Economist (Consultant)

ID Insight, Inc.; Manila; On-site; PHP 5,192,000 - 8,653,000; Full time

Job summary

IDinsight seeks an economist-consultant to deliver rigorous evaluations and causal analyses across multiple geographies. You will balance methodological rigor with client constraints and provide clear, actionable guidance.

The role requires deep expertise in applied econometrics, experience with Stata or R, and the ability to communicate complex results to non-technical decision-makers. This is an hourly consultancy engagement with flexible project loads.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in economics, econometrics, applied statistics, or a closely related quantitative field. PhD preferred; Master’s with relevant experience considered.
• Demonstrated command of causal inference and applied microeconometrics, including experimental and quasi-experimental identification strategies.
• At least 5 years of post-graduate experience designing, executing, or advising on evaluations in LMIC contexts.

Responsibilities

• Design and advise on evaluations and other research activities with a focus on identification strategy, estimation, interpretation.
• Draft and review technical documents, including evaluation designs and analysis plans.
• Provide technical mentoring and capacity building on causal inference topics.
• Assist in scoping prospective engagements and translating findings into actionable recommendations.

Skills

Causal inference

Applied econometrics

Stata or R

Written communication

Independent work

Education

Economics/ Econometrics degree

PhD preferred

Tools

Stata

R

Python

SQL

Job description

About IDinsight

We're a global data and evidence advisory, working with governments, philanthropies, and non-profits to improve lives at scale, using technology and AI where they can deliver the most impact.

IDinsight is a global nonprofit that equips leaders with the data, evidence and technology to improve lives at scale. We partner with governments, NGOs, multilaterals, and funders to support decisions at every stage of their impact journey – from bold pilots to nationwide scale-ups. Our teams bring rigorous evidence and practical insights so leaders can make informed decisions that truly change lives. With our partners, we are pioneering the next frontier of social impact, where data and technology accelerate progress for millions. We help leaders overcome the three main barriers to impact:

1. Figuring out what works


2. Learning and improving


3. Reaching and operating at scale

We work in multiple countries across Asia and Africa. Our work spans a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, education, health, governance, sanitation, financial inclusion, and other areas.

We have expertise in a variety of rigorous approaches and methodologies, which we tailor to each client depending on their needs and constraints. To achieve a positive social impact we:

• Support our partners with the full ‘data and evidence’ value chain – from primary data collection to data systems, monitoring evaluation and learning tools, and data science


• Inform funding decisions – toward high-impact initiatives and away from less effective programs or approaches


• Create cutting-edge AI-for-good products that make the delivery of social interventions and learning tools more cost-effective and scalable

Our diverse, growing team of roughly 250 outstanding colleagues operate in nearly two dozen countries around the world. Learn more about our mission, values, and principles at www.IDinsight.org.

Joining IDinsight at this moment

IDinsight is entering an exciting new phase of growth. As demand for rigorous evidence and AI-enabled solutions accelerates across the sectors and geographies we work in, we are actively investing in our teams, deepening our regional footprint, and expanding the frontier of what data and technology can do for social impact. This is a moment of real momentum for IDinsight. We're looking for people who want to use data and evidence to improve lives at scale; who are energized by taking on problems without a playbook; and who want a hand in shaping what IDinsight becomes as we grow.

About the role

IDinsight engages economists as consultants (hereafter "the Consultant") to bring specialist expertise in applied microeconomics and causal inference to a portfolio of client engagements spanning multiple geographies, sectors, and methods. Engagements may be scoped broadly or specialised along any of these dimensions, depending on the Consultant's expertise and IDinsight's needs.

The core of the role is judgment under constraint. The Consultant will be asked to think critically about how to maximise methodological rigour within our clients' time, operational, political, and budget limits. and to be explicit about the trade-offs that follow. The ideal candidate is comfortable moving between unfamiliar problems, can quickly absorb a programme's theory of change and a client's decision needs, and can give clear, actionable guidance on how to proceed.

The scope of a typical engagement may include:

• Research design and analysis. Designing and advising on evaluations and other research activities (impact evaluations, descriptive and diagnostic studies, process evaluations, monitoring systems, programme design and advisory, M&E advisory, and scale-up analysis) with a focus on identification strategy, estimation, and interpretation.


• Technical review and quality assurance. Drafting and reviewing technical documents, including evaluation designs, pre-analysis plans, power and sample size calculations, data collection instruments, analysis code, and technical reports. The Consultant may also be asked to resolve discrete technical questions that arise for project teams mid-implementation.


