Application Guide

How to Apply for Data Analyst – Program Monitoring

at Raising the Village

🏢 About Raising the Village

Raising the Village is a nonprofit focused on ending extreme poverty in rural Africa through community-led, holistic development programs. Their unique approach integrates economic empowerment, health, education, and infrastructure within a single village model, allowing for measurable, sustainable impact. Working here offers the chance to directly contribute to data-driven solutions that transform lives in underserved communities.

About This Role

As a Data Analyst for Program Monitoring in the Analytics Unit, you'll manage and analyze program data to evaluate economic impact, run models to assess effectiveness, and generate insights that guide decision-making for poverty alleviation initiatives. This role is impactful because your analysis directly influences how resources are allocated and programs are adapted to maximize outcomes for rural communities in Africa.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start by cleaning and validating incoming field data from village programs, then running economic models to assess progress against poverty indicators. You'd likely collaborate with the Analytics Unit to prepare visual reports or dashboards, followed by meetings with program teams to discuss insights and recommend adjustments for enhanced effectiveness.

🎯 Who Raising the Village Is Looking For

  • Has experience with economic modeling and statistical analysis, particularly in development, nonprofit, or research contexts
  • Is proficient in data management tools (e.g., SQL, R, Python) and visualization software (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) to prepare clear reports for stakeholders
  • Demonstrates ability to collaborate with both internal teams and external partners, translating data into actionable insights for program improvement
  • Shows passion for data-driven social impact, with an understanding of monitoring and evaluation frameworks in international development

📝 Tips for Applying to Raising the Village

1

Highlight any experience with poverty alleviation, economic development, or NGO program data in your resume, even if from volunteer or academic projects

2

Tailor your application to emphasize how you've used data to measure program impact or improve effectiveness, as this is core to the VENN department's mission

3

If you lack direct nonprofit experience, showcase transferable skills like analyzing socioeconomic data, building dashboards for stakeholders, or working in cross-functional teams

4

Mention remote work experience or tools you've used for virtual collaboration, as this is a fully remote position supporting field operations

5

Research Raising the Village's specific programs (e.g., their village graduation model) and reference how your skills could enhance their monitoring efforts

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Explain your interest in using data analytics to address extreme poverty, linking it to Raising the Village's mission and community-led approach", "Provide a specific example of how you've managed data, run models, or evaluated programs to drive decision-making, ideally in a social impact context", 'Describe your ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders (e.g., field staff, partners) to translate data into actionable insights for program improvement', 'Note your proficiency with relevant tools (e.g., economic modeling software, data visualization platforms) and how they apply to monitoring development programs']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • Explore Raising the Village's website to understand their core programs (e.g., the 'Holistic Village Approach') and recent impact reports
  • Review their focus on data and analytics by looking for blog posts, case studies, or mentions of the VENN department or Analytics Unit
  • Learn about the regions they work in (e.g., Uganda) and common challenges in rural poverty alleviation to contextualize the role
  • Check their social media or news for updates on partnerships, funding, or program expansions that might relate to data needs

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you analyzed program data to measure impact or effectiveness. What methods did you use, and how did it influence decisions?
2 How would you design a monitoring system to track economic outcomes in a rural development program like Raising the Village's?
3 What experience do you have collaborating with non-technical stakeholders (e.g., field teams) to ensure data collection and reporting meet their needs?
4 How do you ensure data quality and integrity when working with data from remote or low-resource settings?
5 Can you discuss a challenging economic model you've run or evaluated, and how you communicated the results to inform program adjustments?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic application without mentioning Raising the Village's mission, programs, or the social impact focus of the role
  • Overemphasizing technical data skills without examples of how they've been applied to program evaluation or stakeholder collaboration
  • Failing to demonstrate an understanding of monitoring and evaluation in a development context, such as by not referencing frameworks like logic models or outcome indicators

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Raising the Village!