West and Central Africa Researcher – REMOTE

About the organization:

The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Organization (ACLED) is a disaggregated data collection, analysis, and crisis mapping institution. The ACLED team collects conflict intelligence, conducts analyses to describe, investigate, and test conflict scenarios, and makes both data and analysis available to the public for free use. ACLED’s work is regularly used to inform journalism, academic research, and public discourse on conflict, and to support practitioners and policymakers. ACLED is the highest quality and most widely used real-time data and analysis source on political violence and protests around the world.

The role:

ACLED is looking for new employees a researcher to assist in coding data on political violence and protests in Regions of West and Central AfricaThe researcher must be available for at least 20 hours per week. This position is fully remote and can be performed from any location with reliable internet service. This is an entry-level contractor position.

Data collection will be done by reviewing news, international organizations, NGOs and security reports on a list of assigned countries and recording incidents of political violence in an Excel template. Researchers will focus on coding events to provide holistic coverage of current political violence, ranging from protests to fighting.

Data review and management is about ensuring the quality, consistency, and reliability of the data produced. The role gives team members experience in performing detail-oriented tasks and in producing and managing quantitative data.

Please note that this position involves working with conflict-related media and reading about violent events.

Specific roles and responsibilities:

Selected candidates undergo comprehensive ACLED training. The training consists of several exercises. Candidates’ exercises are closely examined and only those who reach the required level of performance are selected as researchers.

For the selected persons, the initial contract period is October 2024 To June 2025. After that, a continuation is possible depending on performance and financing.

Remuneration:

The remuneration is 20 USD per hour.

Skills and competencies:

ACLED is looking for applicants with the following skills and experience:

• University degree in conflict studies, peacebuilding, international development or a related field;
• Familiarity with Excel (essential);
• Fluent knowledge of English (essential);
• Fluent knowledge of French (essential);
• Fluent in Arabic (preferred);
• Experience conducting desk research;
• Experience working with deadlines and limited supervision;
• A high level of attention to detail and the ability to accept and process feedback;
• Research interests or professional experience in conflict research or peacebuilding in the West and Central Africa regions or in country-specific studies are a great advantage;
• Familiarity with conflicts and actors in the countries concerned;
• Access to a computer, a reliable Internet connection, email, and the Microsoft Office Suite.