Pre-Doctoral Fellow – Impact Evaluation (Econometrics Focus)

Kamuzu University of Health Sciences

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT 

Program Summary  

The Learning Centre for Quality Management (LCQM) is a Centre of Excellence at Kamuzu  University of Health Sciences (KUHeS). As a regional hub for excellence, the LCQM is dedicated  to strengthening healthcare systems across Southern Africa. With a focus on enhancing the  quality of healthcare delivery, the Centre promotes evidence-based practices through  capacity building, research, and knowledge management.

Collaborating with local and international partners, the LCQM fosters a sustainable, people centred approach to healthcare, addressing critical challenges within health systems and  driving impactful solutions across the region.

With funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the LCQM is conducting research to  evaluate the integration of health screening and chronic care services (HIV, NCDs, Mental  Health, TB), alongside Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) services. This pilot  initiative is being implemented in selected facilities in Rumphi and Nkhotakota by the Ministry  of Health and its partners.

To achieve these, LQCM Project is inviting suitably and qualified candidates to fill the  following vacant positions:

Pre-Doctoral Fellow – Impact Evaluation (Econometrics Focus) – 1 Position 

Department : Learning Centre Research Unit

Responsible to : Principal Investigator

Type of contract : 2 year-fixed contract

Location : Rumphi or Nkhotakota

Role Overview: 

The Pre-Doctoral Fellow for Impact Evaluation will play a pivotal role in designing and  implementing the impact evaluation for this transformative initiative. Working closely with  an interdisciplinary team, the Fellow will utilize robust econometric techniques to assess the  program’s outcomes and contribute to advancing healthcare policy and research. This  position offers an exceptional platform for professional growth, with opportunities to  transition into a PhD program.

Key Responsibilities: 

  • Design and implement quasi-experimental evaluations, including difference-in differences, instrumental variable approaches, and propensity score matching. • Manage and analyze large-scale datasets from health facilities and service users. • Develop econometric models to estimate intervention impacts on service utilization,  health outcomes, and efficiency.
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of economists, implementation scientists,  and policymakers to ensure robust analysis and meaningful application of findings. • Draft high-quality manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals and  contribute to policy briefs and reports.

Job Requirements: 

  • Education: MSc in Economics, Statistics, or a closely related field.
  • Technical Skills: Proficiency in advanced econometric techniques and statistical  software such as Stata, R, or Python.
  • Career Aspirations: Demonstrated interest in advancing the research into a PhD  program.
  • Experience: Prior experience with impact evaluations, applied econometrics, or  program evaluation is desirable.
  • Core Competencies: 

o Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

o Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

o Proven ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams. o Exceptional organizational skills to handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines  reliably.

o High degree of reliability and accountability in delivering high-quality work. • Flexibility: Willingness to spend a substantial portion of the contract period at Rumphi  or Nkhotakota districts, engaging closely with local teams and stakeholders.

Application Procedure 

Interested candidates who meet the above requirements should send their applications  including a cover letter, copies of relevant certificates and CV with names, emails, and  contact of professional referees to: 

The Registrar 

Kamuzu University of Health Sciences,

Mahatma Gandhi Road Campus,

P/Bag 360,

Chichiri,

Blantyre 3.

Or email to: recruitment@kuhes.ac.mw

Indicate position applied for on the envelope for hard copy applications and indicate the  same in the subject line of your email for electronic submissions. Applications should reach  the Registrar not later than 21st January 2025. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Reference check shall be conducted to  successful candidates.