Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a United States-based non-profit organization dedicated to creating, evaluating and replicating innovative solutions to poverty and policy problems worldwide.

IPA specializes in using the randomized controlled trial methodology to evaluate the impact of development programs.

Job Summary

IPA Ghana seeks a Grants and Communication Research Assistant to help with grant management (donor reporting and budget tracking) and with external communication deliverables for the Disseminating Innovative Resources and Technologies to Smallholders (DIRTS) project. The RA should blend together excellent written communication skills with experience in reporting and finance tracking.

Lead Principal Investigators on the DIRTS study are Dean Karlan and Christopher Udry of Yale University. The study’s interventions are implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Ghana Insurers Association and several other partners. Evaluation of the project occurs via a series of electronic and paper surveys with randomly selected respondent households. This position will be based in Tamale, Northern Region.

Grant Management

•   Assist the DIRTS Project Coordinators with monthly and quarterly budget tracking
•   Keep the DIRTS Project Coordinators on track with donor reporting and invoicing schedules
•   Write donor reports in collaboration with Project Coordinator

Communication

•   Assist with planning, development, delivery of external communication activities, on a monthly and quarterly basis, paying utmost attention to the accuracy of content, layout and formatting of such deliverables (e.g. newsletters, media reports, project information briefs, blogs)
•   Establish a system or method for gathering feedback on the DIRTS dissemination material and activities to gain lessons learned for future productions

Period

•   Employment period: 1 year – renewable based on performance
•   Start date: ASAP

Qualification Required & Experience

•   A Bachelor’s degree in Communication, Management, Social Sciences or related field, Masters degree preferred
•   Fluency in written and verbal communication in English is essential. (Publication standard)
•   Proficiency in all or most of the following software: Publisher, Word, Power Point, Excel, Photoshop or other graphics editors
•   Previously published articles, media productions/publications for various audiences (academic, government, research organizations, business-oriented and non-profit stakeholders)
•   At least 2 years’ demonstrated experience working on communications, and/or business development (proposal and reporting milestone writing)
•   Experience in institutional donors’ compliance rules and procedures strongly preferred
•   Experience in managing grants from various donors (esp. DFID, USAID, World Bank) preferred
•   Professional experience or personal interest/passion for photography/video-making preferred
•   Experience living or working in a developing country is strongly preferred

Location: Tamale

How To Apply For The Job

To apply, follow these instructions exactly:

•   Compose an email with this subject line: IPA Ghana DIRTS Grants and Communication RA: Firstname Lastname.
•   Attach both your cover letter and CV in Word or PDF format. Do not send any other attachments.
•   Send the email and attachments to:  jobs-ghana@poverty-action.org

Closing Date: 15 August, 2014

Due to the high volume of applications received by IPA, only those candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted by email or phone.