Central America Researcher – REMOTE

About the organization:

The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) is a disaggregated data collection, analysis, and crisis mapping project. The ACLED team conducts analysis to describe, explore, and test conflict scenarios and makes both data and analysis open for free use by the public. ACLED material is regularly used to inform journalism, academic research, and public discourse on conflict, and to support the work of practitioners and policymakers. ACLED is the highest quality and most widely used real-time data and analysis source on political violence and protests around the world.

The role:

ACLED is recruiting a Central America Researcher to assist in the collection, review, and management of political violence and protest data across the Central American countries. Researchers must be available for at least 20 hours per week. This position is fully remote and can be done from any location with reliable internet service. This role will require the researcher to submit deliverables weekly on Saturdays/Sundays. This is an entry-level contractor position.

Collection of data is conducted by reviewing news, international organizations, NGOs, and security reports on different Central American countries, and recording the incidents of political violence into an Excel template. Researchers will focus on coding events to provide holistic coverage of current political violence, ranging from protests to battles.

Review and management of data involve ensuring the quality, consistency, and reliability of the data produced. The role provides team members with experience conducting detail-oriented tasks, and producing and managing quantitative data.

Specific roles and responsibilities:

Candidates who are selected will undergo extensive ACLED training. The training consists of several exercises. Candidates’ exercises will be scrutinized and only those who are performing at the required level will be retained as Researchers.

For those selected, the initial consultancy period will be from January 2024 to June 2024. After this, continuation may be possible, pending performance and availability of funding.

Please note that this position involves working with conflict-related media and reading about violent events.

Remuneration:

Remuneration is 20 USD per hour.

Skills and competencies:

ACLED is seeking applicants who have the following skills and experience:

• University degree in conflict studies, peacebuilding, international development, or related field
• Familiarity with Excel (essential);
• Fluency in English (essential)
• Fluency in Spanish (essential);
• Research focus or professional experience related to political, social, and/or protest movements and conflict research or peace-building in Latin America or country-specific studies is a strong advantage;
• Experience conducting desk-based research;
• Experience working to deadlines with limited supervision;
• A high level of attention to detail and ability to receive and incorporate feedback;
• Access to a computer, a reliable internet connection, email, and a recent version of the Microsoft Office Suite.