Applied Economic Research Assistance of Agricultural Projects

We improve lives

The IDB Group is a community of diverse, versatile, and passionate people who come together on a journey to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our people find purpose and do what they love in an inclusive, collaborative, agile, and rewarding environment.

About this position

The Division of Agriculture and Rural Development (PTI/ARD) is seeking a professional with a background on applied economics research experience in the field of agriculture and rural development to support the assessment of development effectiveness of ARD’s operations through (i) technical support for the design and implementation of impact evaluations; and (ii) knowledge generation and dissemination. PTI/ARD includes in its portfolio various agricultural and rural development projects in different countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. These interventions include productivity incentive programs through the adoption of agricultural technologies, animal and plant health programs, land titling, agricultural information, among others.

What you’ll do

• Participate in the design of economic studies and impact evaluations of ARD projects, identifying the most appropriate experimental or quasi-experimental evaluation methodologies for each context;
• Design questionnaires for microeconomic data collection in the field for baseline and follow-up surveys with the purpose of evaluating ARD projects;
• Conduct literature reviews on methodologies and areas of interest related to the division's research and impact evaluation projects;
• Perform the sample design related to the collection of data in the field, elaborating power calculations and specific stratifications that allow obtaining a representativeness of the corresponding analysis groups for the analysis of impact heterogeneity;
• Perform cleaning, construction and analysis of databases;
• Participate in training and logistical design for field data collection;
• Conduct micro-econometric studies demonstrating comparability between control and treatment groups to empirically validate the design of the impact evaluation, using baseline data from the corresponding project;
• Perform quantitative analyses that contribute to the knowledge agenda of the Division, applying rigorous econometric methodologies and using the microeconomic data of the projects to be evaluated;
• Prepare and make internal and external presentations with IDB clients on the content of ongoing analytical work;
• Collaborating on the preparation and writing of academic publications in English and Spanish.

What you'll need

• Education: Bachelor's degree (or equivalent advanced degree) in economics, social sciences, international development, environmental sciences, agriculture, or other fields relevant to the responsibilities of the role.
• Experience: At least 2 years of relevant professional experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience in the field of international development, sustainable development, rural development, agriculture, with specific knowledge of experimental and quasi-experimental evaluation methodologies, solid training in econometrics and applied micro-econometrics, and advanced knowledge of Stata software and database management.
• Languages:  Proficiency in Spanish and English, spoken and written, is required. Additional knowledge of French and Portuguese is preferable.

Requirements

• Citizenship: You are a citizen of one of our 48-member countries.
• Consanguinity: You have no family members (up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and second degree of affinity, including spouse) working at the IDB, IDB Invest, or IDB Lab

Type of contract and duration

• Type of contract: International Consultant Full-Time
• Length of contract: 14.5 months
• Work Location: On site.

What we offer

The IDB group provides benefits that respond to the different needs and moments of an employee's life. These benefits include:

• A competitive compensation packages.
• Leaves and vacations: 2 days per month of contract + gender- neutral parental leave.
• Health Insurance: the IDB Group provides a monthly allowance for the purchase of health insurance.
• Savings plan: ​​​​​​​The IDB Group cares about your future, depending on the length of the contract, you will receive a monthly savings plan allowance.
• We offer assistance with relocation and visa applications for you and your family when it applies.
• Hybrid and flexible work schedules.
• Development support: We offer learning opportunities to boost your professional profile such as seminars, 1:1 professional counseling, and much more.
• Health and wellbeing:  Access to our Health Services Center which provides preventive care and health education for all employees.
• Other perks: Lactation Room, Daycare Center, Gym, Bike Racks, Parking, and others.

Our culture

At the IDB, we work so everyone brings their best and authentic selves to work while finding their purpose. Our people consistently strive for excellence, and we recognize and celebrate the impact of their contributions.

In our efforts to drive innovation, we intentionally include all voices, cultivate a sense of belonging and champion fairness. We welcome individuals from underrepresented groups to join us and share their unique perspectives.

We ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the job interview process. If you require an accommodation to complete this application, please email us at.