Please kindly read the entire job posting. Application instructions are located at the end.

Data-Pop Alliance is looking for a Project Officer for the Resilient Livelihoods and Ecosystems Program. 

We are an international nonprofit created in 2013 out of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative (HHI), the MIT Media Lab and ODI. We bring together researchers, experts, practitioners, and activists to change the world with data through three pillars of work: diagnosing local realities and human problems with data and AI; mobilizing capacities, communities, and ideas towards more data literate societies; and transforming the systems and processes that underpin our societies and countries. Resilient Livelihoods and Ecosystems program focuses on researching and evaluating the impacts of polycrises, including climate change, on the livelihoods of the populations by leveraging mixed-methods data collection and analyses, evaluations, AI-based modeling, and participatory approaches.

DPA has partnered with and received funding from organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank, UNDP, FAO, UN ESCWA, GIZ (German development agency), the Vodafone Institute, Oxfam México and other key international stakeholders to develop projects in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), the Middle-East and North Africa (MENA), and Asia. To learn more about DPA, please visit our website or read our “Outlook and Overview” annual reports for 2019-20, 2020-22 and 2021-23. 

DPA’s projects are managed and carried out by a core team of about 26 people, including Directors, Managers, Officers, Data Scientists, Research Assistants, and Interns.

Dates: Start date ASAP with a trial contract of 3 months to be followed by longer-term contract depending on mutual fit.

Location: Remote, preferably based in SSA or MENA

Scope of Work

The Project Officer – Resilient Livelihoods and Ecosystems Program will be supported by Project Officers and program staff, and report to the Program Director. He, she or they will:

Research (60%)

• Conduct and/or lead desk review, including systematic literature reviews on assigned subjects. 
• Develop qualitative and quantitative data collection instruments and tools (interview guides, focus group discussion guides, surveys).
• Conduct remote and in-person qualitative data collection.
• Analyze primary and secondary data, including cleaning and visualizing data.
• Provide support and/or lead drafting and compiling of deliverables (may include Inception Report, Evaluation Report, Socioeconomic Assessments, Research Reports, etc)
• Develop methodologies for the assessment, monitoring or evaluation of specific projects, including strategic and impact evaluations.

Project Support  (30%)

• Assist with organization, development, and quality assurance of the project.
• Support as needed or instructed by the Project Manager with project management duties, such as organizing and scheduling team meetings, updating the project work plan and timeline. 
• Participate and co-lead meetings with other DPA researchers and key partners to follow up on project advances.

Other tasks as required (10%)

• Support the fundraising team in the development of proposals. 
• Create content based on interviews and outreach with our current network of researchers and partners from existing, future and past projects to be published on our blog and shared in social media.
• Propose and write content for the blog on a periodic basis. 
• Translate (French-English) project documentation (including reports, articles, blogs) when necessary.

Profile/Qualifications

• Research or Project Officer with at least 1-3 years of relevant professional experience.
• Proven experience in quantitative and qualitative analysis (proven experience in the use of data analysis software such as Stata, R, NVivo a plus).
• Exposure to and/or experience in the design and implementation of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) systems is highly desirable.
• Proven experience co-leading and supporting administrative processes, budgets, and operations.
• Proven leadership ability, including the ability to lead small groups, motivate and develop the skills of others.
• Knowledge, working experience, and interest in the sustainable development field.
• Proven ability to work in high paced diverse work environments.
• Proven ability to engage with senior public officials. 
• Ability to handle work on multiple projects at once, pay attention to detail and effectively manage your time.
• Experience working with grants and managing donors is preferred.
• High interpersonal, communication, problem-solving, analytical and adaptability skills.
• Fluent in English and French (excellent writing and communication skills in both). Working proficiency or more in Arabic is highly desirable.
• Ability to work with people from different cultural backgrounds.
• High interpersonal, communication, solving-problem and adaptability skills.

Candidates should be able to work independently, manage their time wisely, and meet deadlines. They should be detail-focused, reliable, professional, and possess strong research, writing, editing, and analysis skills, as well as excellent communication, and interpersonal skills.

Remuneration and Benefits

Competitive salary commensurate with experience, within organization-wide salary norms. DPA team members get 25 days of paid leave per year, accruable monthly. Sick days and personal days are also available.

Recruitment Process

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a CV and a cover letter with two academic or work references to jobs@datapopalliance.org with the subject line “R2023011_PO Application” by December 20, 2023 at 6:00 pm EST. Candidates will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early application is strongly encouraged.

Please note that only complete applications submitted entirely in English will be considered. Due to the large volume of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.