WBG Pioneer - LSMS Survey Innovation Fellow

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.

Background/Organizational Context 

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 Nepal to test approaches for improving the measurement of informal and household-based businesses, whose performance is often difficult to capture because of weak record keeping, seasonality, and limited administrative data. The experiment is designed to generate evidence on how alternative survey methods can improve the measurement of business outcomes and reduce information constraints faced by informal enterprises.

Duties and Responsibilities 

•  The Fellow will be part of the team supporting an ongoing randomized survey experiment in Nepal that is designed to strengthen the measurement of household business performance and test approaches to reducing information constraints faced by informal enterprises. The study follows 1,980 households in urban and rural areas through three in-person survey rounds, with households randomly assigned to three treatment arms that vary the way business outcomes are measured and reported. One arm incorporates high-frequency digital diaries to examine recall bias in performance reporting and generate richer evidence on enterprise dynamics over time. 

•  The assignment will contribute to the World Bank’s research agenda on improving the measurement of household business performance and understanding how information constraints affect enterprise outcomes. 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, management and analysis of survey and digital diary data, construction of outcome measures, and comparison of alternative approaches to measuring household business performance. 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. 
•  Proficiency in Stata, R, or Python for data cleaning, construction, and econometric analysis; and with AI/LLM tools and their application to research and data workflows is an added advantage 
•  Experience or demonstrated interest in household surveys, impact evaluation, data quality, or development research. 
Strong written and verbal communication skills in English; knowledge of Nepali would be an asset. 

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.