Life on the Youth Impact Research & Innovation Team
As we scale globally, we are looking for new researchers to join our vibrant, supportive team. If you’re looking for your next research opportunity, read on to find out more about what life in our Research and Innovation (R&I) department is like. Or just take our Head of Research Claire Cullen’s word for it: “It’s fun, it’s challenging, and it’s so rewarding!”
We bring world-class research methods in-house. We use our in-house learning mvuscle to embed research into the delivery of our health and education programs: Zones, Teaching at the right Level, and ConnectEd. We use a mix of rigorous tools to ensure the programs have impact, whether we need a full Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT), quicker A/B tests, or a lighter-touch pre-post assessment to monitor program performance at scale. And we use research to innovate, hence the department name. We use A/B testing to rapidly, rigorously optimize our programs to improve cost-effectiveness and scalability. In our first decade, we conducted over 50 randomized tests and now run these at a rate of around 10 trials per year. We are sector leaders in generating and adapting evidence across settings to support effective program scaling. As pioneers of A/B testing in the social sector, we support partners to incorporate these methods into their programming too.
We bring a world-class research team in-house. Our R&I team contains a diverse mix of enthusiastic data-driven problem-solvers. Our 15 researchers specialize in quantitative methods and running large-scale field data collection efforts. Many of our team have come to us from other sectors, including both academia and NGOs, hungry to apply research skills to real-world problems and to make an immediate difference in people’s lives. Half of our team have PhDs, but a PhD isn’t necessary, being a data aficionado is. Team members work remotely or from our Botswana headquarters, with opportunities for field visits to help ground everything we do.
We are obsessed with using data to make a difference in real time. We collect and make data-driven decisions with high-frequency data almost every day. These nimble systems allow us to pivot swiftly and generate new evidence when needed. For example, in the early months of COVID we adapted our in-person remedial education program to a phone-based version and were able to use our data systems to rapidly conduct an RCT, producing some of the first experimental evidence on distance education in the world. This created huge international interest and we were able to run replication scale-up trials in five new countries over the next 18 months, some of the fastest multi-country evidence ever generated in education. We both generate evidence for internal decision-making to ensure our programs have the greatest possible impact, while also contributing to global public goods to influence the sector more broadly.
Meet some of our team members
Claire Cullen
"My days are spent analyzing data, reviewing the latest literature and speaking to our implementers to get ideas for our next A/B test, discussing data-driven insights with program managers, presenting our cutting-edge research at academic conferences, and supporting partners to run their own tests or scale education and health programs. It’s non-stop rewarding puzzle-solving on how to help improve kids' lives, all with fun, growth-loving, and impact-motivated colleagues. It truly doesn’t get much better than that!"
Martin Mwale
"Being part of Youth Impact's research team allows me to contribute to actionable research in social sciences. Often, there's a gap between rigorous research and its practical application but Youth Impact bridges this gap by producing high-quality, adaptable evidence that is promptly integrated into program implementation. I am proud to be at the forefront of conceptualizing and generating this evidence, plus I benefit from collaborating with global research experts with top-notch skills in social science research."
Bogadi Motlhobogwa
"I’ve worked at Youth Impact for six years, and have had life-changing experiences like presenting papers internationally and witnessing program impact firsthand. Day to day, I am involved in drawing theories of change, randomization, training, implementation, iteration, and scaling programs through partnerships with Government and other organizations. The flexibility to work remotely has significantly enhanced my job satisfaction, and I love that I can help shape the organization by making things happen when I have a good idea."
Emilie Berkhout
"My role involves ensuring seamless data collection and providing the field team with the data they need to maximize program impact. Working at Youth Impact has been incredibly rewarding: our rapid expansion presents fascinating challenges and opportunities for professional growth. Each member of our diverse R&I team brings a unique skill set and a shared commitment to our mission. Every day is a learning opportunity, and despite working remotely, our team remains closely connected and collaborative."
Ayo Ayoudin
"My typical day involves programming surveys, preparing data collection dashboards, cleaning and analyzing data, and creating visualizations and slides to summarize findings. I appreciate the lively and positive team environment, where taking ownership of tasks is encouraged, and strong support is provided to ensure successful delivery. A good candidate for our team has a strong technical background and an openness to learning."