Organizational Overview 

Afrobarometer (AB) is a pan-African, nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization that measures the political, economic, and social atmosphere in African countries. Guided by the vision of a world in which Africa’s development is anchored in the realities and aspirations of its people, AB provides high-quality data and analysis on citizens’ evaluations and experiences of democratic governance and quality of life. These outputs are provided as a public benefit and are freely available to policymakers, policy advocates, civil society organizations, academics, news media, donors and investors, and ordinary Africans. 

Launched in 1999 in 12 countries, Afrobarometer has now completed more than 400,000 interviews in survey rounds in up to 45 countries. Round 10 surveys were conducted in 38 countries between January 2024 and August 2025. AB primarily conducts face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice with nationally representative samples, although it is also experimenting with phone surveys. Effective analysis and communication of survey findings, as well as capacity building for survey research, analysis, and communications skills, are integral parts of Afrobarometer’s work.

Among Afrobarometer’s key achievements are proving that public attitudes research can be conducted even in fragile, post-conflict, and closed political environments in Africa; legitimating public opinion as a pillar of African democracy, governance and development decision-making; and building a network of researchers that has earned the reputation as the go-to source for reliable data on what Africans are thinking.

Afrobarometer’s institutional values are independence, excellence, collaboration, and commitment. Afrobarometer individual values are integrity, respect, responsiveness, cooperation, and fairness. Funders and other stakeholders are treated as partners in the advancement of Afrobarometer’s mission. Relationships, non-partisanship, trust, and accountability are at the core of our work. Afrobarometer staff and network members appreciate benefiting from colleagues’ creativity, diligence, and enterprise, and value the ability to work individually and as part of a team. The qualities of leadership, initiative, and excellence are nurtured and rewarded. In pursuance of these values, all staff are required to abide by the Afrobarometer Statement of Personal and Professional Standards of Conduct.

Role Overview 

AB is structured around five core teams that manage key functions, including: Surveys, Analysis, Communications, Capacity Building, and the AB Secretariat, which is responsible for overall project management.

Director of Analysis (DoA) leads the Analysis Unit (AU). Current authorized staff positions in the AU include: the Senior Analyst/Methodologist, the Head of Publications (HoP), a Senior Editor (currently vacant) and two Editors, a Research Analyst (currently vacant), the Data Quality Manager for post-fieldwork (DQM/PF), and two Data Quality Officers (currently vacant). The team also includes a number of Graduate Research Assistants and AB Interns, based at Michigan State University and other institutions.  In addition, AB Senior Advisors and consultants provide support to the team.

The core strategic outcomes for the AU are to identify key audiences and their needs for data and analysis, and to develop and lead production of tailored outputs to meet those needs. The unit pursues several key objectives:

• Increase the number and scope of AB analytical outputs that help the network to continue reaching new audiences, informing policy, and strengthening AB’s reputation as the most credible and reliable source of public attitude data on the continent;
• Expanding the pool of AB published authors;
• Ensuring that all AB publications meet high standards for quality and presentation;
• Continuously reviewing and contributing to strengthening AB methodologies from a data-analysis perspective;
• Ensure data outputs are high quality, well documented and archived, and made available to a wide array of users through appropriate channels.

The AU works closely with the Surveys Unit on questionnaire development and survey methods, with the Capacity Building team to both build analysis and publication skills and capacity throughout the network, and with the Communications Unit to maximize the visibility, utility, and impact of AB data. The DoA also plays a key role in network management as a member of the Afrobarometer Central Management Team (CMT).

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The main duties and responsibilities of the DoA fall into six key categories: 1) Contribute to strategic planning for AB and setting the overall direction and priorities for the AU; 2) Supervise and support reporting staff; 3) Contribute to the design and production of key AB products and outputs; 4) Mentor staff and junior authors; 5) Liaise with and contribute to the work of other teams as agreed with other Directors and/or the AB COO or CEO; 6) Contribute to the overall management of the AB network. Each of these responsibilities is outlined below.

• AU strategic planning, annual workplans and activities – In conjunction with senior staff of the AU and other functional teams and senior management, the DoA will contribute to the periodic development, review and revision/updating of the AB strategy, and ensure that AU annual workplans and activities and outputs will enable the team to achieve its strategic objectives.
• Supervise and support Analysis Unit staff – At present, three senior Analysis Unit staff report directly to the DoA: the Head of Publications, the Senior Analyst/Methodologist, and the Data Quality Manger/Post-Fieldwork. Each of these staff will in turn manage several junior or mid-level AB staff, as well as RAs and interns. The DoA will provide supervision and support for these senior AU staff to fulfil their job responsibilities, including:
• Overseeing development and monitoring of annual workplans for each staff member;
• Provision of guidance, support, and mentoring as needed to enable staff members to execute their roles effectively;
• Providing support to implementation of staff programs as needed, including by liaising with other teams or directors, raising issues for discussion/approval in CMT when necessary, seeking necessary staff and funding resources, and otherwise assisting staff with troubleshooting and problem solving;
• Addressing any performance concerns as they arise;
• Conducting annual performance reviews for each reporting staff member;

In addition, the DoA or his/her designee will run regular AU team meetings (usually weekly or bi-weekly). 

The DoA will also have secondary responsibility for managing and mentoring AU junior and mid-level staff, RAs and interns, and may work with any of these individuals directly on specific tasks or projects as necessary and agreed within the AU team.

The DoA will also have overall responsibility for coordinating the support provided to AU efforts by AB Senior Advisors and Consultants.

