Research Ethics Intern

Background

iDE is an international nonprofit dedicated to combating poverty in the developing world not through handouts, but by helping rural households access the tools and knowledge they need to increase their income and improve their health and well-being. iDE has 40 years of experience and programs in 11 countries in Africa, South Asia, South East Asia, and Central America.

IDE's vision, to catalyze the power of entrepreneurship to allow millions of people to lift themselves out of poverty, is ambitious and bold. We need a person who is, first and foremost, passionate about this vision and wants to harness the power of digital media to help iDE achieve it.

The ethical collection, storage, and use of data is essential for respecting the rights and dignity of the people iDE works with. iDE is currently aiming to strengthen its policies, resources, and accountability mechanisms relating to the ethical use of information across the organization. The Research Ethics Intern would work with iDE’s Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) team, as well as collaborate across departments and country offices to research, gather feedback around, and promote the ethical use of data in the organization.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

Support the development of strategy for improving information ethics

• Complete training on ethical concerns in collection of data from people.
• Support in conducting and analyzing data from focus groups and/or interviews with iDE staff to gather feedback relating to ethical initiatives.
• Support developing processes and protocols around ethical information collection for iDE teams, and updating existing processes for iDE’s Institutional Review Board with learnings from its initial launch.
• Contribute to identifying gaps and creating systems for knowledge sharing and support across iDE teams to ultimately improve the ethical quality of data collection across the organization.
• Support the development of an evaluation tool to assess the state of current ethical practices in each iDE office.

Conduct Literature Reviews

• Conduct literature reviews on best practices for ethics around data collection, monitoring, evaluation, and human subjects research to support the development of strategy.

Develop educational and communication materials

• Use Canva or other software to develop creative tools for internal communication tools to share iDE’s work and goals around information ethics across the organization and teach about best practices.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This role has no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Interest in ethics and inclusivity in monitoring, evaluation, research and learning.
• Pursuing a Degree (International Studies, Sociology, Development Studies) in a relevant discipline.
• Academic or applied experience with human subjects research.
• Fluent in English. Second language that’s used in an area where we work is a plus.

Behaviors and Values

• Demonstrates empathy, humility, authenticity, and respect in the workplace
• Willingness to ask questions and seek feedback
• Excellent problem-solving and creative thinking abilities
• Ability to work independently and prioritize effectively
• Desire to work in fast-paced environment and across multiple time zones and languages
• Excellent verbal, intercultural and interpersonal communication skills
• Enthusiastic with a sincere interest in the mission of the organization

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those the employee encounters while performing the functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work is performed primarily in an office environment
• Occasional domestic and international travel may be required
• Normally required to see at far and close range, and communicate verbally through listening and speaking
• Frequently required to sit, use hands and fingers to handle and operate objects, devices and controls. Occasionally required to walk, reach with arms, lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
• Regularly operates telephone, computer, software and printer, copy machine, and similar office machines.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters whi