Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) Program Associate, Strategic Impact Evaluation and Learning – Apply Now by 15 August 2026

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is hiring a Program Associate, Strategic Impact Evaluation and Learning (SIEL) to support research, grant management, project development, communications, policy, and impact evaluation initiatives across several IPA country offices in Africa.

The IPA Program Associate, Strategic Impact Evaluation and Learning position is an excellent opportunity for professionals with experience in project management, research management, research fund management, research dissemination, and evidence-based policy.

The Program Associate SIEL position is available in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, with English fluency required.

Deadline: 15 August 2026

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Job Overview

• Organisation: Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA)
• Position: Program Associate, Strategic Impact Evaluation and Learning
• Program: Strategic Impact Evaluation and Learning (SIEL)
• Department: Sector Programs
• Locations: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and other IPA locations
• Job Type: Professional
• Requisition ID: 1814
• Salary: US$53,000–US$69,000 per year for U.S.-based candidates
• Application Deadline: 15 August 2026
• Reports to: Program Lead, SIEL
• Language: Fluent English

About the IPA Program Associate, Strategic Impact Evaluation and Learning Position

The IPA Program Associate, Strategic Impact Evaluation and Learning will work within IPA’s Sector Programs department and support a six-year learning partnership involving the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), and the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL).

The Strategic Impact Evaluation and Learning (SIEL) program seeks to strengthen the evidence base for global programs and policies, improve the efficiency of interventions, and help FCDO staff effectively use impact evaluations to improve value for money.

The IPA Program Associate will support the Program Lead across four strategic priority areas:

• Growth
• Humanitarian assistance
• Climate and nature
• Conflict and fragility

This makes the Program Associate SIEL job particularly relevant for candidates interested in international development, research, impact evaluation, evidence-based policy, humanitarian programs, climate and nature, and global development.

IPA Program Associate Responsibilities

The Program Associate, Strategic Impact Evaluation and Learning will perform responsibilities across research fund coordination, project development, communications and policy, and general program administration.

1. Research Fund Coordination – 40%

Research fund coordination is the largest component of the IPA Program Associate SIEL role.

The successful candidate will:

• Coordinate regular competitive funding processes.
• Draft calls for research proposals.
• Communicate with FCDO teams and research teams.
• Manage proposal review processes.
• Supervise the development of grant agreements.
• Track grants and projects within the SIEL portfolio.
• Review grant deliverables.
• Maintain regular communication with project stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate Salesforce records.
• Manage project database information.
• Ensure accurate and complete grant reporting.
• Support compliance with donor requirements.
• Participate in the initial review and filtering of research proposals.

Candidates applying for the IPA Program Associate job should therefore demonstrate strong organizational skills and experience managing multiple projects and stakeholders.

2. Project Development – 30%

The IPA Program Associate will also contribute to project development activities.

Responsibilities include:

• Supporting the Program Lead with project development.
• Conducting outreach to relevant stakeholders.
• Supporting FCDO teams in developing proposals.
• Liaising with IPA research support teams.
• Working with programs, grants, legal, finance, and global operations teams.
• Coordinating matchmaking between FCDO teams and researchers.
• Working with IPA and J-PAL country offices.
• Supporting projects related to SIEL’s strategic priority areas.
• Contributing to the development of new research-fund proposals.
• Supporting outreach and relationship management.

This part of the Program Associate SIEL role requires strong interpersonal, communication, coordination, and relationship-management skills.

3. Communications and Policy – 20%

Communications and policy are also important components of the IPA Program Associate position.

The successful candidate will:

• Support the SIEL Research Uptake Lead.
• Support the Program Lead with dissemination activities.
• Organize and prepare communication materials.
• Help maintain IPA’s website with project summaries.
• Support planning for events.
• Present information at events when required.
• Support training and capacity-strengthening activities.
• Prepare materials for training sessions.

Experience writing evidence syntheses, research summaries, and policy briefs will be an advantage for candidates applying for this IPA job opportunity.

4. General Program Administration – 10%

The IPA Program Associate will also provide general program and administrative support.

Duties include:

• Supporting financial monitoring.
• Supporting program administration.
• Contributing to IPA’s diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy.
• Tracking SIEL progress against organizational metrics.

IPA Program Associate Qualifications

To qualify for the Program Associate, Strategic Impact Evaluation and Learning position, applicants should meet the following requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates should have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in economics, political science, public policy, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of relevant work experience.
• Experience in project management and/or research management.
• Experience in research fund management and/or research dissemination.
• Demonstrated project management skills.
• Strong attention to operational and research detail.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects efficiently.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly using precise, non-technical language.
• Ability to present information in a structured and insightful way.
• Flexibility and self-motivation.
• Willingness to learn.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Fluent English, including written English.

