UNIDIR Is Recruiting: Research Consultant and Associate Researcher (Remote) - ApplyNOW

Full Job Description

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)’s Managing Exits from Armed Conflict Project is hiring two new team members.

1️⃣ Research Consultant Help turn survey data into evidence on how people leave armed groups and return to civilian life, working closely with the project’s lead Data Scientist to clean, analyse and visualize data for policy and practitioner audiences. ⏳ 6 months, with possibility of extension 📍 Geneva or remote 🗓️ Apply by 2 November

2️⃣ Associate Researcher Help coordinate the project’s research in the Lake Chad Basin, working with local research partners, governments and UN partners to generate evidence on how people exit armed groups and transition into civilian life. ⏳ 5 months, with possibility of extension 📍 Remote 🗓️ Apply by 2 November

UNIDIR is a voluntarily funded, autonomous institution within the United Nations.

One of the few policy institutes worldwide focusing on disarmament, UNIDIR generates knowledge and promotes dialogue and action on disarmament and security.

UNIDIR’s Managing Exits from Armed Conflict Project seeks to understand how and why people enter and exit armed groups, disarm and transition fully and sustainably into civilian life.

The project generates evidence to inform policies and interventions that prevent recruitment, support reintegration and promote micro-disarmament.

1. Research Consultant (Data Support)

Location: Geneva or Remote Starting Date: January 2027 Duration: 6 months, with the possibility of extension Remuneration: Hourly rate, total amount not exceeding USD 9,000 Closing Date: 2 November 2026

Key responsibilities

Data analysis

• Conduct survey data cleaning, de-identification and integration as necessary and note steps taken.
• Support the development of statistical analyses of the data and write up results in an accessible way for outputs for lay audiences.
• Contribute to co-authored publications on the study’s findings, including in policy-oriented formats and academic journals.

Data visualization and reporting

• Support the presentation and visualizations of data in different outputs: creating charts and infographics for reports, briefings and other types of output as required.
• If relevant, participate in events to present data and findings to support UN policy processes.

Data quality monitoring and organization (if relevant)

• Support the monitoring and quality verification of incoming data during survey rollout periods.

• Support the management and storage of project data in compliance with data protection measures as required.

• Contribute to effective workflow processes, such as documenting changes across surveys and lessons learned, and mainstreaming the steps for data cleaning and reporting (e.g. by contributing to codebooks and libraries).

Qualifications And Experience

– Advanced university qualification (master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations, political science, economics, statistics or any other social science discipline with a focus on quantitative techniques or statistics is required. A bachelor’s degree, in addition to two years of relevant work experience, is considered in lieu of a master’s degree.

• At least five years’ experience in applied research, statistics or data analysis for public policy is desirable.

• Proficiency with R (data cleaning, statistical analysis and visualization packages) is required.

• Understanding of statistical methods of analysis, including multivariate regression, is required.

• A background in conflict prevention or resolution, peacebuilding, development or a related area is desirable.

• Command of Power BI, STATA, SPSS or other statistical and data analysis software is beneficial.

• Experience working on and analysing data from large-scale surveys through programs such as SurveyCTO is beneficial.

• Ability to quickly learn SurveyCTO and become proficient in the project’s surveys is essential.

• Experience with data management and data protection is a bonus.

• Strong analytical and data visualization skills.

• Ability to be detail oriented.

• Ability to work within a dynamic team and with local research partners.

• Ability to generate digestible reports of large datasets.

• Ability to write and present findings clearly, concisely and in a manner that translates complex ideas into accessible language for practitioners and policymakers.

• Ability to multitask and define priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment.

• Experience researching or working in Nigeria, Niger, Chad or Cameroon is beneficial.

• Excellent written and oral communication in English.

For this assignment, fluency in English (both written and oral) is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

How to apply

Applicants should submit:

• A cover letter
• A CV or a PDF of a UN Personal History Profile (PHP) created via Inspira
• Name and contact details of three references

Email: unidir.recruitment@un.org Subject: Application: MEAC – Research Consultant (Data Support)

• Deadline: 2 November 2026, midnight Geneva time.
• Official vacancy: Research Consultant – UNIDIR

2. Associate Researcher (Managing Exits From Armed Conflict)

• Location: Remote
• Position Title: Associate Researcher (Resident)
• Starting Date: As soon as possible
• Work Format: Full-time (100%)
• Duration: 5 months, with the possibility of extension
• Remuneration: ICS-9: LICA-9/IICA-1 (depending on location)
• Closing Date: 2 November 2026

Key responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Senior Researcher and the Head of Project, the Associate Researcher will be responsible for the following duties:

• Help finalize the surveys for the Lake Chad Basin and North West Nigeria.

• Work with local research partners and the project’s management to design and oversee the research plans.

• Coordinate with, and support, local research partners.

• Build and nurture relationships with government, research, local and UN partners in the region working on conflict transitions and conduct related outreach.

• Help design, stand up and oversee a data collection in the region, including supporting enumerator training design and performing data monitoring functions.

• As needed, conduct interviews and focus groups, and assist with survey rollout across the region.

• Produce transcripts and review those produced by other researchers.

• Contribute to cross-case analyses for the project and its other strategic products.

• Document project rollout in Lake Chad Basin countries for use in guidance for the project’s tools.

• Produce findings reports and other analytical products (and oversee their translation and design) for a variety of practitioner, policymaker and general audiences.

