For its Giustra Fellowship Program, Crisis Group is looking for a fellow to support the Central Africa Project and our research work in Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Chad. The fellowship will be for the duration of two years. The fellow will be fully incorporated into the Project in a likely manner to other staff members. The fellow will ideally be based in the Nairobi office, or remotely in the region.

This fellowship is envisioned as an early career training program. Thus, the fellow will learn on the job, by carrying out the work of a Crisis Group analyst but with close supervision and collaboration from Program leadership and colleagues. The fellow will work closely with the Project Director to support research work on the Central African countries. You will interact consistently with analysts throughout the program. The fellow will have access to internal training and workshops, take part in research trips in the region, and/or travel for the purpose of policy engagement. You may also spend time in our advocacy office in Brussels and other advocacy offices as relevant.

Training on the following topics is foreseen:

• Research and research methodology
• Report writing
• Policy engagement and advocacy
• Security (including IT security and liability)
• Gender awareness
• Media

Purpose of the role:

Under the supervision of the Project Director, Central Africa, the fellow will engage in and be exposed to the full range of activities that constitute Crisis Group’s operational methodology. You will perform field-based research on conflict in Central Africa. The overall objective is to analyse the political, socio-economic and climate-related factors contributing to conflict as well as more immediate causes of tension.

Responsibilities include:

• To perform field-based research on conflict in Central Africa. Research should involve conversations with a great variety of sources, including key figures in government, opposition, military, media and the non-governmental sector, as well as armed groups.
• On the basis of the field research, the fellow will help formulate policy recommendations that advocate concrete measures to mitigate and resolve conflicts and respond to emerging threats in the region. Recommendations should target national governments, as well as other state or non-state actors involved and regional/international institutions engaged with the conflict.
• The fellow will also assist in the Program’s advocacy activities related to conflict prevention and mitigation in Central Africa. The key elements of our advocacy are:
  • Targeted Outreach. This may include: regular seminars and policy roundtables; one-on-one briefings for senior government officials, ministers, and diplomatic representatives; media briefings; and interviews.
  • Media Outreach. This may include: press conferences, circulation of press releases, background briefings, embargoed pre-release of key reports, on-the-record interviews and placement of Crisis Group-authored op-eds in leading newspapers; use of social media to propagate our policy analysis and prescriptions.

Within the 2-year programme, it is expected that the fellow will participate in or contribute to the following outputs:

• Two to three published reports or briefing papers;
• The monthly Central Africa sitrep and CrisisWatch;
• One or two op-eds in local and international newspapers;
• One to three policy seminars and roundtable meetings in key capitals;
• Around six policymaker briefings.

Requirements include:

• Originates from Sub-Saharan Africa;
• At least 2 years of working experience in the region;
• A degree in political science, international relations, law or another relevant discipline;
• In-depth knowledge of political, socio-economic and conflict dynamics of the region;
• Strong analytical and communication skills, and excellent writing skills;
• Fluency in French and English. Fluency in a local language will be a plus;
• Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

If interested, please apply by 20 April 2022.