David Clarance
About David Clarance
David Clarance is a Staff Data Scientist currently working at M-KOPA in Kampala, Uganda. He has extensive experience in data science and behavioral economics, having held various roles at organizations such as the Busara Center for Behavioral Economics and Tata Research Development and Design Centre.
Current Role at M-KOPA
David Clarance serves as Staff Data Scientist at M-KOPA, a position he has held since 2022 in Kampala, Uganda. In this role, he focuses on leveraging data science techniques to enhance the company's operations and decision-making processes. Prior to this, he was the Acting Head of Data Science and Analytics at M-KOPA for 10 months in 2022. His work contributes to the company's mission of providing affordable energy solutions across Africa.
Previous Experience at Busara Center for Behavioral Economics
David Clarance worked at the Busara Center for Behavioral Economics in various capacities. He began as a Research Associate in 2016 for 8 months, followed by a promotion to Senior Associate for 7 months in 2016-2017. He then served as Director for 9 months in 2017-2018. His roles involved conducting behavioral research and applying data-driven insights to inform policy and program design.
Educational Background in Economics
David Clarance holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from St. Stephen's College, where he studied from 2009 to 2012. He furthered his education with a Master's Degree in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru Vishvavidyalaya, completing his studies from 2012 to 2014. His academic background provides a strong foundation for his work in data science and behavioral economics.
Experience in Data Science and Research
David Clarance has extensive experience in data science and research. Prior to his roles at M-KOPA and Busara, he worked as a Project Trainee at Tata Research Development and Design Centre for 5 months in 2014. He also interned at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy in New Delhi and at the Centre for Civil Society, gaining valuable insights into research methodologies and data analysis.
Research Interests and Contributions
David Clarance has a passion for birds, focusing on bird occurrence and distribution data. He maintains open-source software libraries that interface with the Africa Bird Map database. His research includes simulating the spread of norms in organizations and conducting experiments to assess willingness to pay. He has also worked on methodologies to measure trust using data science techniques.