Are you an experienced conflict and access analyst, excited by the opportunity to lead the NRC new conflict initiative for the Sahel region, and work for an outspoken and influential humanitarian organization?

In June 2020 NRC launched a ‘Future of Access’ strategy review process which has identified several priorities for focus over the coming strategy period. One of the primary actions has been to enhance our understanding of conflict dynamics and the complexities of relationships within our areas of operation.

While NRC generally has a good understanding of the contexts we operate in and the actors we work with, our in-depth understanding of the nuances of conflict and our ability to collect and analyze data requires refinement.
The Covid-19 pandemic has further highlighted the need to both better understand contexts and strengthen our ability to gather and synthesize timely and accurate information in order to enhance our access opportunities and establish sustainable foundations for future principled programming. The current capacity to collect relevant information and analyze varies widely across country teams, but new communications networks and technical access capacity allow for a timely opportunity to generate greater understanding and development of actionable recommendations.

The NRC analysis initiative seeks to aggregate and analyze data from field staff as well as to improve decision making and access to complex crises. The initiative will directly contribute to data-driven decision making by gathering information from primary sources through existing and future networks, open sources, and program data. The analysis is designed to be proactive and anticipatory, highlighting key trends and likely outcomes of specific dynamics. The products will be as constructive and relevant as possible, enabling sound, principled decision making and supporting advocacy, programmatic, and strategy recommendations.

The Regional Conflict and Access Analyst will develop and lead on its new conflict analysis initiative for the West Africa covering Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. To support the country and regional offices in producing timely and appropriate analysis of contemporary dynamics in order to provide a more nuanced understanding of key issues and allow the program to adapt to contextual changes.

Duties and responsibilities

This position will focus on the Sahel region incorporating the following Country Offices of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

Generic responsibilities

  • Constantly monitor available sources to collect, compile, and report information including incidents and trends pertinent to humanitarian access and security in the Sahel.
  • Prepare and disseminate regular reporting and updates.
  • Support the NRC team in network development and data collection.
  • Provide inputs into the online platform (under development).
  • Analyze gathered data and information to understand key trends, build anticipatory analysis and
  • support country and regional level advocacy.
  • Work in close collaboration with the country offices of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali as well as the
  • regional Head of Advocacy, global and regional access advisors.
  • Provide timely thematic and/or area-based access analysis based on operational needs.
  • Provide technical input and advice in assessments in new geographic areas, and regular assessment reviews for existing locations.
  • As required provide workshops, briefings, and training to NRC staff and partners.
  • Participate in relevant international or local fora/ conferences.

Specific responsibilities

  • To inform decision-makers on the drivers of conflict and underlying trends in the region.
  • To track changes in the operational capacity, motivations, objectives, and narratives of the primary conflict-related stakeholders.
  • To contribute to the body of knowledge – including evidence building, data collection, and anticipatory analysis – of NRC country, regional and global offices.

Qualifications

  • Minimum of five years of relevant conflict analysis experience within the humanitarian field.
  • Advanced professional knowledge and experience in conducting actionable research on conflict in a humanitarian/development context.
  • Ability to identify and evaluate the broad range of drivers of conflict.
  • Experience of narrative tracking and analysis, with the ability to frame narratives within the broader context
  • Experience in social media analysis an advantage.
  • Experience from working in complex and volatile contexts
  • Demonstrated knowledge of the political economy of, and current conflicts within the Sahel.
  • Experience in the development of methodologies for data collection and analytical frameworks.
  • Ability to draft high-quality reports and country office recommendations based on the information and data analysis.
  • Ability to develop workshop materials and present findings remotely in an engaging and interactive manner.
  • Comfortable operating in the initial phases of a project, where objectives and deliverables are iterative.
  • Experience working remotely with minimal supervision, but with strong personal drive and communication skills needed for coordinating multiple moving pieces of work.

Personal qualities

  • You possess a positive attitude, sound judgment, and natural authority.
  • You have the ability to mobilize resources around you through your communication, representation, and interpersonal skills.
  • You are a politically and diplomatically savvy professional with an inclination to analyze and perceive decision-making processes,
  • You demonstrate skills in organizational representation and public speaking.

We can offer

A 1-year full-time contract with competitive salary and benefits according to International staff terms and conditions, including contributions to the pension fund.
The flexible working environment in a dynamic office in Dakar or Bamako
Duty station: Dakar or Bamako, to be decided
Grade: 9
Please note that you are required to enter the geographical location for all your previous positions while registering your CV. There is no specific field for this information in our CV form, but you can use the "Company name" field for both company and location.
Only CVs and applications written in English will be assessed

This vacancy is archived.

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