Researcher (Conventional Weapons Programme)

• 26 octobre 2026
• 100%
• Durée indéterminée
• Geneva

Das United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) ist eine autonome Institution, die sich auf Abrüstung konzentriert. Diese Stelle bietet eine einzigartige Gelegenheit, zu Frieden und Sicherheit beizutragen.

Aufgaben ##

• Unterstützung nationaler Partner bei der Umsetzung integrierter Ansätze.
• Vorbereitung und Leitung von Workshops und regionalen Dialogen in Westafrika.
• Koordinierung von Forschungsarbeiten in Zentralafrika zur Prävention bewaffneter Gewalt.

Kompetenzen ##

• Erforderlich ist ein Hochschulabschluss in internationalen Beziehungen oder einem verwandten Bereich.
• Exzellente Beherrschung der englischen und französischen Sprache in Wort und Schrift.
• Erfahrung in der Moderation von Multi-Stakeholder-Dialogen und in der Sicherheitsforschung.

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) is a voluntarily funded, autonomous institution within the United Nations. One of the few policy institutes worldwide focusing on disarmament, UNIDIR generates knowledge and promotes dialogue and action on disarmament and security. Based in Geneva, UNIDIR assists the international community to develop the practical, innovative ideas needed to find solutions to critical security problems.

UNIDIR-s Conventional Weapons Programme develops ideas and actions to prevent or mitigate the negative impacts of the unregulated proliferation and misuse of conventional arms and ammunition. Through this work, it lays the foundations for peace, security and sustainable development. The programme undertakes action-oriented field research and convenes multi-stakeholder dialogues to provide advisory support and practical tools for addressing the uncontrolled proliferation and misuse of conventional arms and ammunition.

The selected Researcher will play a key role in supporting the programme-s work on armed violence prevention and weapons and ammunition management (WAM) in West and Central Africa, as part of the -Lomé Initiative-, which aims to strengthen armed violence prevention in the region. S/he will work in close cooperation with the initiative-s other implementing partners, the UN Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa and the Government of Switzerland. Over two years, the initiative will support national partners in advancing integrated approaches to armed violence prevention and WAM; develop a training module on integrated approaches; foster regional dialogue in West Africa; initiate a process on integrated approaches in Central Africa; and engage in policy processes.

Responsibilities

Within the Conventional Weapons Programme and under the supervision of the Head of Programme, the Researcher will be responsible for the following duties:

Lead support to national partners in operationalizing integrated approaches to armed violence prevention and WAM in West Africa:

• Substantively prepare and facilitate kick-off, concluding and substantive workshops in up to four partner countries in West Africa on strategic entry points for implementing integrated approaches, including by providing request-based technical advice in close cooperation with partner countries.
• Establish and maintain a network of local, national and regional WAM and prevention stakeholders in partner countries.
• Substantively prepare and facilitate one roundtable to disseminate relevant research products on WAM and armed violence prevention in up to three additional countries in West Africa.
• Draw up concise and analytical summaries of facilitated workshops and review input papers.

Support the work of an expert group on integrated approaches to armed violence prevention and WAM:

• Support the substantive preparations of an expert group, composed of West and Central African stakeholders and tasked with developing a training curriculum on integrated approaches.
• Provide technical inputs to the expert group and attend virtual and in-person workshops.
• Review the developed training curriculum.
• Draft a concise internal lessons-learned report on the training curriculum development process.

Support regional dialogue in West Africa on integrated approaches to armed violence prevention and WAM:

• Contribute substantively to the preparation and facilitation of a regional dialogue in West Africa and deliver expert presentations.
• Support effective communication with participants, as necessary.

Coordinate research and dialogue in Central Africa on integrated approaches to armed violence prevention and WAM:

• Coordinate and provide technical advice on integrated approaches to national data collectors in Central African countries, and supervise the data collection process.
• Support the substantive preparation and lead the conduct of research missions to up to four Central African countries, including by conducting semi-structured interviews with a range of stakeholders and supporting communication with relevant stakeholders.
• Review internal background notes prepared by national data collectors and ensure quality assurance, together with other UNIDIR experts.
• Review and provide technical inputs to input papers.
• Support the substantive preparation and facilitation of a regional dialogue in Central Africa and deliver expert presentations, as necessary.
• Support engagement outreach with key regional and national stakeholders in Central Africa, as necessary, to inform about the research activities and seek political support.

Engage in policy outreach and dissemination of research findings on integrated approaches to armed violence prevention and WAM:

• Participate in and deliver expert presentations in policy engagement events at regional, continental and international levels, as requested.

Schedule of the proposed work

A workplan for the duration of the contract will be established within the first two weeks of the contract. The Researcher will have regular communication with the Head of Programme, in order to set assignmen