Terms of Reference (Short Term Consultant)

India Impact Evaluations, South Asia Gender Innovation Lab

Background

The South Asia Region has achieved substantial progress in certain areas of gender equality, such as narrowing gaps in secondary education and increasing women’s participation in local governance. Yet, the region demonstrates some of the largest gender gaps in the world, with low levels of female labor force participation, entrenched gender norms, and high rates of child marriages and other forms of gender- based violence. While gender inequalities across South Asia are well documented, there is a need to develop and test innovative solutions that can help address them.

The World Bank’s South Asia Region Gender Innovation Lab (SAR GIL), housed in the Social Sustainability and Inclusion (SSI) Global Practice, responds to knowledge gaps on “what works” to promote gender equality across South Asian countries (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives), with a particular focus on women’s economic empowerment. Working under the auspices of the World Bank’s Chief Economist Office for South Asia and in close liaison with the Federation of Gender Innovation Labs, SAR GIL’s activities fall under three pillars:

• Evidence generation: Primary research activities on “what works” to reduce gender inequalities by identifying and evaluating innovative solutions, primarily through experimental and quasi- experimental research, as well as through inferential research.
• Knowledge management: Promoting evidence-based policy and program solutions by collecting, curating, and disseminating knowledge on evidence-based solutions to project teams, decision- makers, practitioners, and researchers.
• Operational uptake: Supporting the uptake of empirically tested solutions in policies and programs supported by the World Bank and other development partners.

Objectives of the consultancy

SAR GIL is seeking an experienced data analyst and research assistant based in India with Impact Evaluation expertise (Short Term Consultant) to provide support with IE planning, rollout and monitoring, and data analysis. This position entails providing rigorous quality assurance and technical analysis of primary, secondary, and spatial data that will contribute to SAR GIL’s preparation of research papers, policy reports and other dissemination outputs

Scope of work

The specific responsibilities of the successful candidate will include:

• Support the analysis of large-scale household and firm surveys, impact evaluations datasets, and other secondary data sources (e.g., analyzing gender gaps, producing tables, figures and maps) using STATA.
• Provide support to impact evaluations, including supporting the design of baseline and follow-up surveys.
• Inspect, clean, merge and transform raw data coming from the field. Design and carry out automated and manual quality check protocols including high-frequency checks.
• Work with survey firms to oversee enumerator training, troubleshoot data problems and ensure that data collection and entry follow specified protocols.
• Work with Team Task Leaders (TTLs) to support data analysis, preparation of research papers, and policy briefs.
• Prepare literature reviews.
• Coordinate with implementing partners in country; coordinate and lead meetings between implementing partners, survey firms and TTLs, and manage follow-up tasks.
• Support the preparation of research papers and presentations.
• Play a key role in the preparation of policy outputs including policy papers, briefs and blogs.
• Play a key role in preparation of written materials including concept notes and grant proposals.
• Prepare literature reviews.
• Coordinate with implementing partners in country; coordinate and lead meetings between implementing partners, survey firms and TTLs, and manage follow-up tasks.
• Able to travel across India is required.
• Based in India is essential. Based in Chennai is strongly preferred.

Level of effort and reporting arrangements

The successful candidate will be hired as a Short-Term Consultant (STC). An initial contract, with an anticipated level of effort of 150 days, will be issued for the period July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026 (FY26). The STC will report to Sofia Amaral (Economist, SAR GIL) and will be remunerated at a daily rate according to the World Bank’s remuneration guidelines and commensurate with experience. The STC may need to collaborate with other World Bank team members as needed under the direction of the task team leaders.

Selection criteria

• Minimum of master’s degree in economics or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Experience with data analysis of multiple data sets from developing countries, including with cleaning, manipulation, and analysis of individual and household-level surveys.
• Excellent analytical and quantitative skills including a strong econometrics background, and the ability to use STATA.
• Experience with GitHub a plus
• Experience with GIS a plus.
• Experience with designing questionnaires and supervising field data collections with implementing partners.
• Experience with Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) software (e.g., SurveyCTO or Survey Solutions).
• Excellent project management and task organization skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Experience drafting communication products (blogs, policy briefs, etc.) to disseminate research findings a plus.
• Previous experience working with governments, development partners, or non-governmental organizations a plus.

Interested candidates should send a CV and code sample to s.amaral@worldbank.org by July 11^th.

Tags Livelihood Women Empowerment