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Preferred Qualifications

The following qualifications are preferred for the IPA Program Associate SIEL job:

• Master’s degree in economics, political science, public policy, or a related discipline.
• Knowledge of impact evaluation methodologies.
• Knowledge of humanitarian assistance.
• Knowledge of climate and nature issues.
• Knowledge of growth and development.
• Knowledge of conflict and fragility.
• Experience writing evidence syntheses.
• Experience writing research summaries.
• Experience writing policy briefs.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Experience using CRM systems such as Salesforce.

IPA Program Associate Locations

The IPA Program Associate, Strategic Impact Evaluation and Learning position is open to candidates based in IPA country offices in several African countries.

Preferred locations include:

• 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire
• 🇬🇭 Ghana
• 🇰🇪 Kenya
• 🇳🇬 Nigeria
• 🇷🇼 Rwanda
• 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone
• 🇺🇬 Uganda

The position is therefore a potentially valuable Africa job opportunity for professionals working in research, international development, monitoring and evaluation, evidence-based policy, and program management.

IPA Program Associate Salary

For candidates based in the United States, the advertised salary range for the IPA Program Associate position is:

US$53,000–US$69,000 per year

Placement within the salary range depends on relevant experience, qualifications, and internal equity across comparable positions.

For candidates hired through an IPA country office in Africa, compensation will be determined according to the relevant country office’s salary scale and local labor market.

Therefore, the IPA Program Associate salary in Africa may differ from the U.S. salary range.

About Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA)

Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) is a research and policy nonprofit organization focused on discovering and advancing solutions that improve the lives of people living in poverty.

IPA brings together researchers and decision-makers to design, rigorously evaluate, and improve programs and policies.

Since its founding in 2002, IPA has worked with more than 600 leading academics and conducted more than 1,000 evaluations across 52 countries.

Its research has contributed to programs that have impacted millions of people around the world.

The IPA Program Associate will therefore have an opportunity to contribute to an organization focused on evidence, research, poverty reduction, and international development.

Why Apply for the IPA Program Associate Job?

The IPA Program Associate SIEL opportunity offers several potential professional benefits.

1. International Development Experience

Successful candidates can gain valuable experience working on global development programs involving international organizations, researchers, policymakers, and development professionals.

2. Research and Impact Evaluation Experience

The position provides exposure to research funding, project development, impact evaluation, evidence generation, and research uptake.

3. Africa-Based Opportunities

With preferred IPA offices in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, the role provides opportunities for professionals based in several African countries.

4. Work with Global Development Stakeholders

The IPA Program Associate will interact with FCDO, researchers, IPA teams, J-PAL country offices, and other stakeholders.

5. Career Development

Professionals interested in research management, monitoring and evaluation, international development, policy, humanitarian assistance, climate, and evidence-based decision-making can gain relevant experience through the SIEL program.

Who Should Apply for the IPA Program Associate Position?

The IPA Program Associate job may be suitable for candidates with backgrounds in:

• Economics
• Political science
• Public policy
• International development
• Research management
• Project management
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Impact evaluation
• Research dissemination
• Evidence-based policy
• Development studies
• Program administration

Candidates should be comfortable coordinating multiple projects, communicating with different stakeholders, managing information, and supporting research and policy initiatives.

Key Skills for the IPA Program Associate Job

Applicants should demonstrate strong skills in:

• Project management
• Research management
• Grant management
• Research fund coordination
• Stakeholder engagement
• Communication
• Research dissemination
• Policy communication
• Evidence synthesis
• Data and database management
• Salesforce
• Microsoft Excel
• Proposal development
• Relationship management
• Program administration
• Impact evaluation

IPA Program Associate Application Deadline

The deadline to apply for the Program Associate, Strategic Impact Evaluation and Learning position is:

15 August 2026

Applicants are encouraged to review the vacancy requirements carefully and submit their applications before the deadline.

How to Apply for the IPA Program Associate Job

Interested candidates should apply through the official Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) recruitment system.

When applying for the IPA Program Associate, Strategic Impact Evaluation and Learning position, applicants should ensure that their application clearly demonstrates relevant experience in project management, research management, grant management, research dissemination, communications, and international development.

Official application: Apply through the IPA recruitment portal for Requisition ID 1814.

Safeguarding at IPA

Innovations for Poverty Action is committed to creating a safe and respectful working environment, particularly for children and vulnerable adults.

Selected candidates for the IPA Program Associate position are expected to comply with IPA’s safeguarding standards and principles.

Final Thoughts

The Innovations for Poverty Action Program Associate, Strategic Impact Evaluation and Learning position is a strong opportunity for professionals seeking careers in research management, international development, impact evaluation, policy, and evidence-based programming.

With opportunities in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, the IPA Program Associate SIEL job is particularly relevant to qualified African professionals with experience in research, project management, grant management, communications, and development programs.

If you meet the qualifications, including a relevant Bachelor’s degree and at least two years of relevant experience, consider applying before the 15 August 2026 deadline.