• Design and/or production of AB outputs – Every year AB produces a large number of diverse publications and analytical and communications outputs. Some of these, such as country Dispatches, are produced by AB’s National Partners (though they still pass through the AU for editing and finalization). But the AU also plays a direct role in designing, planning and/or producing many outputs, including: the AB Annual Report, Pan-African Profiles (PAPs), the Annual Flagship Report, weekly entries for The Continent, special reports commissioned or requested by donors, and other occasional special publications. Many authors and producers from across the network are engaged in planning and preparing these publications. While coordinating production from others, and mentoring others to produce these publications, are core responsibilities of the DoA and the other senior team members, the DoA will also in some cases play a direct role in production, especially of the Flagship Report, some PAPs, and special reports of various types.

The AU has also taken the lead in developing one or two new AB signature products each year. Past signature products have included various scorecards, new engagements with outlets such as The Continent, the Methods Note series, and others. The DoA will spearhead AU efforts to continue developing new signature products aimed at reaching new audiences and/or making AB findings more accessible to target audiences.

• Mentoring staff and junior authors – A core goal of the AU is to expand the pool of authors, with the goal that as many staff, RAs and interns, participants in AB capacity building activities, and others achieve the goal of publishing an AB dispatch, policy paper, working paper, or other output. This requires that many senior staff in AB mentor junior and mid-level analysts from both within and outside the network. The DoA will assist to coordinate some of these mentoring relationships, as well as taking on this responsibility directly on occasion.

This mentoring role also extends to coordinating occasional opportunities for AB authors and staff to present their work in appropriate settings such as professional or academic conferences. The DoA will thus collaborate with others (including CB team, Senior Advisors and Consultants, other Directors) to organize AB panels or other conference or event engagement that provide opportunities especially for junior or mid-level authors to make presentations and share their work with support from senior AB team members.

• Liaising with/contributing to work of other functional teams – AB prioritizes collaborative work across teams, and the DoA will take the lead in coordinating these collaborations. Types of collaboration may include (but are not limited to): 
• With Surveys Team: supporting questionnaire development, including master questionnaires (the DoA will serve as a member of the AB questionnaire committee), questionnaires for special surveys, and country-specific questions; contributing to the review and upgrading of AB methodologies for data collection, data management, and analysis;
• With Capacity Building Team: Contributing to needs assessment, planning CB activities and engagements, and/or coordinating participation of AU team members as course leaders/facilitators, guest lecturers, mentors, editors/advisors, or in other capacities as agreed;
• With Communications Team: Helping to identify outreach opportunities or approaches; coordinating participation of AU team members in outreach events, developing content for communications campaigns, etc.
• With Secretariat: Helping to identify funding opportunities, develop proposals and budgets, develop donor deliverables, participate in assessment missions, etc.
• Contributing to AB network management – The DoA will join all other AB directors as a key member of the CMT, participating in bi-weekly CMT meetings that coordinate day-to-day management of the network’s activities. In addition, the DoA will:
• Oversee preparation of quarterly and annual reports on Analysis Unit activities and outputs.
• Oversee AU contribution to the AB Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) programme, including by providing tracking and reporting for all activities of the Analysis Unit and/or of the SA/M.
• Contribute to development of new funding proposals as requested by the CEO and/or COO.
• Represent AB as requested in meetings with donors or stakeholders, at conferences, in classrooms, and in other venues as agreed.
• Other tasks as requested by the CEO, COO, or the CMT.  

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements 

• PhD in Political Science or a related discipline, and strong understanding of core issues related to democracy and governance in Africa.
• Extensive knowledge and direct field experience with survey research methodologies, especially in complex multinational, multicultural and multilingual environments.
• Advanced skills in data analysis methods and in use of core statistical analysis software such as SPSS R, Python, and/or Stata, especially as applied to survey research data.
• A solid publications record, preferably related to survey data and/or survey methods, and preferably including evidence of ability to produce analysis for a wide array audiences, including e.g., academics, policy makers, media, and popular audiences.
• Experience with people/staff management; demonstrated ability to successfully support and mentor others.
• Project management experience, including good time management and ability to manage multiple projects and tasks.
• Ability to work independently and remotely but also function effectively as a critical member of a dispersed team within a multi-cultural and multi-country context.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English; strong presentation skills.
• Flexibility and willingness to work on a wide range of tasks.
• Responsiveness and ability to operate with diplomacy, tact, and empathy and build rapport with management, colleagues, and reporting and junior staff.
• Available for significant international travel when required.

Desirable

• A demonstrated track-record in analyzing survey methods and metadata analysis.
• Experience with training and/or mentoring junior scholars, especially in survey methods and/or data analysis; demonstrated success with mentoring and/or co-authoring with others preferred.
• Experience with proposal writing/fundraising, and a general understanding of external and economic trends affecting the non-profit sector in which Afrobarometer works.
• French, Portuguese and/or Arabic language skills.
• African citizenship or heritage.

Salary

• Afrobarometer will offer a competitive salary based on the skills and experience of the successful candidate

How to Apply

The deadline for all applications is 28th November 2025.

PLEASE READ THE SELECTION CRITERIA CAREFULLY BEFORE APPLYING.

Please send your application to contact@afrobarometer.org Include your name and position title in the subject field of your email. Example: “Subject: [YOUR NAME] AB Director of Analysis”.  Documents to include: 

• An up-to-date curriculum vitae with contact details (your email, phone, postal, and WhatsApp Number) 
• A personal statement describing:
• your interest in the post and in working with Afrobarometer
• evidence of how your skills, experience, and knowledge meet the Selection Criteria. If you lack experience or evidence in any area listed, please state how you would gain the knowledge or competency needed to succeed in the role.
• your availability for the post (notice period in your current role) and preferred working location. 

Afrobarometer is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status. 

We are also proud of our commitment to protecting staff, partners, and other stakeholders from abuse and exploitation and thoroughly vet all final candidates through rigorous background and reference checks.