Research Assistant (Managing Exits from Armed Conflict)

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research—an autonomous institute within the United Nations—conducts research on disarmament and security. The Institute explores current issues pertaining to a variety of existing and future armaments, global diplomacy and local tensions and conflicts. Working with researchers, diplomats, government officials, NGOs and other institutions since 1980, UNIDIR acts as a bridge between the research community and Member States.  

UNIDIR’s Managing Exits from Armed Conflict (MEAC) Project seeks to understand how and why people exit armed groups, disarm and fully and sustainably transition into civilian life. MEAC’s work advances UNIDIR’s mandate, particularly with regard to enhancing the international community’s knowledge of micro-disarmament and the interventions that promote it. 

The objective of this position is to support the MEAC project’s lead Data Scientist with data collection, cleaning, analysis and visualization, data quality monitoring and data organization.  

Responsibilities and outputs  

Within UNIDIR’s MEAC Project, the Research Assistant will perform the following duties under the supervision of the lead Data Scientist, the Project Lead and the Senior Researcher, and in close collaboration with Case Study Managers, Principle Investigators and field research teams in Nigeria, Colombia, Iraq and the Lake Chad Basin: 

1. Data quality monitoring and organization 

• Support and maintain the organization of different existing datasets, including linking respondent case management. 

• While new data collection is ongoing, support the monitoring of incoming survey data and conduct ongoing quality checks of the data. 

• Coordinate with relevant team members and local implementing partners on data collection and data management. 

• Support the management and storage of MEAC 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). 

2. Data cleaning and analysis  

• Conduct survey data cleaning, de-identification, and integration as necessary and note steps taken and document relevant processes and steps taken. 

• Prepare summary reports of survey data to aid in decisions around analytical outputs. 

• 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. 

3. Data visualization and reporting 

• Support the presentation and visualizations of data in different outputs: conducting data validation checks, creating charts and infographics for reports, briefings, and other types of output as required.   

• When relevant, participate in events to present data and findings to support UN policy processes. 

2. Performance indicators for evaluation of services provided:  

Assignments described above are completed to the satisfaction of MEAC’s Project Head and the Institute’s Senior Management. The research assistant will be evaluated at the end of the contract. Performance indicators include: 

• Deadlines for delivery of agreed tasks are met. 

• Outputs are provided in the form and quality requested by UNIDIR. 

• Key deliverables are addressed to the satisfaction of UNIDIR. To this end, the research assistant shall keep the Head of Project informed at agreed regular intervals as to how the delivery of work is progressing.  

• Progress and performance will be measured against a work schedule, which the research assistant shall provide to and agree on with UNIDIR management at the start of the assignment. Over the course of the research assistant’s work, reviews, updates and drafts of the work as it stands shall be provided in a timely manner if requested. 

• Professional engagement is cooperative and positive. In this regard, the research assistant will work under and consult with the Lead Data Scientist, Senior Researcher and MEAC Team, operating under the Head of Project, to manage unexpected events. 

Qualifications and Experience 

a. Education  

A master’s degree in International Relations, Political Science, Economics, Statistics, Law, or any other social science discipline with a focus on quantitative techniques is required. 

b. Work Experience  

• At least one year of working experience (or relevant internship) in social science or applied research with a quantitative focus is required (or an equivalent advanced degree).  

• Proficiency with statistical software (preferably in R) is required. Preferred skills in R include data cleaning, advanced quantitative analysis, data visualization packages.  

• Knowledge of quantitative survey methods is required. 

• Expertise in varied statistical methods of analysis, including multivariate regression, is required. 

• A (basic) understanding of conflict prevention/resolution, peacebuilding, development, or related areas is required.   

• Experience in conducting data collection (through programmes such as SurveyCTO) is a bonus. 

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

• Experience working on and analyzing data from large-scale surveys in the field or M&E studies and assessments is a bonus.  

• Strong analytical and data visualization skills. 

• Strong orientation to detail. 

• Ability to work within a dynamic team and 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 multi-task and define priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment. 

• Experience and/or interest in policy-oriented research and writing is a bonus.

• Experience researching or working in Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Colombia and/or Iraq is a bonus. 

• Excellent written and oral communication in English. 

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

c. Language(s) 

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

Travel  

There is currently no travel anticipated as part of this assignment.  

Copyright  

All outputs will be edited, fact-, and language-checked by UNIDIR. UNIDIR retains copyright of all documents, as well as ownership of the intellectual property resulting from work carried out under this assignment. The research assistant warrants that all written outputs are original works or that where they incorporate copyrighted material from another source, this information is cited correctly and the necessary permission for its use is obtained. The research assistant is to provide UNIDIR with written documentation, where applicable, together with the written outputs.