Education Sector Lead Researcher

Position Title: Education Sector Lead Researcher

Project: USAID Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG) Learning, Evaluation and Research (LER) Activity III, DRG Policy Literature Review

Description:

Social Impact is a global development management consulting firm. We provide monitoring, evaluation, strategic planning, and capacity building services to advance development effectiveness. We work across all development sectors including democracy and governance, health and education, the environment, and economic growth. Since 1997 we have worked in over 100 countries for clients such as US government agencies, bilateral donors, multilateral development banks, foundations, and nonprofits.

Project Objective:

Social Impact has been commissioned to conduct a literature review of the education sector and produce a set of deliverables intended to address the following question:

• How do non-DRG development sectors (e.g., education) and their related interventions influence - both positively and negatively - democratic outcomes, institutions and processes? How does this relationship work? How does this differ by development context?

The main purpose of this tasking is to identify the positive and negative relationship between non-DRG development sectors (in this case, the education sector) and their related interventions and DRG intervention and outcomes influence. The research will involve conducting a review of relevant academic, gray and research literature for the education sector.

The work commissioned under this tasking will be used for two primary purposes:

Establish a framework for a democracy review process that is being established at USAID.
Inform the implications of the democracy review process including USAID DRG and non-DRG development programming design and implementation.

Position Description:

Social Impact is seeking a researcher with experience in the education sector who will be responsible for conducting a literature review of academic literature, gray literature, and research, including impact evaluations, focused on autocratic, backsliding and/or kleptocratic developing countries. Social Impact, in collaboration with researchers, will conduct a series of convenings with relevant USAID staff (and any external experts and/or academics identified by USAID) to identify hypothesized trends and identify potential relevant cases of the education sector impacting DRG outcomes. The Researcher will also conduct a landscape analysis to refine the literature review and provide a deep dive for the education sector.

Social Impact will utilize AI research tools (Gemini, Zotero, Elicit, Perplexity, etc.) to increase the efficiency of this literature review and produce a draft report. The Researcher will work alongside a Social Impact Research Assistant and use their sector knowledge to modify and check the output of the AI tools. The Researcher will review the sources identified by AI tools for accuracy and omit literature that is not academically rigorous or credible. The Researcher will work with the Research Assistant to modify prompts for AI and will use their experience with the education sector to revise and enhance a 10-page, AI-generated draft literature review report.

The estimated period of performance is between November 2024 - February 2025 with an estimated LOE of around 16 days.

Please submit your CV in English for best consideration of your candidacy. CVs must not exceed a maximum of 10 pages.

Responsibilities:

• Provide guidance on sub-sectors of interest and other themes to guide AI prompting
• Conduct consultation discussions with USAID and other researchers to identify trends in the literature
• Review and validate an AI-generated list of literature sources. Supplement the AI-generated list through a deep dive of academic, gray, and research literature on the education sector and its effect on DRG outcomes
• Work with Research Assistant to refine and enhance the draft report generated by AI tools
• Work closely with SI HQ and other research team members and communicate in a timely and effective manner with all project personnel.
• Abide by SI standards of ethics and quality, including addressing internal and client feedback to produce a high-quality final deliverable

Qualifications:

• Master's degree or PhD and 2 years relevant experience
• Academic researchers preferred (ABD graduate students, professors, post-docs, lecturers)
• Strong research background in the education sector
• Prior experience conducting applied research studies and producing reports for USAID preferred
• Prior experience with AI software to support literature reviews is beneficial (Gemini, Zotero, Elicit, Perplexity, etc.) but not required
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
• Flexible availability to conduct literature reviews and draft reports over the time period from November 2024 - February 2025 required
• Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail; ability to work independently and with team members to meet deadlines and adhere to high-quality standards

To learn more about Social Impact, please visit our website: http://www.socialimpact.com.

SI is an EEO/AA/ADA Veterans Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. Please, no phone calls.