Research Associate – Mentorship Track

Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime

Observatory Research Associate role focusing on policy-relevant research regarding organized crime and illicit economies in West Africa. Providing mentorship and gaining experience within an international research network.

Posted 7/8/2026contractRemote • 🇨🇭 SwitzerlandJuniorMid-LevelWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Draft short pieces for publication, and contribute to longer analytical pieces.
Support the West Africa Observatory with secondary data collection and analysis including literature reviews.
Conduct OSINT on identified leads or thematic priorities, including through the use of AI tools, monitor social media accounts, and assessing vessel movements and corporate registry structures.
Compile datasets, analyse trends and correlations, develop write-ups of findings.
Participate in and contribute to team meetings, methodological development discussions and, where feasible, interviews and external-facing meetings.

Requirements

What you’ll need

Undergraduate degree in a relevant subject (international relations, conflict, security, economics or similar).
Ongoing or completed masters or PhD in a subject relevant to organized crime and/or conflict.
Demonstrated research experience on organized crime, illicit economies, conflict, governance or security issues, preferably with a focus on West Africa, and applying political economy approaches.
Proficiency in French and English.
Strong excel skills and proven experience building and analysing quantitative datasets.
Experience in applying OSINT methodologies and tools as part of research (including social media analysis, corporate structure tracking and vessel tracking).
Proficiency using AI tools in research and analysis.

Benefits

Comp & perks

Direct mentorship from senior GI-TOC researchers and practitioners.
Experience contributing to research with real-world policy implications focussing on illicit economies and their intersections with conflict and instability, organized crime actors and modus operandi, and West Africa’s evolving cocaine and synthetic drug markets.
Exposure to advanced OSINT and analytical methodologies.
Opportunities to contribute to published outputs focussing on illicit economies, conflict, and criminal networks in West Africa.
Experience working within an international research network.
Professional development and networking opportunities across the GI-TOC community.
Participation in in-person meetings and networking opportunities where practicable.

ATS Keywords

✓ Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

Data CollectionData AnalysisLiterature ReviewQuantitative Dataset AnalysisTrend AnalysisVessel TrackingCorporate Structure TrackingPolitical Economy Approaches

Soft Skills

Team CollaborationCommunication Skills