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 information, conducts analysis to describe, explore, and test conflict scenarios, and makes both data and analysis open for free use by the public. 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 protest around the world.

The role:

ACLED is recruiting a researcher to assist in coding projects of political violence and protest data across West and Central Africa regions. The researcher must be available for at least 20 hours per week. This position is fully remote and can be done from any location with reliable internet service. This is an entry-level contractor position.

Collection of data is conducted by reviewing news, international organizations, NGOs and security reports on a list of assigned countries and recording the incidents of political violence into an Excel template. Researchers will focus on coding events to provide holistic coverage of current political violence, ranging from protests to battles.

Review and management of data involves ensuring the quality, consistency, and reliability of the data produced. The role provides team members with experience conducting detail-oriented tasks, and 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:

Candidates who are selected will undergo extensive ACLED training. The training consists of several exercises. Candidates’ exercises will be scrutinized and only those who are performing at the required level will be retained as Researchers.

For those selected, the initial contract period will be from October 2024 to June 2025. After this, continuation may be possible, pending performance and availability of funding.

Remuneration:

Remuneration is 20 USD per hour.

Skills and competencies:

ACLED is seeking applicants who have the following skills and experience:

• University degree in conflict studies, peacebuilding, international development, or related field;
• Familiarity with Excel (essential);
• Fluency in English (essential);
• Fluency in French (essential);
• Fluency in Arabic (preferred);
• Experience conducting desk-based research;
• Experience working to deadlines with limited supervision;
• A high level of attention to detail and ability to receive and incorporate feedback;
• Research focus or professional experience in conflict research or peace-building in West and Central Africa regions or country-specific studies is a strong advantage;
• Familiarity with conflict and actors in the relevant countries;
• Access to a computer, a reliable internet connection, email, and the Microsoft Office Suite.