Back Summer Associate

Laterite is looking for Summer Associates to join our offices in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Rwanda

About Laterite

Laterite is a data, research, and technical advisory firm that helps clients understand and analyze complex development challenges. We provide three types of services to clients:

• Data: comprehensive data collection and data processing solutions
• Research: from the design of large-scale projects through to analysis
• Advisory: strategic and technical research advice

Laterite works with universities, global think tanks, international NGOs, multilateral donor organizations, and government ministries and agencies. Our core activity sectors are: public health, agriculture, urbanization & migration, education, and youth & labour. We are also involved in projects with a focus on gender issues.

Laterite’s growing network of offices currently includes Rwanda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and the Netherlands. Our teams bring together more than 50 full time local and international staff in a dynamic and nurturing work environment. Learn more: www.laterite.com

Working with Laterite

• Are you passionate about research in development?
• Do you want to make a difference on relevant policy and development issues?
• Do you care about professional development and learning?
• Do you love discovering new contexts and spending time in countries like Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Kenya?

If yes, then being a summer associate at Laterite might be a good fit for you. Laterite will provide you with the opportunity to build on your leadership and technical expertise to make a difference on priority development questions.

Read more about what is it like to work with us in our interviews with former Summer Associates Ashley and Daniela.

Position Description & Key Responsibilities

As a summer associate you will have the opportunity to work on a mix of the following:

• A specific research project, from design, through to field work and analysis;
• An internal initiative or research project; and/or
• A specific area of business development.

At Laterite, we tend to work simultaneously on a variety of short term to medium term research projects. As a Summer Associate, you will be assigned to one research project to be determined before you start depending on your interests, timing and Laterite’s needs.

This is a challenging position that will provide you with hands-on experience conducting rigorous research in complex environments. You will get the opportunity to apply the tools and techniques you learned in your development, econometrics and data science classes. The position will help you put your curriculum into context, give you ideas for your thesis, and hopefully also some thoughts on professional opportunities after you finish your studies.

Profile

Our ideal candidates are master students or recent graduates that are entrepreneurial, creative, passionate about international development, structured in their thinking with strong management and technical research skills. They will be able to effectively solve problems and adapt to changing situations.

Expected Qualifications

• A master student or recent graduate
• Strong oral and written communication skills in English (French, Kinyarwanda, Swahili or Amharic is a plus)
• Good interpersonal skills
• Strong quantitative skills: able to analyze large datasets, conduct statistical analysis and design sampling frames
• Knowledge of Stata, R or Python
• Experience in international development, public policy economic and social research or consulting would be a plus but is not required.

Timeline

Dates are flexible and can be decided between Laterite and the summer associate. We expect the associate to work with us for at least 2 months.

Logistics

This assignment will either be based in Kigali, Nairobi or Addis Ababa. All cities offer all the enjoyment and facilities of a capital, including several supermarkets and great restaurants. It is easy to find affordable housing options in shared houses and the Laterite team will do its best to help you with getting settled. All cities offer a safe environment to live and work in.

Compensation

We will offer the associate stipend of US$800 per month (pro-rata). We will not pay for flights to East Africa and expect the candidate to be covered by his/her own health insurance policy throughout the assignment. Proof of appropriate health coverage is a pre-requisite.