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Volunteer Researcher (Study of Non-State Actors)

Position: Volunteer Researcher (Study of Non-State Actors)

Location: Remote

Commitment: 3–5 hours per week (flexible hours)


Requirements

– Graduate degree in (or current graduate student of) international relations, peace and conflict studies, terrorism studies, political science, journalism, sociology, or a related field.

– Proficiency in a non-English language preferred. Please specify language(s) and proficiency level in your application.

– Good command of the English language. Writing sample required with application.

– Must be organized and responsible, including punctuality, attendance at scheduled meetings, and reliable follow-through on assigned tasks.


About the Organization

The Global Consortium of Political Analysts (GCPA) advances informed policymaking and promotes critical civic literacy through rigorous, collaborative, and culturally sensitive research on pressing political, security, and humanitarian challenges. By pairing local, in-country experts with internationally recognized specialists, GCPA produces nuanced, evidence-based insights that empower policymakers and enrich civic participation. Our commitment to analytical integrity and cultural sensitivity guides our multidisciplinary teams in collecting and interpreting primary-source data across diverse languages, fostering inclusive dialogue and data-driven approaches to advance cooperation, resilient societies, and responsible governance.


We strive to help shape a world where policy is driven by integrity, inclusivity, and culturally grounded analysis, enabling societies everywhere to make informed, constructive decisions and build resilient, thriving democracies.


Position Summary

We are seeking Volunteer Researchers to support ongoing research on non-state actors, leadership, and legitimacy. This role involves gathering, reviewing, and organizing information from credible sources in foreign languages, including speeches, interviews, press releases, government documents, and social media. It also includes compiling accurate, timely research to support GCPA’s reports, briefings, and analyses.


We particularly encourage applications from candidates based in or with expertise in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, and the Pacific.


Key Responsibilities

  1. Conduct research on non-state armed actors, leaders, and legitimacy, focusing on their stated opinions, policies, and positions on key issues, with emphasis on non-English language sources.

  2. Monitor credible media outlets, government statements, and social media platforms for relevant developments and updates.

  3. Organize and catalog research findings in GCPA’s shared research database in a timely and systematic manner.

  4. Draft research summaries, annotated source lists, and briefing materials for internal and external audiences.

  5. Support the research team in verifying the accuracy, credibility, and reliability of sources, particularly those in a foreign language.

  6. Attend periodic team meetings and check-ins with assigned project leads (schedule accommodates global time zones).

Qualifications


Required

– Graduate degree in (or current graduate student of) international relations, peace and conflict studies, terrorism studies, political science, journalism, sociology, or a related field.

– Strong research, analytical, and writing skills in English.

– Ability to identify credible primary and secondary sources and synthesize information clearly and concisely.

– Self-motivated, organized, and able to meet agreed-upon deadlines with minimal supervision.

– Writing sample (approximately 500–1,500 words) required; academic or professional writing on a relevant topic preferred.


Preferred

– Intermediate, Advanced, or Native proficiency in at least one foreign language; proficiency in languages relevant to regions of active conflict or political transition is especially valued. Please specify language(s) and level in your application.

– Familiarity with open-source intelligence (OSINT) methods and tools.

– Prior experience with political research, journalism, policy analysis, or conflict monitoring.

– Knowledge of conflict datasets or databases (e.g., UCDP, ACLED, GTD).

– Regional expertise in areas of active insurgency or political instability.


Benefits

– Gain hands-on experience in political research, conflict analysis, and global affairs.

– Opportunity to contribute to publications and analyses used by policymakers, academics, and journalists.

– Work alongside an international network of researchers, area specialists, and policy analysts.

– Receive a professional letter of reference upon successful completion of the volunteer term.

– Access to GCPA’s research resources, working papers, and internal briefings.


How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit the following materials directly on the company website. We will not respond to those who fail to include any of these documents. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

– Current CV or résumé

– Brief cover letter (no more than one page) describing your regional expertise, language proficiency, and interest/motivation in GCPA.

– Writing sample (500–1,500 words) on a relevant political, security, or humanitarian topic. We have a strict policy on the use of AI, and do NOT tolerate AI-written papers.

Volunteer Data Scientist (US Citizenship Required)

Volunteer Data Scientist


Location: Remote

Commitment: 3–5 hours per week (flexible hours)

Citizenship Requirement: US Citizenship Required


About GCPA

The Global Consortium of Political Analysts (GCPA) advances informed policymaking and promotes critical civic literacy through rigorous, collaborative, and culturally sensitive research on pressing political, security, and humanitarian challenges. By pairing local, in-country experts with internationally recognized specialists, GCPA produces nuanced, evidence-based insights that empower policymakers and enrich civic participation.


