Research Analyst – Public Policy

Role Overview

• Conduct qualitative and quantitative research to support policy review, advocacy, and strategy development.
• Collect, clean, and analyze large datasets (household surveys, energy access data, trade and investment data, etc.) to generate insights.
• Apply geospatial analysis and GIS tools to assess market opportunities, customer distribution, infrastructure gaps, and policy impacts.
• Develop clear, concise briefs, reports, presentations, and visualizations to communicate findings to senior Management, policymakers, and external stakeholders.
• Track global and regional policy developments in energy, trade, industrialization, and sustainable development, providing timely updates and recommendations.
• Support preparation for high-level meetings with governments, MDBs/DFIs, and development partners through background research and talking points.
• Contribute to the development of evidence-based policy positions and thought leadership pieces.
• Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams (data, operations, communications) to integrate insights into strategy and delivery.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in economics, public policy, development studies, or related field.
• 2–4 years’ experience in research, policy analysis, consulting, or related role.
• Strong foundation in both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
• Proficiency in data analysis tools (e.g., Stata, R, Python, or equivalent).
• Experience with GIS platforms (e.g., QGIS, ArcGIS) and spatial analysis.
• Strong skills in data visualization and presentation (Tableau, PowerBI, or equivalent).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor outputs for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated interest in energy access, renewable energy, and/or economic development policy.
• World-class research expertise in socioeconomic fields, with demonstrated experience in household survey design, sampling methods, and econometric modeling.
• Experience working in or with emerging markets, especially Africa.
• Familiarity with global energy access debates, trade and industrialization strategies and policies, and development finance.
• Ability to translate complex findings into actionable policy recommendations.
• Highly motivated, proactive, and adaptable, with appetite for learning in a fast-moving environment.
• Curious, able to absorb complex information quickly and translate it into actionable insights.
• Hands-on and collaborative, willing to take on both strategic and detailed tasks with equal commitment.
• Strong work ethic, resilience, and comfort with ambiguity.
• Humble, team-oriented, and eager to contribute wherever needed.
• Fluency in English is mandatory, French or Portugese would be an added advantage.

Tech Stack

• Python
• Tableau

Benefits

• Professional growth in a dynamic, rapidly expanding, high-social-impact industry
• An open-minded, collaborative culture made up of enthusiastic colleagues who are driven by the challenge of innovation towards profound impact on people and the planet.
• A truly multicultural experience: you will have the chance to work with and learn from people from different geographies, nationalities, and backgrounds.
• Structured, tailored learning and development programs that help you become a better leader, manager, and professional through the Sun Center for Leadership.