Applications are now open for the Policy & Monitoring Analyst Programme 2026, a new fully remote and flexible programme recruiting the first cohort of CIW Analysts.

Designed for students, recent graduates and early-career practitioners, the programme offers participants an opportunity to gain practical experience at the intersection of policy analysis, monitoring, climate security, geopolitical risk, information integrity and disinformation research.

Rather than functioning only as a training course, the programme is designed around applied work. Selected participants will research and produce original policy and monitoring outputs, collaborate with a core team and develop a professional portfolio that can support future careers in research, policy, international security, geopolitical analysis and climate-related risk work.

The programme is particularly relevant for early-career researchers who want to move beyond academic study and begin demonstrating practical analytical experience through tangible outputs such as policy papers, monitoring briefings and data products.

Importantly, the programme is described as fully remote and flexible, making it accessible to participants from around the world. The estimated commitment is only 5–10 hours per month, which could make the opportunity particularly suitable for students, recent graduates and professionals who are balancing other academic or employment responsibilities.

Application deadline: 6 October 2026.

Estimated time commitment: 5–10 hours per month.

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About the Policy & Monitoring Analyst Programme

The Policy & Monitoring Analyst Programme has been created to provide early-career participants with hands-on exposure to policy research and monitoring in areas connected to climate security and international affairs.

The 2026 intake is particularly notable because it represents the first cohort of CIW Analysts.

Participants will not simply observe the work of a policy organization. They are expected to contribute to substantive research and monitoring activities while building experience that can eventually be demonstrated to employers, graduate programmes, think tanks, international organizations or other research institutions.

The programme emphasizes the growing intersection between two major challenges:

• The climate crisis
• Disinformation and information integrity

Climate-related risks increasingly interact with politics, security, migration, resource competition, technological change and public information environments. The programme is therefore positioned at a cross-disciplinary intersection where climate policy cannot always be separated from geopolitical or security analysis.

For young researchers, this means the work may require thinking across several traditionally separate fields, including:

• Climate change
• International security
• Geopolitics
• Risk analysis
• Information integrity
• Disinformation
• Emerging technologies
• Resource conflicts
• Policy monitoring

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Why the Programme Focuses on Climate Security

Climate security examines the ways climate-related pressures can interact with political, economic and security risks.

The programme specifically seeks participants who are interested in understanding these relationships rather than viewing climate change only as an environmental issue.

Examples of questions relevant to climate-security analysis may include:

• How climate risks affect political stability
• How extreme weather and environmental degradation influence resource competition
• How climate narratives are used or manipulated in political discourse
• How emerging technologies affect climate-security decision-making
• How disinformation influences climate policy
• How resource scarcity may contribute to tensions between communities or states
• How governments and international organizations respond to overlapping climate and security risks

The programme does not state that every participant will work on all of these questions, but its thematic focus makes these types of policy intersections highly relevant.

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What Will CIW Analysts Do?

Participants selected as CIW Analysts will be expected to contribute actively rather than merely attend lectures or seminars.

The programme identifies several major responsibilities.

1. Research and Publish Original Policy Papers

CIW Analysts will have opportunities to conduct research and produce original policy-oriented work.

This may be particularly valuable for early-career applicants who are trying to demonstrate that they can move from academic reading to professional policy analysis.

A policy paper typically requires the researcher to:

• Identify a relevant policy problem
• Gather and evaluate evidence
• Explain the political or security context
• Analyze developments or trends
• Present findings clearly
• Develop conclusions that are useful to policy audiences

Producing published work can help participants create a stronger professional profile in competitive fields such as international affairs and policy research.

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2. Produce Monitoring Papers and Briefings

Monitoring is another central component of the programme.

Policy monitoring often involves systematically tracking developments over time rather than conducting a one-time research project.

Participants may therefore gain experience in activities such as:

• Following political developments
• Tracking climate-security trends
• Monitoring narratives and information environments
• Identifying emerging risks
• Comparing developments across countries or regions
• Distinguishing significant developments from background noise
• Producing concise analytical briefings

This type of experience can be particularly relevant to careers in:

• Think tanks
• International organizations
• Government policy units
• Political-risk firms
• Research organizations
• Security analysis
• Humanitarian analysis
• Climate-policy organizations

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3. Produce Data Outputs

The programme also states that CIW Analysts may contribute to data outputs.

