The Policy & Monitoring Analyst Programme is inviting applications for its first cohort of CIW Analysts, offering students, recent graduates and early-career professionals an opportunity to gain practical experience in policy analysis, monitoring and climate security.
The programme is designed for emerging researchers who want to build hands-on experience while contributing to real-world policy and monitoring work. It is fully remote and flexible, allowing participants from different parts of the world to take part without relocating.
With climate-related risks increasingly connected to geopolitical tensions, information integrity, resource conflicts and international security, the programme provides an opportunity for early-career professionals to explore the intersection between climate change and security.
Applications for the first cohort close on 6 October 2026.
The Policy & Monitoring Analyst Programme is designed to provide practical exposure to research and analysis at the intersection of policy, monitoring and climate security.
Rather than focusing exclusively on academic theory, the programme is intended to help participants develop practical research experience and build a portfolio that demonstrates their ability to analyse policy and security developments.
The flexible remote structure also makes the programme relevant to students and early-career professionals who are balancing their professional development with university studies, employment or other commitments.
Who Should Apply?
The programme is particularly suited to students, recent graduates and early-career practitioners who have a strong interest in policy research, international affairs and security.
Applicants may come from academic or professional backgrounds related to:
- Geopolitics
- Climate security
- International security
- Information integrity
- Risk management
- Resource conflicts
- Policy analysis
- International relations
- Political science
- Environmental studies
- Security studies
The programme also welcomes applicants who are motivated to develop practical research skills and contribute to collaborative international work.
What Experience Can Participants Gain?
Participants will have an opportunity to develop practical experience in areas connected to policy analysis and monitoring.
The programme is intended to help early-career researchers strengthen their ability to examine developments, identify relevant risks and contribute to policy-focused research.
Potential experience areas include:
- Policy research and analysis
- Monitoring geopolitical developments
- Climate security research
- Risk identification and assessment
- Research into resource conflicts
- Information integrity monitoring
- International security analysis
- Collaborative research
- Evidence-based reporting
These areas can provide useful portfolio material for individuals seeking future opportunities in research institutes, think tanks, international organisations, NGOs, consulting and policy-related roles.
Climate Security and Emerging Global Risks
Climate change is increasingly relevant to discussions surrounding security, migration, resources, governance and geopolitical stability.
The programme focuses on this evolving area while also recognising the growing importance of climate disinformation and information integrity in policy decision-making.
Participants interested in understanding how environmental pressures interact with political, economic and security developments can use the programme as an opportunity to explore these connections.
The focus on resource conflicts also provides an opportunity for applicants interested in understanding how competition over resources can intersect with wider security and geopolitical concerns.
Fully Remote and Flexible
One of the key features of the programme is its fully remote and flexible structure.
Participants can take part from different locations around the world without being required to relocate. This makes the programme potentially accessible to students and early-career professionals who cannot commit to an in-person programme.
The flexible structure can also allow participants to develop professional experience alongside university studies, employment or other responsibilities.
Applicants should nevertheless ensure that they can dedicate sufficient time to the programme and meet any responsibilities associated with their analyst role.
Experience Highlights
The programme can help participants build experience that is relevant to future research and policy careers.
Experience highlights may include:
Policy Analysis: Develop practical exposure to analysing policy developments and understanding their implications.
Monitoring: Gain experience tracking developments relevant to climate security, geopolitics and international security.
Climate Security: Explore how climate-related risks intersect with security, resource competition and policy decisions.
Information Integrity: Develop an understanding of climate disinformation and its potential relevance to policy and security discussions.
Research Portfolio: Build practical examples of research and analytical work that can strengthen a CV or professional portfolio.
International Collaboration: Work in a collaborative environment with other emerging researchers interested in global policy and security issues.
How to Prepare Your CV
Applicants should tailor their CV specifically to the Policy & Monitoring Analyst Programme rather than submitting a generic CV.
Start with a concise professional profile highlighting an interest in policy analysis, climate security, geopolitics, international security or related areas.
Academic experience should be clearly presented. Students and recent graduates can highlight relevant coursework, dissertations, research projects and academic assignments, particularly where these involved policy research, data analysis or international affairs.
Applicants should also include relevant research and writing experience.
Useful examples include:
- Policy briefs
- Research papers
- Academic publications
- Research projects
- Situation reports
- Monitoring reports
- Data analysis projects
- Geopolitical or climate-related research
- University research assignments
Applicants with limited professional experience should not leave the experience section empty. Volunteer research, university projects, internships, student organisations and independent research can demonstrate relevant skills.
Where possible, quantify achievements. For example, instead of simply stating “conducted research,” describe the research topic, methodology, output and audience.
Skills to Highlight on Your CV
Applicants should emphasise skills that demonstrate their ability to undertake research and analysis.
Relevant skills include:
- Policy research
- Desk research
- Monitoring and analysis
- Report writing
- Critical thinking
- Evidence synthesis
- Qualitative research
- Quantitative research
- Risk analysis
- Information verification
- Data analysis
- Microsoft Excel
- Research databases
- Academic writing
- Presentation skills
Language skills, particularly proficiency in additional languages, can also be included where relevant to international research.
Application Deadline
The deadline to apply for the first cohort of the Policy & Monitoring Analyst Programme is:
6 October 2026
Because this is the programme’s first cohort, applicants should ensure that their CV clearly communicates their motivation, relevant interests and evidence of research or analytical ability.
How to Apply
Students, recent graduates and early-career practitioners interested in developing practical experience in policy analysis, monitoring and climate security should review the programme’s application requirements and submit their application before the deadline.
The programme may be particularly relevant to individuals seeking to build a research portfolio while gaining experience in emerging areas connecting climate risk, geopolitics, information integrity and international security.
Programme: Policy & Monitoring Analyst Programme
Cohort: First Cohort
Format: Fully Remote & Flexible
Target applicants: Students, recent graduates and early-career professionals
Focus: Policy Analysis, Monitoring & Climate Security
Deadline: 6 October 2026
