Project Director, Central Africa

Role:  

Reporting to the Africa Program Director the Project Director will lead a team of analysts and support staff to produce succinct, well-researched, analytical, and timely reports and briefing papers addressing conflict prevention and resolution issues in Central Africa (Chad, Central African Republic and Cameroon). The Project Director will explain and advocate Crisis Group analysis and recommendations to national and foreign governments, warring parties, non-governmental organisations, international organisations, and the media. The successful candidate will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Responsibilities:

• Supervise and lead a small team ensuring that their performance is effective and efficient, and occurs in a collaborative, and positive context;

• Make sure that the security risks of staff are reduced to a minimum by establishing and maintaining relevant security protocols and make sure that the protocols are observed and staff and consultants receive proper briefings on Crisis Group’s Security Framework;

• Conduct, coordinate and supervise the analysis and field-based research necessary to produce high-quality reports and briefings on crisis situations over the course of the year and that these are produced within mutually agreed timelines;

• Give guidance, oversee, edit and prepare detailed reports, briefing papers and derivative products (op eds, blogs, short notes) setting out relevant research findings and policy recommendations in concise and clear fashion with input from relevant internal stakeholders;

• Work closely with representatives of governments and international and local organisations in gathering information, seeking input and feedback, and supporting the distribution of Crisis Group’s publications;

• Maintain and extend the advocacy program in and on (countries in) the region, optimising advocacy efforts linked to the publication of the reports and other materials, with the objective of promoting the adoption of Crisis Group’s policy recommendations by concerned actors;

• Support fundraising efforts with selected government and private donors through meetings and other outreach, with the assistance of the development team including donor relation management.

Requirements:

• Master’s degree in international relations, political science, law, journalism, sociology or equivalent through experience;

• 7+ years professional experience in conflict analysis, journalism, NGO, international organisations or government work related to the region with field experience in the region;

• Good knowledge of regional politics, conflicts and societies, and extensive contacts with governmental and non-governmental officials, the media, and local and international civil-society organisations working in the region;

• Expertise covering governance issues, security-sector reform and institution-building;

• Excellent writing and analytical skills, and ability to formulate well-targeted policy recommendations;

• Excellent editing skills;

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including public presentation skills; 

• Experience communicating with the public through speaking, writing and social media;

• Strong management skills including experience supervising staff members who work around the world.

• Fluency in English and French (oral and written) required; knowledge of one of the languages in the region preferred.

If interested, please submit your application by 16 September 2026.