Our commitment to analytical integrity and cultural sensitivity guides our multidisciplinary teams in collecting and interpreting primary-source data across diverse languages, fostering inclusive dialogue and data-driven approaches to advance cooperation, resilient societies, and responsible governance. We strive to help shape a world where policy is driven by integrity, inclusivity, and culturally grounded analysis, enabling societies everywhere to make informed, constructive decisions and build resilient, thriving democracies.


Position Summary

GCPA is seeking a Volunteer Data Scientist to support our research mission by developing dashboards, visualizations, and data pipelines that help our analysts and policymakers understand complex political, security, and humanitarian data. The ideal candidate brings strong technical skills in data visualization and analytics, and an interest in, or academic background in, international relations and global affairs.


This is a meaningful opportunity to apply your data science skills to real-world policy challenges and contribute to research that reaches policymakers and academics worldwide.


Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain interactive dashboards and data visualizations using Tableau and/or Power BI to support ongoing research projects.

• Collect, clean, and structure datasets from public sources including government databases, international organizations (UN, World Bank, ACLED), and open-source repositories.

• Build and maintain data pipelines and workflows to support recurring reporting needs.

• Collaborate with research analysts to translate complex political and humanitarian data into accessible, compelling visual narratives.

• Assist in the development of quantitative and mixed-methods analyses supporting GCPA publications and briefings.

• Document data sources, methodologies, and processes to maintain analytical transparency and reproducibility.

• Participate in team meetings and contribute to a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment.


Required Qualifications

• US citizenship

• Undergraduate degree; Master’s degree or doctoral candidate preferred

• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to meet deadlines with minimal supervision.

• Self-motivated and reliable. Punctual attendance at team meetings and consistent follow-through on commitments.

• Proficiency in Tableau and/or Power BI, including the ability to build publication-quality dashboards from raw data.

• Experience with data wrangling and analysis using Python, R, or SQL.

• Demonstrated ability to communicate data findings clearly to non-technical audiences.


Preferred Qualifications

• Academic background or professional experience in international relations, political science, security studies, humanitarian affairs, or a related field.

• Familiarity with geospatial data tools (e.g., QGIS, ArcGIS, Kepler.gl) or mapping visualizations.

• Experience working with datasets from international organizations (ACLED, UNHCR, World Bank, GDELT, etc.).

• Exposure to natural language processing (NLP) or text analysis applied to news, policy, or social media data.

• Proficiency in a non-English language is a strong asset.

• Graduate degree or enrollment in a graduate program in data science, statistics, political science, international affairs, or a related discipline.


Requirements

• Availability for 3–5 hours per week on a flexible schedule.

• Ability to attend regular team check-ins (virtual).

• Organized, responsible, and consistent in meeting agreed deadlines.

• Access to a computer with necessary software (GCPA can assist with free/open-source tools where possible).


Benefits

• Hands-on experience applying data science to international policy and humanitarian research.

• Opportunity to contribute to publications and briefings used by policymakers and academics.

• Access to an international network of analysts, researchers, and subject matter experts.

• Professional reference letter upon successful completion of the volunteer term.

• Portfolio-building experience with real-world policy datasets and research deliverables.

• Collaborative, mission-driven environment that values analytical integrity and inclusivity.

Research Assistant (Masters Required)

Location: Remote

Commitment: 3–5 hours per week (flexible hours);

Requirement:

  1. Graduate degree in (or graduate student of) international relations, political science, journalism, sociology, or related subjects.

  2. Must be proficient in a non-English language.

  3. Writing Sample required.

  4. Must be organized and responsible (e.g., on time, attend meetings, etc.)

About the Organization

The Global Consortium of Political Analysts (GCPA) advances informed policymaking and promotes critical civic literacy through rigorous, collaborative, and culturally sensitive research on pressing political, security, and humanitarian challenges. By pairing local, in-country experts with internationally recognized specialists, GCPA produces nuanced, evidence-based insights that empower policymakers and enrich civic participation. Our commitment to analytical integrity and cultural sensitivity guides our multidisciplinary teams in collecting and interpreting primary-source data across diverse languages, fostering inclusive dialogue and data-driven approaches to advance cooperation, resilient societies, and responsible governance.


We strive to help shape a world where policy is driven by integrity, inclusivity, and culturally grounded analysis, enabling societies everywhere to make informed, constructive decisions and build resilient, thriving democracies.


Position Summary

We are seeking Volunteer Research Assistants to assist with ongoing research into world leaders and their publicly stated positions on a range of political, humanitarian, security, and social concerns. This role will involve gathering, reviewing, and organizing information from credible sources in foreign languages, including speeches, interviews, press releases, and social media accounts. The successful candidate will help compile accurate, timely research to support GCPA’s reports, briefings, and analyses.

We particularly encourage applications across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, and the Pacific to apply.

