Chatham House Research Fellow Job 2026: Apply for £45,000 West Africa Research Role in London
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Chatham House – Research Fellow (West Africa) – Africa Programme – London, United Kingdom
Complete guide to eligibility, benefits, responsibilities, and application process
Quick Highlights
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Chatham House (Africa Programme) |
| Position | Research Fellow (West Africa) |
| Location | St James's Square, London (Hybrid) |
| Duration | Full-time, Permanent |
| Eligibility | Experienced policy researchers with significant West Africa research track record |
| Focus | Governance, politics, economy and trade, security (significant focus on Nigeria) |
| Salary | £45,000 per year |
| Benefits | ~37 days annual leave, pension, EAP, parental leave, flexible working |
| Application Deadline | Tuesday, 29 September 2026 at 23:59 BST |
| Official Website |
Opportunity Overview
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Host Organisation | Chatham House |
| Opportunity Category | Job / Research Fellow |
| Location | St James's Square, London, United Kingdom |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Official Language | English |
About the Role
Researchers with expertise in West Africa can apply for the Chatham House Research Fellow (West Africa) – Africa Programme position in London, United Kingdom. The full-time, permanent opportunity is aimed at experienced policy researchers with a strong background in West African affairs and the ability to produce high-quality research that informs policy and engages decision-makers.
The successful candidate will join the Chatham House Africa Programme, contributing to research and convening activities covering issues including governance, politics, economy and trade, and security, with significant work focused on Nigeria.
The position offers a salary of £45,000 per year and is based at St James's Square in London. The application deadline is Tuesday, 29 September 2026 at 23:59 BST.
About the Chatham House Research Fellow Position
The Research Fellow will become part of the Chatham House Africa Programme, which conducts policy research on issues affecting African states and their regional and international relationships. The role provides an opportunity for a researcher specialising in West Africa to contribute to a range of thematic research areas while potentially expanding their regional coverage over time.
The successful candidate will work on research projects designed to support the strategic goals of the Africa Programme and Chatham House. They will also contribute to stakeholder engagement, research events and innovative projects intended to strengthen understanding of developments across the region.
The position is particularly relevant to researchers with established knowledge of West African political, economic and security issues and experience translating research into policy-relevant outputs.
Key Responsibilities
The Research Fellow will contribute to the development and delivery of research and convening activities focused on West Africa.
| Responsibility | Description |
|---|---|
| Research Projects | Designing and delivering research projects aligned with the strategic priorities of the Africa Programme and Chatham House |
| Policy Research | Conducting policy research on West Africa |
| High-Quality Research | Producing high-quality research that is relevant to policymakers and other stakeholders |
| Thematic Research | Researching issues across politics and governance, economy and trade, and security |
| Nigeria Focus | Contributing to significant research work focused on Nigeria |
| Research Events | Designing and supporting research events and conferences |
| Diverse Voices | Helping create events that incorporate diverse voices, expertise and perspectives |
| Stakeholder Engagement | Engaging with stakeholders as part of research and convening activities |
The role combines independent research with collaboration, stakeholder engagement and event-related responsibilities.
Who Can Apply?
Chatham House is seeking an experienced researcher with a significant track record of policy research on West Africa. Applicants should be able to demonstrate experience developing successful research proposals and producing policy-relevant publications.
Eligibility Requirements
| Criteria | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Policy Research | Significant experience conducting policy research on West Africa |
| Regional Knowledge | Strong knowledge of regional political, governance, economic, trade or security issues |
| Research Proposals | Experience developing research proposals |
| Analytical Skills | Exceptional analytical skills |
| Communication | Excellent written and verbal communication abilities |
| Publications | A strong record of producing policy-relevant publications |
| Research Impact | Evidence that their research has achieved demonstrable impact |
| Organisational Skills | Strong organisational and project-management abilities |
| Priority Management | The ability to manage multiple priorities effectively |
| Deadlines | A proven ability to deliver high-quality work within deadlines |
Candidates should also be comfortable working across different thematic issues and contributing to collaborative research and convening activities.
Research Focus: West Africa and Nigeria
The position covers a broad range of issues affecting West Africa. The successful Research Fellow will contribute to work spanning governance, economy and trade, and security. Nigeria is expected to be a significant area of focus within the role.
This broad remit means the position may be relevant to researchers whose expertise crosses multiple areas rather than being limited to a single policy field. Chatham House also indicates that there is scope for the successful researcher to expand their regional coverage over time.
The Research Fellow will contribute to research intended to provide useful analysis for decision-makers and other stakeholders interested in developments across the region.
Salary, Contract and Location
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Salary | £45,000 per year |
| Contract | Full-time, permanent |
| Location | St James's Square, London |
| Working Arrangement | Hybrid |
| On-site Requirement | At least two days per week, with additional flexibility around event requirements |
| Annual Leave | Approximately 37 days, including public holidays and Chatham House closure days |
| Other Benefits | Pension salary exchange, employee assistance programme, parental leave, flexible working arrangements |
Benefits of Working at Chatham House
The Research Fellow will work within an environment focused on independent policy research and international engagement. Chatham House describes its working environment as professional, engaging and intellectually stimulating.
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| International Relevance | Contribute to research with international relevance |
| Stakeholder Engagement | Engage with researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders |
| Inclusive Employer | Equal opportunity employer that values diversity |
| Professional Environment | Professional, engaging and intellectually stimulating workplace |
| Career Growth | Opportunities to expand regional coverage over time |
Essential Skills and Competencies
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
| Policy Research | Significant experience conducting policy research on West Africa |
| Regional Expertise | Strong knowledge of West African political, economic and security issues |
| Proposal Development | Experience developing successful research proposals |
| Analytical Thinking | Exceptional analytical skills |
| Communication | Excellent written and verbal communication abilities |
| Publications | Strong record of policy-relevant publications |
| Impact | Evidence of demonstrable research impact |
| Project Management | Strong organisational and project-management abilities |
| Collaboration | Comfortable working across thematic issues and in collaborative settings |
Application Process
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Visit the official Chatham House careers page |
| 2 | Review the full Research Fellow job description |
| 3 | Prepare your application demonstrating West Africa-focused policy research |
| 4 | Highlight proposal development, analytical work and policy-relevant publications |
| 5 | Demonstrate evidence of research impact and ability to manage multiple priorities |
| 6 | Submit before Tuesday, 29 September 2026 at 23:59 BST |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Published Date | 18 September 2026 |
| Application Deadline | Tuesday, 29 September 2026 at 23:59 BST |
| Start Date | As per recruitment timeline |
Important Links
| Description | URL |
|---|---|
| Official Application Page | |
| Chatham House Official Website | |
| CareerFlora |
Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Q1. What is the position? | Research Fellow (West Africa) – Africa Programme at Chatham House. |
| Q2. Where is it located? | St James's Square, London, United Kingdom (Hybrid). |
| Q3. Who can apply? | Experienced policy researchers with significant West Africa research track record. |
| Q4. Is it paid? | Yes, £45,000 per year. |
| Q5. What are the benefits? | ~37 days annual leave, pension, EAP, parental leave, flexible working. |
| Q6. What are the responsibilities? | Research projects, policy research, events, stakeholder engagement. |
| Q7. Is work authorization provided? | Per Chatham House requirements (check official job description). |
| Q8. What is the deadline? | Tuesday, 29 September 2026 at 23:59 BST. |
| Q9. How to apply? | Online through the official Chatham House careers page. |
| Q10. When does the role start? | As per recruitment timeline. |
CareerFlora Expert Insight
The Chatham House Research Fellow (West Africa) Job 2026 offers a unique opportunity for experienced policy researchers to contribute to one of the world's leading think tanks. The role's emphasis on West Africa-focused policy research, stakeholder engagement, and high-quality publications provides candidates with meaningful experience that can shape their careers in international affairs and policy research.
The position's location in London, combined with Chatham House's global reputation, ensures that the successful candidate receives high-quality exposure to groundbreaking research and international policy engagement.
Best Opportunity For
| Category | Suitable |
|---|---|
| Policy Researchers | Yes |
| West Africa Specialists | Yes |
| International Affairs Professionals | Yes |
| Think Tank Researchers | Yes |
| Political Economy Researchers | Yes |
| Governance & Security Experts | Yes |
| Nigeria-Focused Researchers | Yes |
Competition Level
| Category | Level |
|---|---|
| Overall Competition | High |
| Selection Difficulty | Competitive |
| Application Complexity | Medium |
CareerFlora Recommendation
| Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Job Value | Excellent |
| Career Growth | Very High |
| Application Difficulty | Medium |
| Apply Early | Strongly Recommended |
Final Call-to-Action
Apply for Chatham House Research Fellow Job 2026 before Tuesday, 29 September 2026 at 23:59 BST.
Visit the official application page: https://careers.chathamhouse.org/pages/research-fellow-west-africa-africa-programme-efe93ed2-fc42-45c9-938e-a0b9a7005419
Review eligibility requirements
Prepare your application demonstrating West Africa-focused policy research
Submit before Tuesday, 29 September 2026 at 23:59 BST
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