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Democracy International (DI) is seeking to hire aSocial and Behavioral Science (SBS and Learning) Graduate Fellowto support the integration of behavioral insights into the design, implementation, and evaluation of DIs international development, democratization, and peacebuilding programs. The Fellow will be a member of the Social and Behavioral Science and Learning Team within the Strategy and Technical Leadership Division.

The Fellow will acquire a range of skills relevant to international development and applied social and behavioral sciences. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with international development practitioners from around the world to integrate social and behavioral sciences into programming and present their work to internal and external audiences. DI is hiring multiple Fellows for the Summer of 2024, and this role will concentrate on developing resources and tools to support the application of social and behavioral sciences to program design, implementation, and learning processes.

The fellowship start date will be as soon as possible and will be determined in discussion with the successful candidate. The fellowship will end August 15 with the possibility for further extension. The fellow will receive $16-30/hr, depending on experience, for 20-40 hours of work per week.This is an in-person fellowship, requiring location in the Washington, DC area and the ability to travel to DIs office in Bethesda, Maryland.

Essential Job Duties : The SBS Fellow will lead one or more special projects depending on their available time, interests, and expertise. Potential projects include:

• Inventory of SBS-based Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG) Interventions:This would involve aggregating information into a catalog of behaviorally-focused interventions that can be applied to advance Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG)-related program outcomes.
• SBS Resources for Program Design:The Fellow may work with other DI staff to develop brief write-ups on evidence-based SBS concepts, theories of change, and illustrative interventions to inform program design and proposal writing.
• Desk Reviews:Conduct and/or aggregate literature reviews in relation to key learning questions identified by DI staff to support current or future programming.

Secondary Job Duties:

• Support at least One Bid or Proposal:Based on the needs and capacities of the SBS and Learning team, the Fellow may support designing and writing proposals for funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and potentially other donors . Support includes 1) conducting desk research to collect the latest interdisciplinary research and findings on SBS interventions and behavioral measurement to support DIs core practice areas, 2) writing concisely and engagingly about social and behavioral science evidence and concepts, and 3) working collaboratively with SBS technical specialists and the Strategy and Design team to identify effective, creative ways in which SBS can be applied to achieve development goals.
• Create Content for External Communications:Create information briefs, blog posts, and other written and visual material for public and funder consumption to explain and communicate the value of DIs SBS practice.

Qualifications :

• B.A. or B.S. in behavioral economics, social or cognitive psychology, political science, communications/marketing or a field in the family of behavioral sciences.
• Enrolled in a graduate program in behavioral economics, social or cognitive psychology, political science, communications/marketing or a field in the family of behavioral sciences.
• Strong experience conducting desk research and research synthesis of published, unpublished, and grey literature across SBS disciplines.
• Working knowledge of and experience using quantitative and qualitative research methods in the social and behavioral sciences.
• Strong analytical skills and working knowledge of statistics.
• Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a collaborative style.
• Ability to work both independently and in close collaboration with stakeholders in the Washington, D.C. area and DIs field offices.
• Experience with field-focused and applied research preferable, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Reporting:

• This position reports to the Director of Social and Behavioral Science and Learning.

Environmental Conditions: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Moderate noise (i.e. business office with computers, phone, printers, and moderate traffic).
• Ability to work in a confined office space/area.
• Ability to sit and/or stand at a computer desk for an extended period of time.

Physical Requirements Required to Perform Essential Responsibilities: While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to;

• Stand, sit; talk, hear, use of hands and fingers, and perform repetitive motions to operate a computer and telephone keyboard.
• Reach, stoop, or kneel, to adjust computer and/or telephone equipment.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work.
• Hearing abilities required due to telephone.
• Light to moderate lifting is possible.
• Regular, predictable attendance is required; as business demands dictate.

Democracy International is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation in its employment process for individuals with disabilities to meet any and all physical requirements of our jobs.

About the Organization: DI provides technical assistance, analytical services and project implementation for democracy, human rights, governance and conflict mitigation programs worldwide for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. State Department and other development partners. Since its founding in 2003, Democracy International has worked with civil society organizations, political parties, election-management bodies, government agencies, legislatures, justice-sector institutions, and others in 80+ countries.

DI welcomes and supports a diverse and inclusive work environment. We are committed to equal employment opportunities (EEO) for all applicants seeking employment and for DI employees. DI makes employment decisions based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, personal appearance, military status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, political affiliation, educational status, unemployment status, place of residence or business, source of income, or reproductive health decision making. Additionally, harassment or discrimination based on these characteristics will not be tolerated at DI. To perform the essential functions of this position, reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities.