About the opportunity
The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) is a voluntarily funded, autonomous institution within the United Nations that focuses on disarmament and security. UNIDIR’s Managing Exits from Armed Conflict Project seeks to understand how and why individuals enter and exit armed groups, disarm, and transition sustainably into civilian life. This research consultancy supports the project’s lead Data Scientist with data monitoring, cleaning, organization, analysis, and visualization. The role involves preparing survey data, co-authoring publications, creating infographics for reports, and ensuring compliance with data protection measures.
Salary and benefits
- Remuneration at an hourly rate for a total amount not exceeding USD 9,000
- Payments subject to certification of timesheets and satisfactory delivery of service
- Opportunity to co-author publications in policy-oriented formats and academic journals
Who can apply?
- Advanced university qualification (master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations, political science, economics, statistics, or another social science discipline with a focus on quantitative techniques or statistics
- A bachelor’s degree in combination with two years of relevant work experience is considered in lieu of a master’s degree
- Proficiency with R (data cleaning, statistical analysis, and visualization packages) is required
- Understanding of statistical methods of analysis, including multivariate regression, is required
- Fluency in English (both written and oral) is required
- At least five years of experience in applied research, statistics, or data analysis for public policy is desirable
Required documents
- 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
When to apply
- Application deadline is 2 November 2026 at midnight Geneva time
- The assignment is expected to start in January 2027 for a duration of six months
How to apply
- Prepare your cover letter, CV or UN Personal History Profile, and three references
- Send your application as email attachments to unidir.recruitment@un.org
- Include the subject line "Application: MEAC – Research Consultant (Data Support)"
Additional information
- No travel is foreseen as required for this role
- UNIDIR retains copyright of all documents and ownership of intellectual property resulting from the work
- Incomplete applications and applications generated with artificial intelligence will not be processed
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Strong background in quantitative research, statistics, and applied data analysis
- Proficiency in R and experience with large-scale survey data cleaning and visualization
- Academic or professional interest in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, or security studies
What should you think carefully about?
- Remuneration is paid on an hourly basis up to a maximum cap of USD 9,000
- The position is offered as a temporary six-month consultancy contract with a potential for extension
- Applicants must meet strict submission requirements, including a tailored cover letter and CV sent directly via email
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This consultancy offers quantitative researchers an opportunity to contribute high-impact data analysis to a prominent UN project on armed conflict and reintegration. It suits data professionals seeking policy-oriented research experience, co-authored publication opportunities, and engagement with international security issues without requiring long-term relocation.
Our take
Candidates with strong R programming skills and a background in social science data analysis should consider applying before the November 2, 2026 deadline, provided they are comfortable with a short-term, output-based consultancy arrangement.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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