Policy Manager, Health - J-PAL Africa

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.

J-PAL Africa seeks a Policy Manager - Health, to advance our mission to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. The Policy Manager will spearhead efforts to increase access to and use of water treatment products, building on evidence from Kenya, Malawi, and a meta-analysis. Specifically, the Policy Manager will work with J-PAL Africa’s health lead and Scientific Director Pascaline Dupas to scope new contexts in which we can co-design, pilot, and scale a chlorine voucher program embedded within government systems. We are looking for someone with a passion for using evidence to inform policy, a knack for developing strong relationships, a keen eye for identifying new opportunities, and a commitment to excellence. The ideal candidate will have a strong interest in strengthening health systems in Africa.

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.

Requirements for the job:

• 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 four years of relevant work experience.
• Demonstrated ability to read and analyze rigorous quantitative research, including randomized evaluations, as well as interpret and share policy lessons from randomized evaluations.
• Demonstrated ability to build cross-organizational partnerships, develop new projects, and mobilize individuals to collaborate within evolving circumstances.
• Advanced writing and oral presentation skills in English, particularly the ability to communicate technicaltopics in an accessible manner.
• Demonstrated leadership and programme management experience, including contributing to team strategy, hiring and training staff
• Strong skills in Excel, Word, and Powerpoint.
• Experience writing and managing budgets.
• Proven ability to handle multiple diverse assignments at one time, successfully complete assigned tasks and meet deadlines while conducting high-quality work.
• Ability and willingness to travel internationally frequently and flexibly to support policy outreach, scoping research and training events. Most travel will be in sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on traveling to Rwanda.

Advantageous:

• Advanced writing and oral presentation skills in French.
• Demonstrated interest and/or experience working in public health and/or health systems strengthening in Africa.
• One or more years working closely with large NGOs or governments to apply rigorous evidence to program or policy design and implementation.
• Someone with an entrepreneurial mindset who enjoys challenges, thrives in ambiguity, and derives satisfaction from problem-solving while collaborating closely with multiple stakeholders.
• Experience working in government or with a government-embedded policy team/unit.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct process monitoring or implementation research.

Responsibilities include:

• Strategic partnership building: Proactively develop strategic partnerships with government, NGO, and private sector actors in the maternal and child health (MCH) ecosystem in Rwanda. Simultaneously, build strong relationships with partner organizations adapting and scaling chlorine voucher programs elsewhere on the continent, including the Development Innovation Lab, Evidence Action, and funders. Organize, lead, and participate in convenings bringing together academics and practitioners.
• Scoping new partnerships across the continent, and overseeing program design, piloting, process monitoring, and management: Lead scoping new opportunities to embed a chlorine voucher program in existing maternal and child health programs in approximately 8 countries. This will include conducting desk research, developing relationships, traveling to investigate existing MCH structures, and more. As the project evolves, this may include leading program design by collaborating closely with government actors and academic lead, Pascaline Dupas. Once designed, oversee the implementation of piloting and process monitoring activities. At times, this may include supporting enumerator training, monitoring the reliability of data collected, and possibly some data analysis. Throughout the rollout period, regularly share updates with key stakeholders. 
• Contribute to organizational learning: Regularly interrogate what is and is not working, including in discussion with colleagues within J-PAL (including our Evidence to Scale team) and at partner organizations. Document learnings in slide decks, written materials, and possibly an implementation guide. This will enable J-PAL to more effectively adapt, pilot, and scale similar programs in other contexts, and also contribute to our general learning on implementation research and the science of scaling.
• Leading communications management and strategy: Enhance the visibility of J-PAL Africa’s clean water portfolio, and our work with governments to adapt and scale evidence-informed policy. Contribute learnings through photos, social media posts, and possibly blogs, working closely with J-PAL Africa’s Communications Manager.
• Fundraising for program expansion: Identify potential funders (including philanthropists, foundations, multilaterals and investors) with an interest in supporting the scaling of evidence-based programs to increase access to clean water in Africa. Build a pipeline of funders to support the continued scaling of a government-embedded clean vouchers program in multiple contexts in Africa. Lead on the drafting and preparation of funding proposals, collaborating closely with the J-PAL Africa Health Sector lead.
• Capacity building for key stakeholders: Identify opportunities to provide education and policy training events for counterparts within government and work with the J-PAL Education & Training team to plan 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 new streams of policy work.
• Travel: Willingness to travel regularly throughout sub-Saharan Africa as the project progresses and needs evolve.

This is a two-year position with the potential for extension and will be based in Cape Town, South Africa. The annual cost of employment is between R751 755 and R884 415 depending on qualifications and experience.