Key Responsibilities

  • Conduct research on world leaders, focusing on their opinions, policies, and positions on key issues, utilizing non-English language sources.

  • Monitor credible media, government statements, and social media platforms for relevant updates.

  • Organize and catalog findings in GCPA’s research database.

  • Assist in drafting short research summaries and briefing materials.

  • Support the research team in verifying the accuracy and reliability of information sources, particularly those in a foreign language.

Qualifications

  • Graduate degree in (or graduate student of) international relations, political science, journalism, sociology, or related subjects.

  • Intermediate, Advanced, or Native proficiency in a foreign language is required to access and analyze primary source materials. Please specify language proficiency in your application.

  • Strong research, analytical, and writing skills.

  • Ability to identify credible sources and synthesize information clearly.

  • Interest in global politics, diplomacy, and humanitarian issues.

  • Self-motivated, organized, and able to meet deadlines with minimal supervision.

Benefits

  • Gain hands-on experience in political research and global affairs.

  • Opportunity to contribute to publications and analysis used by policymakers and academics.

  • Work with an international network of researchers and analysts.

  • Receive a professional reference upon successful completion of the internshi

Volunteer Marketing & Campaign Lead

Location: Remote (Global)


Commitment
: 5–8 hours per week



Position Summary

Are you a marketing professional looking to leverage your skills for global impact? The Global Consortium of Political Analysts (GCPA) is seeking a dedicated Volunteer Marketing & Campaign Lead to drive our strategic marketing efforts. This pivotal role will be responsible for developing, launching, and evaluating the success of diverse campaigns that promote our global political analysis work, drive crucial fundraising initiatives, and recruit key contributors—from expert academic researchers to essential research assistants. You will be instrumental in expanding our reach and amplifying the influence of our experts on the global stage.


Key Responsibilities

  • Campaign Strategy & Development: Design and outline comprehensive marketing plans for various objectives, including promoting GCPA's research, soliciting donations, and contributor recruitment.

  • Launch & Execution: Oversee the successful launch and execution of all marketing campaigns across relevant digital and traditional channels.

  • Content Collaboration: Work closely with the GCPA leadership and communications team to ensure campaign messaging is accurate, compelling, and aligned with our organizational mission.

  • Performance Evaluation: Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and utilize analytical tools to monitor campaign progress, evaluate success, and provide clear recommendations for future improvements.

  • Brand Awareness: Contribute to general brand awareness initiatives, positioning GCPA as a leading source for objective, high-quality political analysis.


Qualifications

  • Proven Marketing Experience: 2+ years of professional experience in marketing, digital marketing, or campaign management (volunteer experience welcome).

  • Strategic Mindset: Ability to think strategically about marketing objectives and translate them into actionable plans.

  • Project Management Skills: Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines efficiently.

  • Data-Driven Approach: Comfort using analytics to measure campaign performance and inform strategy adjustments.

  • Commitment to Mission: A passion for the GCPA's mission and the integrity of global political analysis.

  • Self-Motivated: Ability to work effectively and independently in a remote, self-directed environment.

Benefits of Volunteering with GCPA

This is an opportunity to make a tangible difference and gain invaluable experience:

  • Global Networking. Work directly with a Global Consortium of Political Experts, academics, and thought leaders from around the world.

  • Significant Impact. Directly contribute to campaigns that fund critical research, influence global policy discussions, and expand public understanding of complex political issues.

  • Portfolio Building. Gain concrete, measurable results for your professional portfolio through developing and evaluating successful campaigns with a global scope.

  • Flexibility. Enjoy the flexibility of a remote position with a manageable time commitment that fits your schedule (5–8 hours/week).

  • Mission Alignment. Align your professional skills with a not-for-profit dedicated to integrity, objectivity, and impact.

Join the Research Team (Experts) Roster

Calling Thought Leaders


Location: Remote and Global

Qualifications: PhD or PhD Candidates


The Global Consortium of Political Analysts (GCPA) advances informed policymaking and promotes critical civic literacy through rigorous, collaborative, and culturally sensitive research on pressing political, security, and humanitarian challenges. By pairing local, in-country experts with internationally recognized specialists, GCPA produces nuanced, evidence-based insights that empower policymakers and enrich civic participation. Our commitment to analytical integrity and cultural sensitivity guides our multidisciplinary teams in collecting and interpreting primary-source data across diverse languages, fostering inclusive dialogue and data-driven approaches to advance cooperation, resilient societies, and responsible governance.


Join the team and further extend the impact of your research!


By joining the roster at GCPA, you will receive updates on research funding that is tailored to your area of interest. With the assistance of GCPA and in collaboration with other experts on the roster, we work together to promote your contributions to your field and global impact.


Submit your application in just two minutes!

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