The specific tools or methodologies involved are not described in the call, so applicants should not assume that advanced programming or quantitative analysis is mandatory unless later specified during the selection process.

However, data-oriented work could potentially involve organizing, presenting or analyzing information used to support policy and monitoring products.

Applicants with experience in areas such as:

• Excel
• Data visualization
• GIS
• Python
• R
• Quantitative research
• Open-source data
• Dataset management

may therefore have relevant skills, although none of these are explicitly listed as formal eligibility requirements in the information provided.

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Work Closely With a Core Team

Participants will work closely with a core team.

This collaborative model means the programme is not framed as entirely independent research.

CIW Analysts may have opportunities to learn how professional research teams:

• Select topics
• Divide analytical responsibilities
• Review drafts
• Exchange feedback
• Monitor developments
• Coordinate publication schedules
• Produce collaborative research outputs

For students accustomed mainly to individual essays or dissertations, this type of collaborative work can provide valuable experience.

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Build a Professional Policy and Research Portfolio

One of the programme’s clearest objectives is to help participants develop a professional policy and research portfolio.

This is especially relevant for early-career applicants because many entry-level roles in policy research ask candidates to demonstrate previous writing or analytical experience.

A participant who successfully completes and publishes work through the programme may be able to develop evidence of experience in areas such as:

• Policy analysis
• Monitoring
• Research
• Briefing preparation
• Climate-security analysis
• Geopolitical analysis
• Narrative analysis
• Data communication

A strong portfolio can potentially complement a traditional CV by showing what a candidate is actually capable of producing.

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Gain Experience With the Climate Crisis and Disinformation

The programme specifically highlights two major challenges:

Climate change and disinformation.

These subjects increasingly overlap.

Public debates about climate policy can be shaped by:

• Misleading narratives
• Politically motivated information campaigns
• False or distorted claims
• Coordinated online influence
• Selective use of data
• Public distrust

At the same time, climate-related risks can interact with geopolitical tensions, international security and competition over resources.

Participants interested in this intersection may therefore gain experience relevant to an emerging area of policy analysis.

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Career-Relevant Skills

The programme is designed to develop experience relevant to climate-security careers in areas including:

• Research
• Policy
• Risk analysis
• International security

These are highly transferable analytical areas.

Depending on the work undertaken during the programme, participants may also strengthen skills such as:

• Research design
• Analytical writing
• Source evaluation
• Political monitoring
• Policy communication
• Trend analysis
• Critical thinking
• Collaborative research
• Structured briefing
• Evidence synthesis

The programme does not guarantee employment after participation, but it is explicitly framed as an opportunity to build relevant practical experience.

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Main Areas of Exposure

The Policy & Monitoring Analyst Programme identifies several thematic areas participants may encounter.

Policy Research and Monitoring Methodologies

Participants will gain exposure to research and monitoring methods used in policy analysis.

This is potentially useful for applicants who have studied international affairs or climate issues academically but have limited experience translating that knowledge into professional monitoring products.

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Climate Security and Geopolitical Risk

Climate security sits at the core of the programme.

Participants may engage with questions concerning how climate impacts interact with:

• Political stability
• Security
• International relations
• Economic vulnerabilities
• State capacity
• Resource competition
• Regional dynamics

Geopolitical risk analysis requires understanding how developments in one area can affect wider political or security conditions.

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Emerging Technologies and Climate Security

The programme also includes exposure to emerging technologies and their climate-security implications.

The call does not specify particular technologies.

However, this thematic area could potentially intersect with topics such as:

• Artificial intelligence
• Digital monitoring systems
• Data infrastructure
• Information technologies
• Emerging security technologies

Applicants interested in technology policy may therefore find the programme particularly relevant.

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Information Integrity and Disinformation

Another major theme is information integrity, disinformation and narrative analysis.

Information integrity concerns the quality, reliability and credibility of information within public and policy environments.

Participants may learn to examine:

• Competing narratives
• Sources of information
• Patterns of misleading content
• Political communication
• Narrative framing
• Disinformation trends

Narrative analysis can be particularly useful in geopolitical and security research because actors often attempt to shape how events are interpreted, not simply what information is available.

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Resource Conflicts and International Security Dynamics

The programme also identifies resource conflicts and international security dynamics as a major area of interest.

