The work

I offer analysis and writing shaped to each organisation's needs — depth where it's warranted, brevity where it isn't.

Project or retainer

Most of what follows is commissioned individually — one report, one brief, one piece of writing at a time. Where the need is ongoing — a market, a region, or a relationship worth tracking over time — the same work runs as a retainer instead: regular output, plus direct access in between. Shorter, single-question conversations are available on their own as advisory calls, with or without a retainer in place.

Commissioned research and reports

Situations worked through in depth and turned into usable intelligence, from a single briefing to a substantial report.

Policy analysis and strategic briefs

Clear reading of complex or ambiguous developments — explanatory and forward-looking — framed for decision-makers.

Long-form and editorial writing

Analysis, commentary, and set-piece writing that holds up in front of a serious readership.

Senior editorial direction

Editorial structure and judgment brought to an organisation's own primary research — turning substance already in hand into publishable form.

This tends to suit organisations that need senior-level output without a standing analyst function — development finance institutions, funds and investors with regional exposure, specialist firms, think tanks and foundations — where what matters is judgment and clarity rather than headcount.

If you have something in mind, get in touch.

© Marc Scanlan 2026