Economist I/II & Cost-Effectiveness Unit Lead

Job description

Locations: Flexible

About IDinsight

We’re a global data and evidence advisory, working with governments, philanthropies, and non-profits to improve lives at scale, using technology and AI where they can deliver the most impact.

IDinsight is a global nonprofit that equips leaders with the data, evidence, and technology to improve lives at scale. We partner with governments, NGOs, multilaterals, and funders to support decisions at every stage of their impact journey – from bold pilots to nationwide scale-ups. Our teams bring rigorous evidence and practical insights so leaders can make informed decisions that truly change lives. With our partners, we are pioneering the next frontier of social impact, where data and technology accelerate progress for millions. We help leaders overcome the three main barriers to impact:

1. Figuring out what works
2. Learning and improving
3. Reaching and operating at scale

We work in multiple countries across Asia and Africa. Our work spans a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, education, health, governance, sanitation, financial inclusion, and other areas.

We have expertise in a variety of rigorous approaches and methodologies, which we tailor to each client depending on their needs and constraints. To achieve a positive social impact, we:

• Support our partners with the full ‘data and evidence’ value chain – from primary data collection to data systems, monitoring, evaluation, and learning tools, and data science
• Inform funding decisions – toward high-impact initiatives and away from less effective programs or approaches
• Create cutting-edge AI-for-good products that make the delivery of social interventions and learning tools more cost-effective and scalable

Our diverse, growing team of roughly 250 outstanding colleagues operates in nearly two dozen countries around the world. Learn more about our mission and values at www.IDinsight.org.

About the Cost-Effectiveness Unit

IDinsight has launched a Cost-Effectiveness Unit (CEU) to help organizations, funders, and the development sector achieve greater impact per dollar by systematically applying cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness principles. The CEU will work with IDinsight project teams and implementing partners to move beyond traditional program evaluation toward optimizing the efficiency of their interventions throughout the project lifecycle. The CEU will help IDinsight build the supply-side capacity to provide this service, and lead within the sector by supporting the implementation of cost-effectiveness decision making more broadly.

About the Role

The CEU Lead is responsible for growing IDinsight’s cost-effectiveness practice. This role requires someone who can bridge rigorous economic analysis and practical organizational change—someone who understands that improving cost-effectiveness isn’t just about better data, but about embedding new ways of thinking and decision-making into organizational culture.

The CEU Lead has deep expertise in cost-efficiency analysis (not just cost-effectiveness measurement), experience building systems that make cost analysis routine rather than exceptional, and a proven track record of translating economic evidence into operational decisions within complex implementing organizations.

The CEU Lead is part of the Research and Evaluation Team, and reports directly to the Chief Technical and Learning Officer. The CEU also works closely with IDinsight’s Chief Impact Officer (who oversees our Regional Teams) and the Chief Strategy and Scale Officer on shaping the cost-effectiveness pillar of IDinsight’s strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Building and Leading the CEU (20%)

• Cultivate the Cost-Effectiveness Unit into a sustainable practice area within IDinsight, including onboarding and aligning with existing senior leadership at IDinsight
• Develop service offerings across four core areas: cost-effectiveness audits, lean intervention design, cost-efficient implementation support, and tech-enabled resource allocation
• Create standardized methodologies, tools, and frameworks that can be adopted across the sector
• Build a team over time if we establish a robust pipeline to justify additional hires, including recruiting and/or training teammates with cost-effectiveness expertise
• Develop public goods including practical guides, templates, and case studies

Client Development and Engagement (20% in steady state, 50% initially)

• Identify and develop opportunities with partners where cost-effectiveness work could yield high returns, particularly complex multi-country implementers
• Lead engagement with organizations like Pact, CARE, Living Goods, and other BINGOs to embed cost-effectiveness thinking into their operations
• Work with partners throughout the project lifecycle—from ideation and design through implementation—not just at the evaluation stage
• Build relationships with funders interested in cost-effectiveness to secure project funding from the broader development community

Technical Delivery (50% in steady state, 20% initially)

• Lead cost-effectiveness analyses that synthesize existing program data to establish baselines and identify optimization opportunities
• Facilitate lean intervention design processes, including Theory of Change workshops and rapid A/B testing to identify lower-cost configurations that maintain impact
• Design and implement cost monitoring systems that enable adaptive management and continuous improvement
• Collaborate with IDinsight’s DSEM team to leverage AI and machine learning for cost optimization
• Develop cost models and conduct sensitivity analyses across multiple countries and contexts

Thought Leadership (10%)

• Contribute to sector-wide discussions on cost-effectiveness methodology and practice
• Publish frameworks and findings from IDinsight’s cost-effectiveness work
• Potentially support revival of practitioner-oriented cost-effectiveness communities of practice
• Represent IDinsight at conferences and with donors on cost-effectiveness topics

Qualifications

Required:

• Advanced degree in economics, public policy, or related field (Master’s minimum, PhD preferred)
• 5+ years of experience in cost-effectiveness or cost-efficiency analysis, or closely-related work, preferably within international development
• Demonstrated experience building cost analysis systems and frameworks within complex organizations
• Track record of translating economic analysis into operational decisions and organizational change
• Experience working with large implementing organizations (NGOs, governments, or multilaterals)
• Strong skills in cost modeling, sensitivity analysis, and financial analysis
• Proficiency with statistical software (Stata or R) and advanced Excel
• Experience managing projects and teams
• Excellent communication skills with ability to engage both technical and non-technical audiences

Preferred:

• Experience with lean program design and rapid-cycle testing methodologies
• Knowledge of AI applications for cost optimization and efficiency
• Experience developing public goods or sector-wide tools
• Track record of securing funding for analytical work
• Experience working across multiple countries and contexts
• French fluency for West Africa engagement

What Makes This Role Unique

This is an opportunity to build something within IDinsight while addressing a critical sector need. Unlike traditional economist roles focused on impact evaluation, this position emphasizes making existing interventions more efficient. The role operates at the intersection of rigorous analysis and practical implementation, helping organizations not just understand their costs but fundamentally change how they design and deliver programs.

The role is funded through a strategic partnership with the Livelihoods Impact Fund, providing stable support to build the unit while demonstrating value through concrete partner engagements. Success will be measured not just by projects completed, but by demonstrable improvements in partner cost-effectiveness—helping organizations improve their social return on investment (reaching 5x or above).

IDinsight’s commitment to reducing power asymmetries

IDinsight is committed to reducing power asymmetries in the social sector. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion reflects our understanding of the need for the sector to abandon unhealthy practices of the past. We wish to be part of a new generation of international NGOs who are honest about this history and transparent about our role in the present. Our commitment is also aligned with the impact of our work.

We seek a workforce that is inclusive of a variety of perspectives that will help us refine and improve our methods and relationships, and strengthen the services we provide our clients and their communities or constituencies. The following commitments represent our vision for the IDinsight team:

1. IDinsight will have greater representation from the populations with whom we work and clients we serve.
2. IDinsight will have greater representation from the countries in which we work.
3. Across all countries in which we recruit, we will seek greater representation from historically excluded communities.
4. IDinsight will foster an inclusive work culture that empowers a diverse team to do their best work.

IDinsight is committed to non-discrimination in our recruitment, employment practices, and organizational culture, regardless of people’s age, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable law.