ABOUT INNOVATIONS FOR POVERTY ACTION (IPA)

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a research and policy nonprofit that discovers and promotes effective solutions to global poverty problems. IPA brings together researchers and decision-makers to design, rigorously evaluate, and refine these solutions and their applications, ensuring that the evidence created is used to improve the lives of the world's poor. In recent decades, trillions of dollars have been spent on programs designed to reduce global poverty, but clear evidence on which programs succeed is rare, and when evidence does exist, decision-makers often do not know about it. IPA exists to bring together leading researchers and these decision-makers to ensure that the evidence we create leads to tangible impact on the world. Since its founding in 2002, IPA has worked with over 600 leading academics to conduct over 1000 evaluations in 52 countries. IPA's work has informed hundreds of successful programs that now impact millions of individuals worldwide.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

This research project is an evaluation of the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) – Informed remediation program in Malawi. The Ministry of Education in collaboration with other partners are aiming to adapt, implement, and rigorously assess a TaRL-inspired remediation approach for Standards 3–4, embedding it into government systems to enable sustainable, nationwide scale. TaRL's proven effectiveness in reaching learners left behind makes it a strong complement to Malawi's structured pedagogy reforms, though adaptations may be needed for a government-led, in-school model, hence the embedded research and learning agenda led by IPA Malawi.

The aim of the research is to answer the following key questions:

• Does the TaRL-informed remediation lead to equitable learning gains in S3-4, and narrow foundational gaps for disadvantaged learners?
• How do impacts differ for marginalized groups (gender, disability, home-language mismatch, remoteness, age-for-grade)?
• Does the approach improve participation and learning outcomes for the most disadvantaged learners?
• Among other learning goals.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Field Officer, under the general supervision of the Senior Field Manager and within the limits of Innovations for Poverty Action-Malawi policies, will primarily be responsible for the collection of high-quality data. Below is a list of some of the general duties and responsibilities of the Field Officer, to be carried out as needed according to the determination of the Field Managers and Research Associate.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Administer standardized student assessments — conduct oral and written literacy and numeracy tests (e.g., letter/word recognition, reading comprehension, basic operations) with each sampled child, following the assessment protocol exactly to preserve comparability across enumerators and schools.
• Collect and record data electronically — capture all test scores, classroom observations, and survey responses using SurveyCTO on a tablet, ensuring each form is fully completed, submitted, and synced before leaving the school.
• Conduct school and classroom observations — record structured observations of TaRL implementation, including teaching practices, learner grouping by level, materials use, and time-on-task, using the relevant observation module.
• Liaise with head teachers and school administration — introduce the study, present authorization letters, coordinate scheduling of assessments and observations, and maintain a cooperative, respectful relationship with school staff throughout the visit.
• Track and locate sampled respondents — identify and follow up with specific learners, teachers, or head teachers drawn from the sampling frame, including tracking absent students or rescheduling when needed to minimize non-response.
• Verify learner and school identity — confirm names, grades, and identification details against enrolment or sampling lists to prevent misidentification and ensure the right respondents are assessed.
• Maintain data quality and integrity — check for completeness and consistency in real time, flag anomalies or skipped items, and immediately correct or note any errors before submission.
• Manage field logistics and equipment — safeguard tablets, chargers, and study materials, ensure devices are charged and functioning each day, and troubleshoot basic technical issues on-site.
• Participate in daily debriefs and report field challenges — share feedback with the field supervisor or research associate on logistical, technical, or contextual issues (e.g., school closures, hostile environments, weather disruptions) that could affect data collection.
• Adhere to ethics and safeguarding protocols — obtain consent/assent as required, protect respondent confidentiality, follow child-safeguarding procedures during interactions with minors, and always maintain professional conduct in the school environment.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Required:

• Diploma and above in Education related field, Social Sciences, or a related field, with at least 1 year's experience in data collection.
• Excellent verbal communication skills, with fluency in the local languages spoken in the study areas.
• Experience working with and handling children.
• Good understanding of safeguarding and human subjects protection requirements.
• Well organized, detail-oriented, and an excellent listener.
• Proven ability to exercise discretion in dealing with confidential or sensitive matters.
• Ability to work independently under supervision and as part of a team.
• Ability to work comfortably in the specific study regions/districts.

Preferred:

• Candidates coming from the study districts and with experience handling children are strongly preferred.

HOW TO APPLY

Please click HERE to apply: https://innovationsforpovertyaction.formstack.com/

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

DISCLAIMER

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by the Field Officer, SCALE Project. The statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all possible duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Management reserves the right to amend and change responsibilities to meet organizational needs as necessary.

Please note that IPA will never request any form of payment from an applicant. Applicants are encouraged to confirm the information listed above with IPA. Please contact us at info-malawi@poverty-action.org if you have any questions or concerns.