Job Summary

Innovations for Poverty Action seeks a Senior Policy Manager who will work closely with global and local teams to drive IPA Francophone West Africa (FWA)'s evidence- to-impact agenda. The Senior Policy Manager will lead IPA FWA’s policy impact strategy, focusing on creating and managing high-impact opportunities for policymakers to use evidence in decision-making. The Senior Policy Manager will report to IPA Francophone West Africa’s Country Director with dotted line oversight from the global policy team and will work closely with Côte d’Ivoire-based research teams. This position will expand IPA’s policy outreach and impact across Francophone West Africa, with a primary emphasis on Côte d’Ivoire, by building and deepening relationships and identifying and creating evidence-to-impact opportunities.

Responsibilities

Lead Policy Outreach Strategy for IPA Francophone West Africa, with a primary focus on Côte d’Ivoire

• Map key NGO, government, and development partner stakeholders with influence in priority sectors to be agreed with the Country Director and Global Policy team, including but not limited to agriculture, employment, and health
• Strengthen expertise on the global and local evidence base in 3-4 selected sectors and cultivate relationships with key local stakeholders in those sectors
• Work with the global policy team to lead strategic events for policy purposes, including but not limited to summits, conferences, workshops, technical working groups, and roundtables. Support researchers and country management to participate
• In collaboration with researchers and in support of the Country Director, represent IPA locally in policy conversations and at events
• Support research management staff in executing the “Policy Impact Minimum Must Dos” and in identifying and stewarding high-potential partner relationships, particularly with senior levels within government or large organizations

Cultivate and Manage High-Impact Policy Opportunities 

• Lead the identification and prioritization of high-impact policy opportunities in Côte d’Ivoire for evidence use, in alignment with IPA FWA priorities
• Perform desk research to identify existing evidence, gaps in the literature, and innovative interventions in priority areas, in partnership with global teams
• Cultivate relationships with key local decision-makers in 3-4 sectors, particularly those with decision-making authority over particular evidence-to-impact opportunities
• Launch high-impact policy opportunities, including opportunities to provide decision-makers with technical assistance for scaling-up evidence-based programs; initiating evidence-to-policy labs; and/or writing and implementing evidence-informed policies, and either manage small-scale engagements personally with global support, or collaborate with global teams to raise funds for additional staff to realize these opportunities

Project Development 

• Identify opportunities and cultivate relationships that lead to the development of large-scale policy evaluations with key decision-makers, and support research teams and researchers in their development and execution
• Identify opportunities and cultivate relationships that lead to field replications to consolidate research on key policy-relevant research questions, and support research teams and researchers in their development and execution
• Together with the Country Director, act as a lead steward of key partner relationships and support strategic research partner conversations
• Proactively identify fundraising and business development opportunities for research on programs, develop concept notes, and pursue opportunities in collaboration with global and country office-based staff
• In collaboration with in-country and global communications teams, support the implementation of IPA Francophone West Africa’s communications and visibility strategy by contributing to the identification, prioritisation, and execution of high-value opportunities to raise IPA’s profile, including through online publications, public-facing dissemination, and participation in external events

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in economics, development, international relations, public administration, public policy, or a closely related field
• 7 or more years of relevant experience, including at least 3 years working closely with local government officials
• Demonstrated knowledge of and interest in international development policy
• Strong attention to detail and advanced presentation skills, including the ability to communicate policy lessons from academic research in clear, precise, non-technical written and oral formats for policymaker audiences 
  Experience contributing to or leading business development opportunities and proposal writing
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to effectively convene and liaise with a variety of people in multiple organizations in a multicultural environment and across many time zones
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and successfully complete projects on tight deadlines with little supervision
• Strong self-motivation, initiative, and ability to learn quickly in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to supervise staff and manage projects independently

Location

Abidjan

Reports to

Country Director

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About IPA

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a research and policy nonprofit that discovers and advances what works to improve the lives of people living in poverty. 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 people living in poverty. In recent decades, trillions of dollars have been spent on programs designed to reduce global poverty, but clear evidence of 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 a tangible impact on the world. Since its founding in 2002, IPA has worked with over 600 leading academics to conduct over 1,000 evaluations in 52 countries. This research has informed hundreds of successful programs that now impact millions of individuals worldwide.

Safeguarding at IPA

At Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), we are committed to creating a safe and respectful environment for all individuals, particularly children and vulnerable adults. As IPA adheres to strict safeguarding principles, selected candidates will be expected to adhere to the standards. By joining IPA, you become part of a team dedicated to ethical conduct, social responsibility, and meaningful impact in the fight against global poverty. Together, we work to create a better world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive with dignity and respect.