Survey Specialist, Rome, Italy

• Organization: World Bank
• Country: Italy
• City: Rome

Closing date: Tuesday, 9 August 2016

---

Grade
Location Rome, Italy
Recruitment Type Local Hire
Language Requirement English [Essential]
Closing Date 09-Aug-2016
Background / General description
The Living Standards Measurement Study is a household survey program based within the Development Data Group (DECDG) at the World Bank (WB). Through the LSMS program, the World Bank generates high-quality data, improves survey methods, and builds household survey capacity in countries around the world. The goal of the LSMS is to facilitate the use of household survey data for evidence-based policymaking.
Since 2008, the LSMS program has been supporting governments in eight sub-Saharan African countries to generate household panel data with a strong focus on agriculture, modeled on the LSMS integrated household survey design. In addition to the goal of producing policy-relevant agricultural data, this LSMS-Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA) project emphasizes the design and validation of innovative survey methods, the use of technology for improving survey data quality, and the development of analytical tools to facilitate the use and analysis of the data collected.
In November 2015 the LSMS team inaugurated DEC's Rome hub, the Rome-based 'Center for Development Data' (C4D2). C4D2 aims to work on methodological innovation in household surveys, to advance global efforts to increase the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of household surveys for sustainable development, by promoting survey integration and the use of validated best practices. Its primary goal is to facilitate the production of not just more data, but better, more timely and relevant data on poverty and broader development outcomes to inform country-level policy making and investment decisions. C4D2 hosts a collaborative program on agricultural and rural statistics in partnership with the Rome based Agencies of the United Nations.
Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 1 year term appointment.
Duties and Accountabilities
Provide substantive inputs to the planning and implementation phases of surveys conducted with support of the LSMS team in client countries. These activities include questionnaire design and revision, sample selection, pilot testing, development of supporting materials, field work supervision, data entry and cleaning, and documentation.

• Contribute to the overall methodological agenda of the team (with a specific but not exclusive focus on agricultural and rural development issues), by both supporting field operations and the drafting of sourcebooks, technical guides and research papers on data collection methodology.
• Work closely with partners in client countries and internationally to develop institutional and technical capacity and efficiency in the implementation of national household surveys. Conduct seminars and capacity building exercises with national governments and other partners, including training in welfare analysis and survey methods, and designing dissemination workshops as part of the overall project capacity building and dissemination strategies.
• Conduct analysis of household survey data. The person will work with counterparts in governments and other partners in performing economic analyses on the data collected by the LSMS team and building capacity in the use of household survey data.
• Conduct policy relevant research on issues related to the work program of the LSMS team, present the results at internal seminars and national and international conferences. Prepare and contribute to research outputs and publications on survey methodology and policy research.
• Contribute to the LSMS team work towards supporting the World Bank's involvement in international fora and programs, such as the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on Agricultural and Rural Statistics, and the Global Strategy for the Improvement of Agricultural and Rural Statistics.
• In addition to the aforementioned duties, the person may carry out other LSMS-related activities, including support to other World bank units. This may include reviewing survey modules under development, checking other data sets, and missions to other client countries to provide technical assistance, trainings, and field supervision for ongoing field activities. The person may also be asked to provide services towards preparation of the LSMS data for dissemination purposes, which may involve data cleaning and construction, basic analysis towards reporting writing, and copy editing household survey basic information documents.
• Perform any other related assignment, as requested by the supervisor.

Selection Criteria

• PhD in economics, agricultural economics, statistics, international development and 3+ years of experience.
• Understanding of agricultural and rural development policy issues in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in East Africa, and familiarity with the relevant literature and development debate.
• Advanced proficiency in all stages of the survey process - questionnaire design, fieldwork, data management, data analysis and project administration.
• Spoken and written proficiency in English.
• Experience with agricultural policy or methodological survey research.
• Advanced proficiency with Stata.

The World Bank Group is committed to achieving diversity in terms of gender, nationality, culture and educational background. Individuals with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

• PhD in economics, agricultural economics, statistics, international development, or other relevant field. Experience working on agricultural economics and policy issues in Africa preferred and specific experience working in East Africa highly preferred.
• Experience in the design and implementation of household surveys, preferably with a focus on agriculture, and survey methodological work.
• Competency in all stages of the survey process - questionnaire design, field work, data management, data analysis, and project administration.
• High proficiency in STATA and demonstrated ability to manage large LSMS-type datasets using STATA.
• Previous experience working with international institutions (such as the World Bank, UN, etc.), government agencies, and statistical institutes considered an asset.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently and on short notice.