WBG Pioneer - LSMS Survey Innovation Fellow

Job #: req37636
Organization: World Bank
Grade: T4 (no-fee)
Location: Washington, DC,United States
Hiring Manager: Amparo Palacios-Lopez
Required Language(s): English
Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date: 8/12/2026 (11:59pm UTC)

Description

WBG Pioneers, the World Bank Group’s Internship Program, offers undergraduate and postgraduate students a high impact learning experience at the heart of global development. Participants gain hands on experience in a diverse and dynamic environment, contribute fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, and connect with international professionals working to end poverty on a livable planet.

The Development Economics Survey Unit (DECSU) in the World Bank Group’s Development Economics Vice Presidency supports the production and use of high-quality household survey data in low- and middle-income countries. Through the Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS) program, DECSU advances methodological innovation in household survey design, implementation, and data quality, with a focus on improving the evidence available for development policy and research.
As part of this agenda, DECSU is implementing a randomized survey experiment in Kenya to test approaches for improving the identification and measurement of household businesses. The experiment is designed to develop and validate an innovative survey methodology for identifying and measuring household businesses in low- and middle-income countries, closing critical knowledge gaps — particularly for women entrepreneurs — and improving the accuracy and policy-relevance of business data.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Fellow will be part of the team supporting an ongoing randomized survey experiment in Kenya. The study combines a qualitative preparatory phase with a quantitative data collection strategy split into two components to tackle two main sources of mismeasurement: a sampling error problem, whereby household businesses are missed entirely because they are never listed and therefore never enter the sampling frame; and a measurement error problem, whereby household businesses are present in the sample but go unreported because respondents do not recognize or classify their own activities as a business.
The assignment will contribute to the World Bank’s research agenda on the identification of household businesses. It will also provide the Fellow with practical experience in survey methodology, field experiment implementation, data quality monitoring, and applied quantitative research.
The scope of work includes supporting questionnaire refinement, survey implementation, data quality monitoring, and data analysis. The Fellow may also contribute to research outputs and develop an independent research question using project data, in consultation with the research team.

Selection Criteria

  • Currently enrolled in, or in the final year of, a relevant master’s or PhD program.
  • At least 3 years of relevant professional experience.
  • Academic background in economics, public policy, statistics, data science, development studies, or a related field.
  • Strong analytical, quantitative, research, and problem-solving skills.
  • Experience or demonstrated interest in household surveys, impact evaluation, data quality, or development research.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
No-Fee Internship Eligibility
This position is offered under the WBG Pioneers No-Fee Internship Track. Students may be offered a no-fee STT appointment provided that they either: (a) are enrolled in a Master's, PhD, or similar graduate program during the entire internship (or are in the fifth year or higher of a degree program in countries where higher education is not divided into undergraduate and graduate stages) and provide an official letter from their university confirming that the internship fulfills academic requirements for at least one term of study; or (b) are enrolled in undergraduate or graduate studies and receive a stipend from their university at least equivalent to the minimum STT T1 fee level in effect at the start of the assignment, as confirmed by an official university letter.
Note: Please limit your applications to a maximum of three positions. Applications exceeding this limit will not be considered.

WBG Culture Attributes:
1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

The World Bank Group values diversity and encourages all qualified candidates who are nationals of World Bank Group member countries to apply, regardless of gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.  Sub-Saharan African nationals, Caribbean nationals, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
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Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.