Chris Blattman

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Do you (or your students) want to manage randomized evaluations in Liberia?

UPDATE: Position has been filled. Thanks for your interest.

Fancy running a field research project around land conflict resolution or ex-combatant reintegration? I’m looking for a field research manager to manage one or both exercises over the next 6 to 12 months.

The position is ideal for grad students who are looking for extensive training and experience in survey development and management and field experiments. Recently graduated undergraduates and masters students are also excellent candidates.

Responsibilities include:

  • Baseline survey development and pretesting
  • Working with the UN and local NGOs to implement the (randomized) selection process
  • Training and monitoring enumerators and the data collection process
  • Baseline data cleaning and analysis

While prior experience in any of these tasks is an asset, it’s not required. We will teach you to do everything.

What are the programs? One is designed to reduce land conflicts and serious domestic violence in the 500 most war-torn, ethnically-riven, violence-prone communities in Liberia. It is a UNHCR-supported peace program implemented by a local NGO. They intensively train community leaders and give them the local authority to be conflict arbitrators and promoters of community collective action.

The second program is a UN-funded intensive ex-combatant reintegration program targeted at national “hotspots”. Several hundred fighters still in their armed groups will be coaxed from their (currently illegal) diamond mining by offering an extensive economic and skills training program. Spots in the program exceed the number of ex-fighters, and the (randomized) wait list will function as a control group. Socio-economic impacts on the ex-combatants themselves, as well as the communities they depart, are the focus of the study.

As far as I know, this is the first time a ex-com reintegration or community conflict resolution program has been rigorously evaluated.

The deal:

  • Travel and living expenses are paid, along with a very modest stipend
  • Periodic return trips are paid for, including December holidays
  • Health insurance can be arranged if needed
  • There’s a possibility that your own research interests/project could be carved out
  • Your personal safety is not a concern at present

What are the essential requirements?

  • A B.A. or (better) an M.A. or equivalent
  • You are available to go to the field in September or October (worst case: November) for a minimum of 6 months (a return flight for December holidays can be arranged).
  • You have basic statistics training and a working knowledge of STATA
  • You are fluent in English

Not required (but helpful) are the following:

  • Ability to stay in field up to 12 months (periodic trips home are paid for)
  • Advanced statistics training
  • Prior experience working in a developing country
  • Familiarity with randomized evaluation methods
  • You are Liberian!

How to apply?

  • E-mail me a 2-page CV
  • Write “RA application” in the subject heading
  • Include in the CV your GPA, as well as statistics courses taken (and grades received)
  • Also include two references, including at least one academic if possible
  • In the main body of the e-mail, briefly highlight your experience and availability
  • Please do not apply if the timing does not work for you. I’ll put out another announcement if I don’t get my most-preferred arrangement

Please ask any general questions or clarifications in the comments, and I will respond there (for public consumption).

If I receive many applications (I have no idea what to expect) I may not be able to respond to your e-mail, and in that case will only respond to applicants whom I’d like to interview.

Thanks for paying attention!

13 Responses

  1. A question that needs to be asked – what do you mean by ‘living expenses plus a small stipend’? How ‘small’ is the stipend?
    Effectively, will I expect to be come out of this job with a negative balance?

  2. Is this position still open? If so, when do you anticipate making the hiring decision? Thanks.

  3. I have worked on evaluations and research fieldwork in a couple of African countries – public health programs, behavioural economic experiments… I am african and currently working in M&E of community development programs in East Africa. But I'm not currently studying. Are you specifically looking for students?

  4. In response to the above questions:

    – I may be recruiting again in early 2009, and will put up a post if so.

    – The best start date would be Sept or Oct, depending on a few unresolved factors (such as start date of the program)

    – I am supervising the project personally, along with psychologist Jeannie Annan.

    – Jeannie and I have plans for three or four academic papers and eventually a book. While there is a possibility of becoming a second or third co-author on these publications, it is not assured.

    – Where the data we collect can help you answer new questions you identify, or where additional data collection can help your project, we can look for ways to help that become your dissertation and support the work.

    – If you eventually become a co-author, as my last research manager did, it’s because of a long term commitment (through the life of the project) and demonstrative of a major creative contribution.

  5. Chris, is it a project carried out also with your supervision or involving the university? Is it possible to include results (or extra research) of the project in a PhD thesis?

  6. If the student you find is unable to continue past 6 months, will you recruit another student to finish out the term of the research project?

  7. That is correct. This is a country only a few years out of war, and I wanted to reassure people that personal safety is not a major concern right now. At the same time, I don’t want to pretend that nothing could happen. I wanted to assure people that (1) presently there is little to worry about, (2) we are working closely with the UN, and benefit from all of their security info, (3) we are going to have the best information on conflict in the country anyways, and (4) in the unlikely event of insecurity, your safety will alwways take precedent over everything.

  8. I think he means that you’re accepting a position in a war-torn country that is currently (relatively) stable, though the situation may change. I suspect that you’re expected to stay in the country until the projects are completed or suspended, even if violent outbreaks begin to occur again.

  9. Ideally, it would be a 6 month post that could be renewed for a further 3 to 6 months, conditional on the funding and performance. I want the best person possible, however, and so would be willing to entertain someone who couldn’t stay on.

  10. What is meant by 6-12 months? Is this a 6-month position with possible extension(s), or is it more like a 12-month position where performance is evaluated after 6 months?

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