Senior Conflict and Human Security Analyst: Anglophone West Africa
| Contract Type | Consultancy (project-based, intermittent) |
| Location | Remote with travel to Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia |
| Duration | Approximately 10 months from mid-2026 |
| Travel | Multiple in-country field missions (10 working days each) |
| Languages | English (fluent/native required); West African language strongly desirable; French an asset |
About Bodhi
Bodhi Global Analysis is a woman-led international development research consultancy established in London in 2017, with subsidiaries in Nairobi (2018), Singapore (2023), and Dar es Salaam (2025). We specialise in formative and evaluative research through participatory approaches, serving UN agencies, bilateral donors, INGOs, and regional organisations across fragile and conflict-affected contexts. As an ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001 certified organisation, Bodhi maintains rigorous quality control across all operations.
About the Role
Bodhi is recruiting a Senior Conflict and Human Security Analyst to serve as a Key Expert on a major multi-country conflict and human security assessment in West Africa. This is a high-profile assignment for a regional intergovernmental organisation, covering nine countries and three cross-border regions.
In this role, you will lead field research missions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia, and co-lead a regional assessment covering the Gulf of Guinea. Your work will span desktop research, stakeholder mapping, in-country data collection through key informant interviews and focus group discussions, analysis, and report writing. You will work alongside a Team Leader, a Senior Francophone Analyst, and national consultants based in each target country.
This is a Key Expert position. Your CV will be evaluated as part of a competitive selection process, so the strength of your qualifications, thematic expertise, and regional experience is critical.
Key Responsibilities
Field Research Leadership
- Lead in-country field missions of 10 working days each in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia, conducting key informant interviews with government officials, security sector actors, civil society leaders, traditional authorities, international organisation representatives, and community members
- Facilitate focus group discussions with diverse stakeholder groups, applying gender-sensitive and conflict-sensitive approaches
- Facilitate launch and synthesis workshops in each country, engaging national stakeholders in the validation of findings
- Co-lead a regional field mission covering the Gulf of Guinea, engaging regional organisations and cross-border governance bodies
Desktop Research and Analysis
- Conduct comprehensive desk-based research on conflict dynamics, human security threats, governance trends, and resilience factors in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia
- Undertake stakeholder mapping exercises, identifying actors across the peace and security architecture, government institutions, civil society, and the development community
- Analyse data against a multi-sector analytical framework covering security, governance and human rights, environment, crime and criminality, and health
- Apply scenario analysis techniques to project how identified risks may evolve over a 12 to 24-month horizon
Reporting and Quality Assurance
- Draft interim reports, field mission reports, and final assessment reports for each country and the Gulf of Guinea region
- Contribute to a cross-country synthesis, identifying common patterns and divergent trajectories across anglophone West Africa
- Support quality assurance of assessment outputs, ensuring analytical consistency and methodological rigour across all deliverables
Capacity Building
- Support the delivery of training for national early warning staff and field monitors on data collection instruments, ethical research protocols, and conflict-sensitive interviewing techniques
Qualifications and Experience
Essential
- Master's degree or higher in international relations, political science, peace and conflict studies, security studies, humanities, social sciences, or a closely related field from a recognised university
- A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in conflict analysis, human security research, political economy analysis, risk assessment, or resilience research, with a substantial portion focused on West Africa
- Direct field experience conducting research in at least two of the following countries: Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia
- Strong knowledge of the political, security, and governance dynamics in anglophone West Africa, including post-conflict transition processes, security sector challenges, inter-communal tensions, and cross-border dynamics
- Familiarity with the ECOWAS peace and security architecture, the Mano River Union, and/or national early warning and conflict prevention mechanisms in the target countries
- Proven experience leading qualitative data collection, including key informant interviews and focus group discussions with senior government officials, military and security actors, traditional leaders, and community groups
- Excellent analytical, drafting, and communication skills in English, with the ability to produce clear, well-structured assessment reports under tight deadlines
- Fluent or native English (written and spoken)
- Willingness and ability to travel to and work in challenging security environments
Strongly Desirable
- PhD in a relevant discipline
- Working knowledge of one or more West African languages spoken in the target countries (Krio, Mandinka, Temne, Mende, Wolof, or Fula)
- French language proficiency, enabling collaboration in multilingual West African contexts
- Knowledge of Gulf of Guinea security dynamics, including maritime security, narcotics trafficking, and the southward expansion of violent extremism from the Sahel into coastal states
- Experience working with regional organisations (ECOWAS, AU, Mano River Union) or multilateral institutions on peace and security programming in West Africa
- Published research or analytical outputs on conflict, governance, or human security in West Africa
- Nationality of an ECOWAS Member State
What We Offer
- A Key Expert consultancy on a prestigious, large-scale regional assessment
- The opportunity to contribute to technically rigorous research for a major regional organisation
- Collaboration with an experienced, multidisciplinary international research team
- Inclusion on Bodhi's consultant roster for future assignments
How to Apply
To apply, please submit:
- A project-based CV demonstrating relevant research experience, thematic expertise, and fieldwork in West Africa
- A brief cover letter (no more than one page) addressing your experience in conflict and human security research in anglophone West Africa and your availability from mid-2026
- An indication of your daily fee rate (USD)
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Early application is strongly encouraged, as we may close the vacancy before the deadline for exceptional candidates.
Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Bodhi is a women-owned enterprise committed to gender parity at all levels of the organisation. We particularly welcome applications from West African nationals and women researchers.
For more information about our organisation, please visit www.bodhiglobalanalysis.com.
Bodhi is committed to diversity in its workforce. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religious beliefs, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, socioeconomic background or disability.