Job Description

Education: Bachelor\'s Master\'s Start Date (Earliest): ASAP Length of Commitment: One year (extendable to 2) Project: Irrigation provides a possible means for farmers to adapt to climate change. In the Bundelkhand region of central India, traditional tanks were constructed centuries ago to store rainwater for irrigation later in the season or for cultivation during the dry season. But the tanks have deteriorated over time and now have much less capacity. This project will measure the impacts of repairing these tanks to improve access to irrigation on the distribution of access to water and coordination on adaptative behavior (as opposed to extractive behavior). The Bundelkhand region in central India is one of the nation\'s poorest regions. Farmers in Bundelkhand are highly susceptible to erratic weather patterns caused by climate change. Mechanisms to adapt to these changes have been limited. Emergency migration to urban areas for low-wage work is a popular response to climate change. An important policy problem is whether infrastructure investments can make agriculture more resilient to climate change. In particular, can irrigation tanks lessen the damage to farmer\'s crops caused by weather variability In other words, are these tanks a viable source of climate adaptation Which farmer\'s respond with extractive free-riding and which adapt in accordance with climate adaptation best practices Does better irrigation infrastructure increase profits as farmers are able to cultivate additional land in the dry season How are the benefits of water access distributed and what role do water markets play The project will be implemented in partnership with . Position: A Field Research Associate works closely with academic researchers and other field staff to perform a variety tasks including, but not limited to:designing survey questionnaires, conducting qualitative research, running pilot exercise, refining study design and surveying instruments, managing survey teams, negotiating contracts with survey firms, checking and analyzing data, cleaning data and assisting in preliminary analysis, assisting in the writing of project reports and policy memos, and coordinating with local partners running the programs being evaluated. This position may lead to a growing research career within J-PAL or similar organizations, but can also be a great launching point for graduate study in economics, public policy, and related fields. Desired Qualifications and Experience: A Bachelor\'s or Master\'s degree in economics, social sciences, public policy, or related fields. Training in microeconomics, econometrics, statistics, and advanced math required. Experience living in a developing country is a strong plus. Excellent management and organizational skills along with strong quantitative skills. Fluency and excellent communication skills in English. Flexible, self-motivating, able to manage multiple tasks efficiently, and team player. Demonstrated ability to manage high-level relationships with partner organizations Knowledge of Stata (strongly preferred) ) or other data analysis software is preferred, ODK/Survey CTO Platform (strongly preferred). Familiarity with randomized controlled trials preferred.

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