Research Assistant Consultant

We improve lives

The IDB Group is a community of diverse, versatile, and passionate people who come together on a journey to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our people find purpose and do what they love in an inclusive, collaborative, agile, and rewarding environment.

About This Position

We are looking for a Research Assistant Consultant to join the Poverty Group within the Social Sector at the Inter-American Development Bank. The selected candidate will contribute to the design and implementation of high-quality analytical work focused on poverty, inequality, and social inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean. The position offers an opportunity to work closely with researchers and operational teams in a collaborative environment, supporting the generation of rigorous, policy-relevant evidence to inform the Bank’s social sector strategies and interventions.

The Research Assistant Consultant will engage in applied research, data analysis, and knowledge production related to poverty dynamics, labor markets, and access to opportunities. The role will contribute to an analytical agenda that promotes the use of administrative data for research and policy analysis, as well as the integration of innovative tools, including artificial intelligence, to enhance data processing, empirical analysis, and knowledge generation. Responsibilities include supporting ongoing research projects and contributing to analytical outputs that inform lending operations, technical assistance, and policy dialogue.

This position is well suited for candidates interested in development economics and social policy and provides hands-on experience with empirical methods, large-scale data, and emerging analytical tools while addressing real-world policy challenges aimed at reducing poverty and promoting inclusive growth in the region.

What You’ll Do

The research assistant consultant will support the development of the Poverty Group’s analytical and research agenda through a range of quantitative and qualitative tasks.

Responsibilities Include

• Assisting in the preparation of research papers, policy reports, and presentations;
• Conducting econometric and statistical analyses using Stata. (R, or Python are a plus).
• Analyzing economic and development trends in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Identify, compile, clean, and manage datasets (including large-scale administrative data) while organizing and maintaining databases for ongoing research projects.
• Conducting literature reviews, synthesizing existing evidence, and contributing to the interpretation and discussion of research findings.
• In addition, the consultant may support the implementation of impact evaluations, field experiments, or other empirical research activities, and provide coordination and administrative support to ensure timely execution of research initiatives.
• The position will also contribute to the adoption of innovative analytical approaches, including the use of AI-assisted coding tools to improve data processing, reproducibility, and research workflows.

• Close collaboration with senior researchers and multidisciplinary teams, contributing to rigorous policy-relevant analysis that informs the Bank’s operations and strategic decision-making.

What You'll Need

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics, public policy, or other fields relevant to the responsibilities of the role. Candidates should have a strong quantitative background.
• Experience: At least 2 years of experience but less than five years in the following areas: economics of education, labor, migration, gender and diversity, health, or poverty and inequality. Use of household or labor force surveys, economic/population census, administrative records, and/or industry surveys in cross-section or panel formats. Experience with applied micro econometrics, causal inference methods, program evaluation, and AI-assisted coding tools.

• Languages: Proficiency in Spanish and English, spoken and written, is required. Additional knowledge of French and Portuguese is preferable.

Requirements

• You are a citizen of one of our 48-member countries. We may offer assistance with relocation and visa applications for you and your eligible dependents).

• Consanguinity: You have no family members (up to the fourth degree of consanguinity and second degree of affinity, including spouse) working at the IDB, IDB Invest, or IDB Lab.

Type of contract and duration

International consultant Full-Time, 12 months (up to 48 months, subject to eligibility).

What We Offer

The IDB group provides benefits that respond to the different needs and moments of an employee's life. These benefits include:

• A competitive compensation package.
• Leaves and vacations: 2 days per month of contract + gender-neutral parental leave.
• Health Insurance: the IDB Group provides a monthly allowance for the purchase of health insurance
• We offer assistance with relocation and visa applications for you and your family when it applies.
• On-site position with the occasional flexibility of teleworking.
• Development support: We offer learning opportunities to boost your professional profile, such as seminars, 1:1 professional counseling, and much more.
• Health and well-being: Access to our Health Services Center that provides preventive care and health education for employees.

• Other office amenities (as available): Lactation Room, Daycare Center, Gym, Bike Racks, Parking, spouse career support, and others.

Our culture

At the IDB, we work so everyone brings their best and authentic selves to work while finding their purpose. Our people consistently strive for excellence, and we recognize and celebrate the impact of their contributions.

In our efforts to drive innovation, we intentionally include all voices, cultivate a sense of belonging and champion fairness. We welcome individuals from underrepresented groups to join us and share their unique perspectives.

We ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to participate in the job interview process. If you require an accommodation to complete this application, please email us at [email protected].