Climate stress can interact with competition surrounding:

• Water
• Energy
• Land
• Food
• Minerals
• Strategic infrastructure

Understanding these relationships may require combining environmental information with political, economic and security analysis.

Applicants interested in conflict studies, international relations or natural-resource governance may therefore find this component particularly relevant.

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Fully Remote Programme

One of the programme’s most accessible features is that it is:

Fully remote.

Participants are not required to relocate to another country or city according to the call.

This could significantly reduce barriers associated with:

• Travel costs
• Visas
• Accommodation
• Geographic location

The call explicitly describes the programme as accessible to participants from around the world.

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Flexible Participation

The programme is also described as flexible.

The estimated workload is:

5–10 hours per month.

This is relatively light compared with a conventional internship or full-time fellowship.

The programme could therefore potentially be combined with:

• University studies
• Graduate research
• Part-time employment
• Full-time work, depending on personal workload
• Other professional-development activities

Applicants should nevertheless ensure that they can consistently contribute to the programme.

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Who Should Apply?

The programme is particularly suited to:

• Students
• Recent graduates
• Early-career professionals
• Early-career researchers
• Practitioners seeking experience in policy and monitoring

Applicants should have a strong interest in one or more of the programme’s main thematic areas.

These include:

• Geopolitics
• Climate security
• Information integrity
• Risk management
• International security
• Resource conflicts

Candidates interested in climate policy, international relations, political risk or strategic analysis may also find the opportunity relevant.

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Academic Background

The call does not specify a mandatory university degree or particular academic discipline.

It does not state that applicants must hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.

Instead, it explicitly welcomes students, recent graduates and early-career professionals.

Potentially relevant academic backgrounds may include:

• International Relations
• Political Science
• Security Studies
• Climate Studies
• Environmental Studies
• Development Studies
• Geography
• Public Policy
• Economics
• Sociology
• International Development
• Conflict Studies
• Communications
• Journalism
• Data Analysis

However, none of these fields is stated as compulsory in the source material.

Applicants from other academic backgrounds may therefore still be eligible if they can demonstrate strong interest and relevant analytical ability.

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Professional Experience

The call does not establish a minimum number of years of professional experience.

In fact, the programme is specifically designed for people at relatively early stages of their careers.

Applicants should therefore not assume that they need extensive professional experience before applying.

The programme’s portfolio-building emphasis suggests that potential and motivation may be important considerations.

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International Applicants

The programme is described as accessible to participants from around the world.

This means candidates are not limited to one country or continent.

The remote structure further supports international participation.

The call does not specify:

• Citizenship restrictions
• Nationality quotas
• Residency restrictions

Applicants globally may therefore apply based on the information provided.

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Application Requirements

The application form asks candidates to provide several basic pieces of information.

These include:

• Name and surname
• Email address
• LinkedIn profile
• CV

Applicants must upload their CV through the online application form.

The maximum supported file size for the CV is:

10 MB.

The form may contain additional sections beyond the portion provided here, so applicants should review the entire application before submitting.

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How to Prepare Your CV

Since applicants must upload a CV, it should be tailored toward the programme’s analytical and thematic focus.

Relevant experience might include:

• Academic research
• Policy writing
• Research assistantships
• Monitoring
• Think-tank work
• International affairs
• Climate research
• Journalism
• Data analysis
• Political-risk research
• Security studies
• Student publications
• Model United Nations
• Debate or policy societies
• NGO work

Applicants with limited formal experience can still highlight substantial academic projects.

For example, a dissertation on climate politics or international security could demonstrate analytical ability even if the applicant has not yet worked in a professional policy organization.

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Strengthening Your Application

Although the source does not provide a detailed scoring rubric, applicants can align their materials closely with the programme description.

Demonstrate Analytical Curiosity

Show that you are interested in understanding developments rather than simply summarizing them.

Policy analysis generally requires answering questions such as:

• Why is this happening?
• Who are the relevant actors?
• What are their interests?
• What might change next?
• What are the policy implications?

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Demonstrate Interest in Climate Security

Applicants should be able to explain why the intersection between climate and security interests them.

Avoid treating climate security as simply another phrase for climate change.

A strong application could demonstrate awareness that climate risks interact with:

• Governance
• Conflict
• Migration
• Economics
• Geopolitics
• Information environments

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Highlight Writing Experience

Because participants will produce policy papers and briefings, clear writing will likely be valuable.

