Research Assistant at Global Peace Development (4 Openings)

Global Peace Development (GPD) is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) founded in April 2002 and focuses on promoting peace for development in Nigeria. The organization envisions a country where peace and development is enjoyed by all. GPD seeks to build peace, gender equality, social justice, and foster democracy and governance at the community, local, state, and national levels.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Research Assistant 

Locations: Benue, Kaduna, Katsina and Plateau
Employment Type: Contract

Background

• The recurring conflict between farmers and herders in Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, and Katsina States has resulted in protracted violence, displacement, poverty, and food insecurity.
• The root causes include economic, political, social, cultural, religious, and environmental grievances, unhealed trauma, proliferation of small arms, climate change impacts, and weak governance structures.
• According to the Global Report on Internal Displacement (2023), 3,646,000 Nigerians are displaced, with violence between farmers and herders claiming more lives than the Boko Haram insurgency (International Crisis Group, 2021). The NBS Multidimensional Poverty Index (2022) shows poverty rates in Benue (75%), Plateau (62.4%), Kaduna (73.9%), and Katsina (72.7%) that is exacerbated by farmer-herder conflicts, desertification, and identity-based violence.
• To abate the protracted issues in the states, Global Peace Development (GPD), is implementing the project Promoting Agropastoralism Reconciliation, and Resilience for Sustainable Livelihood and Peace in Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, and Katsina, States (PARSULP) with funding support from SPRiNG aimed at fostering reconciliation, resilience, and sustainable livelihoods through agropastoral and agroforestry initiatives, climate-smart agriculture, and sustained dialogue platforms.
• The Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) will serve as a foundational activity to engage communities, map conflicts, identify resource-use patterns, and co-create Community Peace and Resilience Plans across the 4 states.

Purpose of the Assignment
GPD seeks to engage qualified Research Assistants to support Lead Consultants in conducting the project’s PRA in (Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Katsina) that will:

• Support in mapping communities and documenting conflict drivers and dynamics utilizing PRA Tools
• Assist in identifying stakeholders, peace actors, and local mechanisms.
• Facilitate inclusive consultations with farmers, herders, traditional leaders, women, men, youth, and security actors.
• Collect and organize baseline data on agropastoral and agroforestry practices, resilience mechanisms, and livelihood opportunities.

Specific Assignment of the Research Assistant:

• Conduct desk reviews of relevant reports, policies, and data.
• Assist with stakeholder consultations (farmers, herders, leaders, CSOs, security agencies).
• Support the application of PRA tools (resource mapping, seasonal calendars, focus group discussions, social mapping, preference ranking, transect walks, community profiling, triangulation, conflict analysis).
• Document early warning signs, coping mechanisms, and entry points for dialogue.
• Contribute to the development of state PRA reports and Community Peace and Resilience Plans.

Expected Deliverables:
Each Research Assistant will provide:

• Field notes and documentation of PRA activities.
• Transcripts and records of focus group discussions and consultations.
• Contributions to draft state PRA reports

Duration of Assignment:

• The assignment will be conducted over 10 working days per state, including fieldwork, data analysis, and reporting.

Reporting and Supervision:

• The Research Assistant will work closely with the Lead Consultant and GPD project team.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Peace Studies, Conflict Resolution, Social Sciences, Agriculture, or related fields (Master’s Degree an advantage).
• Minimum of 2–5 years’ experience in field research, community-based programming, or peacebuilding.
• Experience with participatory approaches or PRA tools in conflict-affected areas.
• Familiarity with farmer-herder dynamics, agropastoralism, and local governance structures.
• Strong note-taking, documentation, and communication skills.
• Fluency in English and relevant local languages of the state of assignment is required.

Payment Terms

• Research Assistants will receive a lump-sum fee based on level of effort.
• 30% payment will be made on signing of contract
• Final Payment will be made upon completion and submission of assigned deliverables.
• Payments will be subject to withholding tax (WHT) in line with Federal Government of Nigeria law.

Application Closing Date
13th September, 2025.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send a Cover letter indicating relevant experience and preferred state of assignment, Updated CV, and Sample of previous research or field report to: Procurement@globalpeacedev.org using the Job Title as the subject of the mail.