Japan Researcher – Remote At Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project

The project:
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 protest around the world.

The role:
ACLED is recruiting a Japan Researcher to assist in the collection, review and management of political violence and protest data across Japan. Researchers must be available for at least 25 hours per week. This position is fully remote and can be done from any location with reliable internet service. This is a contractor position.

Collection of data is conducted by reviewing news, international organization, NGO and security reports on a list of assigned 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 involves 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 responsibility:
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 July 2021 to June 2022. After this, continuation may be possible, pending performance and availability of funding.

Remuneration:
Remuneration is 16 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 and Japanese (essential);
• Research focus or professional experience in analyzing political and social movements in Japan (essential);
• Familiarity with key actors in the political and social scene in Japan (essential);
• 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;
• Skills to produce quantitative and qualitative analytical pieces and visualization of data (preferred);
• Access to a computer, a reliable internet connection, email, and the Microsoft Office Suite.