Applicants should highlight experience producing:

• Research papers
• Policy briefs
• Academic essays
• Reports
• Articles
• Monitoring notes
• Dissertations

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Highlight Monitoring Experience

Monitoring experience does not have to come from a formal job.

It might include:

• Tracking political developments
• Media monitoring
• Election monitoring
• Climate-data monitoring
• Conflict tracking
• Research projects involving longitudinal information

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Demonstrate Reliability

A flexible programme still requires participants who can meet deadlines and contribute consistently.

Applicants should therefore demonstrate:

• Self-management
• Organization
• Independence
• Ability to work remotely
• Collaborative skills

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Why This Programme May Be Valuable for Early-Career Researchers

One challenge facing students and recent graduates is the gap between academic qualifications and professional experience.

Employers in policy and international affairs may ask for:

• Published writing
• Monitoring experience
• Policy analysis
• Briefing skills
• Demonstrated subject expertise

Yet early-career candidates often struggle to obtain opportunities to develop these skills.

The CIW Analyst Programme is explicitly designed around practical, portfolio-building experience, potentially helping participants address this gap.

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Potential Career Pathways

Experience from the programme could be relevant to people considering careers in areas such as:

• Climate policy
• Climate security
• International security
• Political risk
• Geopolitical analysis
• Policy research
• Think tanks
• International organizations
• NGOs
• Government policy
• Risk consulting
• Strategic intelligence
• Disinformation research
• Information integrity
• Conflict analysis

Participation does not guarantee employment in any of these fields, but the skills and portfolio developed could be relevant.

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Important Details Not Specified in the Call

Applicants should note that several details are not stated in the information provided.

The call does not specify:

• Whether the programme is paid
• Whether participants receive a stipend
• The total length of the programme
• The exact number of analysts who will be selected
• Whether participants receive a certificate
• Exact meeting schedules
• Whether there are mandatory live sessions
• Whether publication is guaranteed for every participant

Applicants should therefore avoid assuming any of these benefits unless they are confirmed by the organizers.

In particular, because no salary or stipend is mentioned, the programme should not be advertised as paid.

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Application Deadline

Applications close on:

6 October 2026.

The call does not specify an exact closing time or time zone.

Applicants should therefore submit well before the deadline rather than waiting until the final hours.

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How to Apply

Applications must be completed through the official online form.

Applicants should be prepared to submit:

• Name
• Email
• LinkedIn profile
• CV

APPLY HERE

Candidates should review the entire form before submission to ensure that all required information is complete.

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Key Information at a Glance

Programme: Policy & Monitoring Analyst Programme

Cohort: First cohort of CIW Analysts

Format: Fully remote

Working arrangement: Flexible

Estimated commitment: 5–10 hours per month

Target audience: Students, recent graduates and early-career professionals

Main focus: Climate security, policy analysis and monitoring

Related themes: Geopolitics, information integrity, disinformation, emerging technologies, risk management, resource conflicts and international security

Main activities: Original research, policy papers, monitoring outputs, briefings and data outputs

Professional development: Portfolio-building and collaborative research experience

Geographic eligibility: Global

Application requirement shown: CV, LinkedIn profile and contact information

Deadline: 6 October 2026

APPLY HERE

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Conclusion

The Policy & Monitoring Analyst Programme 2026 offers students, recent graduates and early-career professionals an opportunity to gain practical analytical experience in a field that is becoming increasingly important to global policy and security decision-making.

The first cohort of CIW Analysts will work on issues at the intersection of climate security, geopolitics, information integrity, disinformation and international security, while producing tangible research outputs that can contribute to a professional portfolio.

The fully remote structure makes the programme accessible to applicants internationally, while the estimated commitment of only 5–10 hours per month could make participation feasible alongside university studies or employment.

A particularly valuable element is the programme’s emphasis on real analytical outputs. Participants may research and publish policy papers, monitoring products, briefings and data outputs rather than simply attending training sessions.

The programme may therefore be particularly useful for candidates trying to transition from academic study into careers involving policy research, political risk, climate security, strategic analysis, international organizations or think tanks.

Applicants should nevertheless note that the call does not state whether participants receive financial compensation, how long the programme lasts or how many analysts will ultimately be selected. These details should not be assumed unless confirmed by the organizers.

Applications close on 6 October 2026.

To explore more global fellowship opportunities, VISIT HERE.