Tuka Institute
We're hiring! (Data analysis fellow - Debt)
Updated: Jun 23, 2020
TUKA institute is looking for a data analysis fellow for our entrepreneurship chronicles series.
About us
TUKA aims to foster an economic climate in francophone West Africa that is conducive to the creation of inclusive opportunities for the future generation and the most vulnerable in the formal economy.
The Institute's ultimate goal is to address the need for citizen-centric economic policies in francophone West Africa. Although the region could benefit from the creativity and potential of its youth, the business environment is currently characterized by restrictive policies that inhibit the creation and development of innovative enterprises. Despite the recent increase in the number of startups in the region, their average lifespan tends to be short; many local enterprises end up in the informal sector, which limits their scale, impact and prosperity. This ultimately affects the economic growth of the region and contributes to the perpetuation of poverty.
Through empirical economic research, TUKA aims to study macroeconomic patterns that pose issues for startups, small local businesses and innovative individuals. Based on research findings, TUKA proposes practical solutions to the general public and decision-makers to support sustainable economic growth through citizen participation in the formal economy.
Problematic & Research questions
The COVID19 pandemic has brought up a debate between opinion leaders on the continent; on one end some are calling for African governments’ debt relief in order to face the economic repercussions of the pandemic, on the other end are leaders who argue that a relief would impact Africa’s credibility on financial markets.
While both sides convey strong economic arguments about debt, the debate sparks a lot of questions:
What types of ‘debt’ are they referring to?
Who are the main creditors of the Francophone West African region?
How has debt been managed over the years?
What was the impact of debt on the most vulnerable (Youth, women, poor individuals) in Francophone West Africa?
Have loans and other grants granted to the region’s states been effective at reducing poverty?
Will another debt relief truly help states deal with the economic downturn following the COVID19 pandemic?
The series will consist of desk and field research (interview of local decision makers)
Responsibilities
The data analysis fellow will:
Identify, collect and organize macroeconomic data relevant to the research questions articulated by the institute
Create digital visuals for project findings
Promote publications through social media channels
Requirements
Bachelor degree in Economics or related quantitative degree
Knowledge of video editing software
Fluency in French and/or English
Time Commitment: 10-15 hours a week
Contract length: 3 months
Location: fully remote
Next steps
Please contact us at Tukainstitute@gmail.com with a resume