• Help develop different ways to message the project’s findings in the Lake Chad Basin region, including through social media, and feedback loop closure activities with study respondents.

• Present research findings and help practitioners work through their programmatic implications at dissemination events.

• Keep abreast of relevant external research, publications and events in the conflict reintegration space.

• Lead the finalization of the Lake Chad Basin surveys, codebooks and de-identified data for sharing as a public good.

Qualifications And Experience

Advanced university qualification (master’s degree or equivalent) in international affairs, social science, international law, public administration, disarmament and arms control, international security, peace studies, conflict studies or a related field is required.

A bachelor’s degree, in addition to two years of relevant work experience, is considered in lieu of a master’s degree.

• A minimum of two years’ experience in research or research project management is required.

• Experience in research, including quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as literature reviews and policy research, is required.

• Experience in the Lake Chad Basin is required. Being located in the region with a right to work there is preferred, but other locations can be considered. UNIDIR cannot provide visa support.

• Proficiency in French and English is required; knowledge of Kanuri, Hausa, Shuwa Arabic, Fulfulde, Buduma is desirable.

• Computer competency, including but not limited to Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint), is required.

• Experience working on conflict prevention, reintegration, disarmament, peacebuilding and/or development issues – preferably in the region – is required.

• A successful track record in research project management is required, including in the following areas: designing project activities; monitoring timelines and milestones; implementing activities within budget and on time; overseeing and guiding research activities of team members; and conducting follow-up on project activities.

• Familiarity with relevant stakeholders in the Lake Chad Basin, including local, national and regional institutions, UN organizations, local research organizations, civil society, religious leaders, etc. is desirable.

• Demonstrated history of excellent drafting, editing and layout of publications is required.

• Knowledge of gender issues or experience with gender mainstreaming in a field relevant to the position is desirable.

For this assignment, fluency in English and French (both written and oral) is required.

Occasional travel is required for this role. The Associate Researcher must complete the UN BSAFE online course and provide UNIDIR with a certificate of completion.

How to apply

Applicants should submit:

• A cover letter
• A CV or a PDF of a UN Personal History Profile (PHP) created via Inspira
• Name and contact details of three references

Email: unidir.recruitment@un.org Subject: Application: MEAC Associate Researcher-Resident

• Deadline: 2 November 2026, midnight Geneva time.
• Preference will be given to consultants based in Nigeria, Cameroon or Chad, and possibly Niger.
• Official vacancy: Associate Researcher – UNIDIR

Important Application Information

UNIDIR states that incomplete applications and applications generated with artificial intelligence will not be processed.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

– Advanced university qualification (master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations, political science, economics, statistics or any other social science discipline with a focus on quantitative techniques or statistics is required. A bachelor’s degree, in addition to two years of relevant work experience, is considered in lieu of a master’s degree.

• At least five years’ experience in applied research, statistics or data analysis for public policy is desirable.

• Proficiency with R (data cleaning, statistical analysis and visualization packages) is required.

• Understanding of statistical methods of analysis, including multivariate regression, is required.

• A background in conflict prevention or resolution, peacebuilding, development or a related area is desirable.

• Command of Power BI, STATA, SPSS or other statistical and data analysis software is beneficial.

• Experience working on and analysing data from large-scale surveys through programs such as SurveyCTO is beneficial.

• Ability to quickly learn SurveyCTO and become proficient in the project’s surveys is essential.

• Experience with data management and data protection is a bonus.

• Strong analytical and data visualization skills.

• Ability to be detail oriented.

• Ability to work within a dynamic team and with local research partners.

• Ability to generate digestible reports of large datasets.

• Ability to write and present findings clearly, concisely and in a manner that translates complex ideas into accessible language for practitioners and policymakers.

• Ability to multitask and define priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment.

• Experience researching or working in Nigeria, Niger, Chad or Cameroon is beneficial.

• Excellent written and oral communication in English.

For this assignment, fluency in English (both written and oral) is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

Advanced university qualification (master’s degree or equivalent) in international affairs, social science, international law, public administration, disarmament and arms control, international security, peace studies, conflict studies or a related field is required.

A bachelor’s degree, in addition to two years of relevant work experience, is considered in lieu of a master’s degree.

• A minimum of two years’ experience in research or research project management is required.

• Experience in research, including quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as literature reviews and policy research, is required.

• Experience in the Lake Chad Basin is required. Being located in the region with a right to work there is preferred, but other locations can be considered. UNIDIR cannot provide visa support.

• Proficiency in French and English is required; knowledge of Kanuri, Hausa, Shuwa Arabic, Fulfulde, Buduma is desirable.

• Computer competency, including but not limited to Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint), is required.

• Experience working on conflict prevention, reintegration, disarmament, peacebuilding and/or development issues – preferably in the region – is required.

• A successful track record in research project management is required, including in the following areas: designing project activities; monitoring timelines and milestones; implementing activities within budget and on time; overseeing and guiding research activities of team members; and conducting follow-up on project activities.

• Familiarity with relevant stakeholders in the Lake Chad Basin, including local, national and regional institutions, UN organizations, local research organizations, civil society, religious leaders, etc. is desirable.

• Demonstrated history of excellent drafting, editing and layout of publications is required.

• Knowledge of gender issues or experience with gender mainstreaming in a field relevant to the position is desirable.

For this assignment, fluency in English and French (both written and oral) is required.

Occasional travel is required for this role. The Associate Researcher must complete the UN BSAFE online course and provide UNIDIR with a certificate of completion.