Ramallah, West Bank – September 2026
Democracy Program, The Carter Center
The Carter Center is guided by a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering; it seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health. Pending security developments, the Center plans to conduct a pre-election assessment ahead of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections, anticipated for Nov. 28, 2026. Deployment is anticipated in September, pending contracting and travel restrictions to the region. This position is scheduled for an initial six-week period, which may be extended. Although an in-person assessment is highly preferred, if security and logistical considerations prevent the assessment team from deploying, stakeholder engagement and research may be conducted virtually.
The Center is seeking a highly qualified individual to serve as a Political Analyst. The analyst will coordinate with the Team Lead and Carter Center staff to conduct a pre-election assessment of the political environment and factors that may influence the integrity and inclusiveness of the anticipated polls. The analyst should have a depth of experience working on election observation missions as a core team member or conducting similar political analysis. Candidates should demonstrate an understanding of Palestinian political dynamics. Applicants with experience working or living in the West Bank/Gaza, knowledge of regional dynamics and/or Arabic language proficiency will be given the highest consideration. Five to ten years of experience in democracy and/or elections is required in addition to a degree in political science or another relevant field.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as part of a core team of experts tasked with conducting a pre-election assessment of Palestine’s November PLC elections, coordinating with the Team Lead to conduct the assessment and draft a report on the team’s findings.
- Follow and assess political and electoral developments in Palestine related to the PLC elections;
- Research issues and advise the Center on political developments and positions with respect to internal Palestinian and Palestinian-Israeli affairs that may impact the conduct of the November polls in the West Bank and Gaza.
- Assess and advise Carter Center staff and consultants on the historical background, current developments, and political frameworks and processes that may impact the integrity and inclusiveness of the anticipated electoral process.
- Liaise with Palestinian Authority officials, the Central Elections Commission, the judiciary, civil society organizations and other key stakeholders on political dynamics and developments. Working in coordination with field office staff, facilitate relationships with local entities and hold stakeholder meetings.
- Contribute to the drafting process for a Carter Center report on the mission’s findings, including overall political dynamics and developments, and key challenges to the electoral process. Draft report sections concerning the political background, pre-election environment, and current political dynamics that may impact the inclusiveness, integrity and transparency of the polls, coordinating with other technical experts as necessary to cover key aspects of the process.
Qualifications:
Applicants should:
- Have a breadth of experience in political and/or electoral analysis, preferably related to democracy, governance, and/or election observation.
- Demonstrate experience conducting similar products, working as part of a team and producing comparable written deliverables, research projects or reports.
- Have prior experience working in Palestine and extensive knowledge of Palestinian politics, political actors and recent political developments.
- Have prior experience drafting political analysis writing; demonstrate strong analytical, writing, and communication skills; fluency in English is required; an ability to work in Arabic is preferred.
- Be able to travel to the West Bank and Cairo for approximately 2-3 weeks in September, pending funding and security developments.
To be considered for this position, please provide your application details and upload a CV/resume and cover letter in support of your application to the following website: pal_Nov26 – Intellistack
Deadline for submissions: August 31 or until filled. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their application documents as soon as possible; decisions will be made on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Due to the large volume of applicants, only those candidates selected for an interview or additional consideration will be notified by the Center. Phone calls or in-person contacts are highly discouraged.
Note: This position is subject to funding and security developments in Palestine.