01 Intern – Economics

1. Background

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a CGIAR Research Center, is seeking a proactive, highly motivated and detail-oriented intern with a master’s degree in economics to support ongoing research and policy analysis. The intern will be involved in assignments under the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) funded Water Resource Accountability in Pakistan (WRAP) program  with a focus on socio-economic research related to water resource management and security, climate change adaptation, and agricultural sustainability. This includes analyzing the economic and social impacts of water policies and infrastructure, measuring agricultural and household water access and usage, and exploring the role of governance in sustainable resource management. By integrating econometric modeling with real-world policy challenges, the intern will contribute to evidence-based solutions for improving water security and livelihoods in vulnerable communities. The IWMI Internship Program, spanning one year, provides a valuable opportunity to gain practical experience in real-world research projects, develop technical skills, and connect with leading experts. Through applied research, data analysis, and policy engagement, interns will develop the expertise needed for an impactful career in socioeconomic research, policy analysis, and water resources management.

2. Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct literature review from published papers, reports and grey literature, on various topics such as climate change, health impacts of climate change, household, agricultural and industrial water security, food security, wastewater management, and gender dynamics.
• Assist with the development of research tools, including interview and discussion guides and survey questionnaires.
• Assist in data collection, cleaning, and analysis using STATA.
• Conduct econometric modeling and statistical analysis of household data under the guidance of the supervisor.
• Support in report writing, manuscript preparation for journal publication, research reports, policy briefs and blogs, and dissemination of project outputs.
• Assist in organizing stakeholder meetings, workshops, and policy dialogues.
• Participate in policy and technical knowledge forums, workshops, and meetings across Islamabad and Lahore, and other project sites while ensuring comprehensive documentation/notetaking of proceedings.
• Perform any other duties within the scope of the project, as required.

3. Required Qualifications and Skills:

• Completed a Master’s degree in the last 6 months in Economics, Development Economics, or a related field.
• Good analytical and problem-solving skills with a willingness to learn.
• Proficiency in statistical software such as STATA.
• Academic training and interest in conducting literature reviews, data collection, analysis and synthesizing research findings with a willingness to learn.
• Familiarity with various data sources.
• Familiarity with conducting various forms of quantitative and qualitative research and analyses.
• Comfortable using Microsoft Office such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a research environment.
• Comfort with traveling to project sites for meetings, data collection, etc.
• Willingness to learn and take on new challenges.
• Proactive and self-motivated with a keen interest in research and fieldwork with a willingness to travel to project sites for meetings, fieldwork, and data collection.

4. Duration of the Assignment:

The interns will be hired for the above tasks for a period of one year at the IWMI Pakistan Liaison Office in Islamabad with travel to other project sites as required.