Policy Manager - Firms, J-PAL Africa

J-PAL Africa seeks a Policy Manager - Firms, to advance our mission to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. The Policy Manager - Firms will spearhead efforts to develop partnerships and generate new research aimed at identifying the most effective and cost-efficient strategies for fostering growth in small and medium enterprises in Africa, which can contribute to job creation. We are looking for someone with an understanding of the potential for rigorous evidence to affect change, a keen eye for identifying new opportunities, and a commitment to excellence. The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in policies related to enterprise growth and investment, and in combating unemployment.

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global network of academics who specialize in conducting randomized evaluations of social policies/programmes to generate scientific evidence about what works in the fight against poverty. J-PAL’s policy team analyses and disseminates research results and builds partnerships with practitioners and policymakers to ensure that policy and programmes are informed by scientific evidence, and effective programmes are scaled up. 

The J-PAL Africa team provides supportive management structures and offers flexibility for accelerated growth by supporting proactivity and encouraging top performers to expand and develop their portfolio.

Responsibilities include:

Strategic planning for the portfolio:

Critically assess how to scope and build new opportunities to generate policy-relevant research on SME growth and investment, and how to integrate this evidence into policy design and at scale. This will include: thinking creatively about how to disseminate existing policy lessons in new spaces; working with the Scientific Advisor for Firms in Africa to identify evidence gaps and set the research agenda; building out the required foundations and infrastructure for new evidence generation; assisting the portfolio’s Scientific Advisor to build internal alignment around the portfolio’s priorities; and planning for the expansion of the J-PAL Africa’s Firms portfolio in the medium- to long-term.

Strategic partnership building:

Proactively develop strategic partnerships with the private sector, investors, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), governments, academics, and other key ecosystem partners in Africa in order to generate new evidence and/or increase the uptake of existing evidence around firm growth and investment, and mechanisms to boost employment. Organize and lead convenings bringing together academics and practitioners.

 Overseeing project development and management:

Manage activities that lead to the development of research projects, including pilots, full randomized evaluations, and cost effectiveness analyses, dedicated to leveraging evidence in programme design, scaling up existing evidence-based interventions, and/or generating evidence around key areas as defined by the J-PAL Africa Firms portfolio research agenda. This includes leading on the identification of necessary activities to turn opportunities into concrete projects and delivering results.

Leading communications management and strategy:

Enhance the visibility of this new portfolio of work at J-PAL Africa on firm growth and investment. Build a global voice in this ecosystem through effective communication and engagement strategies, and by creating compelling content to communicate policy impact and research findings.

Fundraising for programme expansion:

Identify potential funders (including philanthropists, foundations, multilaterals and investors) with an interest in building the evidence base on firm growth and investment in Africa. Build a pipeline of funders and approach high potential prospects to fundraise for the expansion of the Africa Firms portfolio and the establishment of a dedicated research initiative focused on identifying the most effective strategies for enterprise growth in Africa. Lead on the drafting and preparation of funding proposals.

Capacity building for key stakeholders:

Manage and support education and policy training events. This will include strategically initiating or participating in training and events to build and maintain relationships, disseminating evidence, as well as seeding opportunities for policy work. It will also involve supporting the creation of training content and overseeing event-related budgets and logistics.

Requirements:

A Master’s degree in Public Policy, Economics, or another similar social science, preferably including courses in econometrics/statistics, microeconomics, and development economics.

A minimum of five years of relevant work experience.

Demonstrated interest and/or experience with the private sector or small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Africa.

A passion for J-PAL’s mission of poverty reduction.

Demonstrated ability to build cross-organizational partnerships and/or identify and develop new projects.

Advanced writing and oral presentation skills in English, particularly the ability to communicate technical topics in an accessible manner.

Strong skills in Excel, Word, and Powerpoint.

Experience working in Africa.

Highly advantageous:

Demonstrated ability to read and analyze rigorous quantitative research, including randomized evaluations, as well as interpret and share policy lessons from randomized evaluations.

Experience working in Francophone Africa.