender and digitization. The Research Fellow will develop research projects with BIGD around gender and digitization and function as an Investigator in the funded projects. S/he will also support proposal teams in drafting competitive proposals, facilitate the selection of high-quality research projects, and help monitor the quality of the projects funded through the initiative. The Research Fellow must be trained in empirical research methods and have a passion for digital inclusion and women`s economic empowerment.
∎ Reports to: Initiative Director
∎ Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh (Bangladeshi citizens are strongly preferred, and candidates must have the legal right to work in Bangladesh)

Job Responsibilities:
∎ Research, Proposal Development, and Matchmaking (35%):
∎ Develop research projects for BIGD In collaboration with other researchers and implementing partners, with the potential to apply as a Principal Investigator for competitive project funding to this initiative or other sources
∎ Proactively engage potential researchers, encouraging them to apply for funding to the initiative and supporting them to effectively align research proposals with existing gaps in the literature
∎ Assist with facilitating matchmaking between potential researchers and implementation partners-policymakers, non-profits, multilateral organisations, financial service providers, and commercial enterprises
∎ Personally participate in major global research events and relevant stakeholder events to promote the initiative, facilitate matchmaking, and disseminate outputs
∎ Facilitating Research Proposal Selection (35%) :
∎ Support the execution and management of Requests for Proposal (RFPs) for soliciting research grant proposals
∎ Help manage the proposal evaluation and selection process
∎ Lead technical communications with research teams and the advisory board
∎ Help strategize ways to improve the quality, quantity, and breadth of proposal submissions to WEE-Connect
∎ Support additional WEE-Connect operations, as needed
∎ Capacity Building (30%):
∎ Support WEE-Connect's efforts to facilitate best case practices regarding inclusivity in development research financing, including developing resources and providing direct support to proposal teams
∎ While serving as an Investigator in BIGD research projects, work to build the capacity of Research Associates and staff involved in the projects related to project implementation, data analysis, and academic publishing
∎ Teaching Opportunities (Optional):
∎ here is the potential to teach academic classes offered by BIGD, for which s/he will be compensated separately according to BIGD policy

Additional Requirements:
∎ Required:
∎ Policy/Development Studies or other relevant disciplines
∎ Relevant publications, specifically peer-reviewed journal articles
∎ At least two years of experience working as a Research Manager/Coordinator/Associate in a major quantitative field research project
∎ Research skills and experience:
∎ Demonstrated capacity to work with implementing partners and academic leads to set up, support, and analyse rigorous research studies, particularly randomised evaluations
∎ Strong data analysis skills, including data cleaning, management, and econometric analysis for impact evaluation
∎ Skills in developing research instruments (e.g. questionnaire) and coding for digitising complex questionnaires
∎ High level of expertise in data analysis software (preferably Stata)
∎ Ability to understand and communicate how rigorous research can influence policy decisions
∎ Exceptional communication skills, including speaking and writing effectively in English
∎ Preferred:
∎ Relevant publications, particularly peer-reviewed journal articles
∎ Working experience in research grant-making facilities
∎ Knowledge of and experience in financial inclusion as well as women's economic empowerment
∎ Sound knowledge of the current scenario and major trends of empirical research in social science
∎ Verbal and aural language proficiency in Bangla

Job Source: Bdjobs.com Online Job Posting.

Application Deadline: 20 Aug 2023

Company Information:
∎ 26 Jul 2023
∎ BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC University

Category: NGO/Development