• Technical capacity building, where scoped. Where included in the terms of reference, preparing and delivering training on technical topics (for example causal inference, statistical inference, or Stata/R programming) and providing targeted technical mentoring to project staff.


• Scoping support. Advising on the technical feasibility and design of prospective engagements, in line with IDinsight's commitment to client-focused and decision-focused research.

Deliverables, timelines, level of effort, and reporting lines are set out in the engagement's terms of reference. The Consultant is expected to meet agreed deadlines, communicate proactively where scope or feasibility shifts, and flag methodological concerns early rather than at the point of delivery.

Qualifications

Required

• Advanced degree in economics, econometrics, applied statistics, or a closely related quantitative field. PhD preferred; candidates with a Master's degree and a demonstrable record of comparable applied research will be considered.


• Demonstrated command of causal inference and applied microeconometrics, including experimental and quasi-experimental identification strategies, power analysis, and the interpretation of imprecise or null results.


• At least 5 years of relevant post-graduate experience designing, executing, or advising on evaluations and quantitative research in low- and middle-income country contexts.


• Proficiency in Stata or R, sufficient to write, review, and debug analysis code that others will reproduce.


• Ability to produce clear written technical output (evaluation designs, pre-analysis plans, technical memos) that a non-technical decision-maker can act on.


• Capacity to work independently against agreed deliverables and timelines, with limited day-to-day supervision, and to flag methodological or feasibility concerns early.

Preferred

• Substantive expertise in one or more of IDinsight's sectors (health, education, agriculture, social protection, governance, or environment).


• Contextual knowledge of one or more regions where IDinsight works, including familiarity with relevant administrative or survey data sources.


• Experience advising government or foundation counterparts directly, including translating methodological trade-offs into decision-relevant terms.


• Experience with additional programming or data tools (Python, SQL, geospatial analysis, SurveyCTO or equivalent).


• Peer-reviewed or policy publications drawing on applied field research.


• Filipino citizen with extensive professional experience within the Philippine context.

Professional development

Skill and career development are core to IDinsight's values and long-term impact strategy, and have been noted highlights of teammates’ experiences. IDinsighters receive significant mentorship from IDinsight leadership, support from talented peers, and are given considerable autonomy when ready. They maintain professional development plans and are given "stretch" opportunities designed to strengthen a variety of skills. Real-time feedback is embedded in our culture and formal structure enables maximum professional growth. Additionally, teammates have access to an annual professional development stipend that they are encouraged to utilize to explore their career interests and develop their skills.

Nuts & Bolts

Contracting

This is an hourly consultancy engagement. Rates are commensurate with qualifications and experience and will be confirmed during the selection process. Anticipated volume is approximately 20 hours per month, though this may vary with project cycles. Work is assigned and approved in advance and invoiced monthly. This is a contractor engagement and does not include employee benefits.

Work authorization

If you’re not willing to sponsor work authorization: IDinsight is not able to sponsor work authorization for this role. Successful candidates will not require IDinsight to sponsor their work authorization in the office in which they'll be based.

If you’re willing to sponsor work authorization: IDinsight is able to sponsor employment visas for all nationalities in these locations; however, we will prioritize candidates who do not require IDinsight to sponsor work authorization in the aforementioned countries. All candidates who are not currently located in our country offices listed above will be expected to relocate to their office locations at the onset of their employment.

IDinsight’s commitment to reducing power asymmetries

IDinsight is committed to reducing power asymmetries in the social sector. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion reflects our understanding of the need for the sector to abandon unhealthy practices of the past. We wish to be part of a new generation of international NGOs who are honest about this history and transparent about our role in the present. Our commitment is also aligned with the impact of our work.

We seek a workforce that is inclusive of a variety of perspectives that will help us refine and improve our methods and relationships, and strengthen the services we provide our clients and their communities or constituencies. The following commitments represent our vision for the IDinsight team:

1. IDinsight will have greater representation from the populations with whom we work and clients we serve.


2. IDinsight will have greater representation from the countries in which we work.


3. Across all countries in which we recruit, we will seek greater representation from historically excluded communities.


4. IDinsight will foster an inclusive work culture that empowers a diverse team to do their best work.

IDinsight is committed to non-discrimination in our recruitment, employment practices, and organizational culture, regardless of people’s age, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable law.