Summary
Date Posted: Monday, July 29 2024, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:
FINCA International was founded in 1984 on the radical idea that giving small loans to people in poverty has the power to transform entire communities in a sustainable way. For 40 years, FINCA has provided tens of millions of low-income people with access to financial services they otherwise would not have. We have long understood that poverty is multidimensional. Today FINCA ends poverty through sustainable and scalable solutions, driven by the insights and needs of people in the communities where they live, that encompass financial inclusion, financial health, gender, climate change, food security, healthcare and education.

About the FINCA Poverty Eradication Lab
The FINCA Poverty Eradication Lab will harness the ingenuity and insights of people living in poverty together with FINCA’s expertise and global network built over 40 years, to accelerate the development and scaling of poverty solutions. The lab embodies FINCA’s commitment to human-centered innovation as a means for accelerating our work and increasing our impact on global poverty. Utilizing human-centered design principles and expertise in building and scaling social enterprises, the FINCA Poverty Eradication Lab (PEL) will identify, test and scale innovative, multi-dimensional solutions to poverty.

The FPEL represents the poverty innovation hub at FINCA, convening internal and external networks, operations, research, and partnerships in service of better understanding and ultimately building more effective, sustainable solutions to ending poverty. The PEL represents an exciting opportunity to build a stronger bridge between research and application delivering insights that directly inform next generation social enterprise solutions.

About the Position
FINCA’s Poverty Eradication Lab (FPEL) is seeking a skilled Research Associate to support Human-Centered Design (HCD) initiatives and business case development on a full-time contract basis. The focus of this contract will be conducting comprehensive qualitative and quantitative research, identifying user needs and pain points, and providing actionable insights to drive business decisions and innovation.

Key Responsibilities:
Research Design and Planning:
• Collaborate with stakeholders (HCD, Program Management, In-Country Subsidiary) to define research objectives and key questions.
• Develop research plans and methodologies for both qualitative and quantitative studies, aligned with HCD principles.
• Design data collection tools (surveys, interview guides) tailored to the target audience.
• Identify and recruit participants for qualitative research (user interviews, focus groups).
• Develop a plan for collecting market data on macroeconomic drivers and opportunities.
Data Collection:
• Conduct qualitative research, including interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic studies.
• Administer quantitative surveys and collect relevant data through various channels.
• Ensure ethical standards and confidentiality are maintained throughout the research process.
Data Analysis:
• Analyze qualitative data to identify themes, patterns, and insights.
• Analyze quantitative data to identify trends and correlations.
• Synthesize findings from both qualitative and quantitative research to create a market analysis.
• Evaluate ideas to identify the most promising opportunities for innovation
Reporting and Documentation:
• Prepare comprehensive research reports that effectively communicate findings, insights, and recommendations.
• Develop clear and concise business case reports outlining the implications of the research for business strategy and decision-making.
• Create compelling presentations to communicate research results to internal and external stakeholders.
Collaboration and Communication:
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure research findings are integrated into the design, development, and marketing of [project/product/service].
• Stay informed about industry trends, best practices, and emerging research methodologies.
• Regularly communicate project progress and updates to the Project Manager and other stakeholders.

Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., social sciences, business, marketing, public health).
• Proven experience in conducting qualitative and quantitative research.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Experience with human-centered design (HCD) principles is highly desirable.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Preferred Skills:
• Experience with qualitative data analysis software (e.g., NVivo, Atlas.ti).
• Knowledge of business case development and strategic planning.
• Familiarity with design thinking and innovation processes.

Contract Term:
• The initial contract term is 3 months, with the possibility of renewal based on project needs and performance.
Travel Requirements:
• Availability to travel as needed for success to domestic and foreign locations.

Specific Milestones, Deliverables, and Illustrative Examples:
Specific milestones and deliverables for this contract will be defined prior to start. However, the following are illustrative examples:
Milestone 1: Completion of research design and planning, including the development of research plans and methodologies.
• Deliverable: Research plan and methodology documents.
Milestone 2: Completion of data collection, including qualitative and quantitative data gathering.
• Deliverable: Raw data sets (interview transcripts, survey responses).
Milestone 3: Completion of data analysis, including qualitative and quantitative data analysis reports and market analysis.
• Deliverable: Qualitative and quantitative data analysis reports and market analysis report.
Milestone 4: Completion of final reporting and documentation, including business case reports and research presentations.
• Deliverable: Business case reports and research presentations.

Job Experience: No Requirements

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months:

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

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