Economist I/II & Cost-Effectiveness Unit Lead at IDinsight

Key Responsibilities

Building and Leading the CEU (20%)

• Cultivate the Cost-Effectiveness Unit into a sustainable practice area within IDinsight, including onboarding and aligning with existing senior leadership at IDinsight
• Develop service offerings across four core areas: cost-effectiveness audits, lean intervention design, cost-efficient implementation support, and tech-enabled resource allocation
• Create standardized methodologies, tools, and frameworks that can be adopted across the sector
• Build a team over time if we establish a robust pipeline to justify additional hires, including recruiting and/or training teammates with cost-effectiveness expertise
• Develop public goods including practical guides, templates, and case studies

Client Development and Engagement (20% in steady state, 50% initially)

• Identify and develop opportunities with partners where cost-effectiveness work could yield high returns, particularly complex multi-country implementers
• Lead engagement with organizations like Pact, CARE, Living Goods, and other BINGOs to embed cost-effectiveness thinking into their operations
• Work with partners throughout the project lifecycle—from ideation and design through implementation—not just at the evaluation stage
• Build relationships with funders interested in cost-effectiveness to secure project funding from the broader development community

Technical Delivery (50% in steady state, 20% initially)

• Lead cost-effectiveness analyses that synthesize existing program data to establish baselines and identify optimization opportunities
• Facilitate lean intervention design processes, including Theory of Change workshops and rapid A/B testing to identify lower-cost configurations that maintain impact
• Design and implement cost monitoring systems that enable adaptive management and continuous improvement
• Collaborate with IDinsight's DSEM team to leverage AI and machine learning for cost optimization
• Develop cost models and conduct sensitivity analyses across multiple countries and contexts

Thought Leadership (10%)

• Contribute to sector-wide discussions on cost-effectiveness methodology and practice
• Publish frameworks and findings from IDinsight's cost-effectiveness work
• Potentially support revival of practitioner-oriented cost-effectiveness communities of practice
• Represent IDinsight at conferences and with donors on cost-effectiveness topics

Qualifications

Required:

• Advanced degree in economics, public policy, or related field (Master's minimum, PhD preferred)
• 5+ years of experience in cost-effectiveness or cost-efficiency analysis, or closely-related work, preferably within international development
• Demonstrated experience building cost analysis systems and frameworks within complex organizations
• Track record of translating economic analysis into operational decisions and organizational change
• Experience working with large implementing organizations (NGOs, governments, or multilaterals)
• Strong skills in cost modeling, sensitivity analysis, and financial analysis
• Proficiency with statistical software (Stata or R) and advanced Excel
• Experience managing projects and teams
• Excellent communication skills with ability to engage both technical and non-technical audiences

Preferred:

• Experience with lean program design and rapid-cycle testing methodologies
• Knowledge of AI applications for cost optimization and efficiency
• Experience developing public goods or sector-wide tools
• Track record of securing funding for analytical work
• Experience working across multiple countries and contexts
• French fluency for West Africa engagement