Grace Ellis

Grace Ellis is a Junior Researcher at Clingendael’s Conflict Research Unit (CRU) where she contributes to CRU’s Sahel programme.

Grace’s research focuses on the political economy of conflict, access to justice and the interplay between state and non-state actors. Core interests underpinning her work are to understand how current systems are experienced by people and to unpack which groups are perceived to hold authority and legitimacy amongst populations.

Prior to joining Clingendael, Grace worked at The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) where she supported country programmes in Ethiopia, Mali, Nigeria, South Sudan and Uganda. She holds a Master’s in International Relations from Leiden University, with a specialisation in global conflict in the modern era. She also holds a Bachelor’s in History from the University of Edinburgh. During her studies, she spent extended periods of time in Kosovo and Poland to conduct research on transitional justice, conflict-related sexual violence and the role on women in activist movements. Before pursuing international relations, Grace worked in the arts and culture sector, holding positions at British Council Scotland and Europeana.