Senior Consultant

UNESCO aims to ensure that everyone’s freedom of expression and access to information are fully guaranteed, while various stakeholders, including Member States, deal with the problems of dis- and misinformation and hate speech online. These problems will be better addressed, in a way that aligns with international human rights law, through implementing the UNESCO Guidelines in a comprehensive and coherent manner.

As part of the implementation strategy of the Guidelines, UNESCO has set out 3 main objectives:

Increase the global understanding of a human rights-based approach of digital platform governance while dealing with potential harmful content as well as on the opportunities for implementing the Guidelines. 

Regulators and public sector authorities, in collaboration with civil society ensure rights-based regulatory processes of the digital platforms governance system to safeguard freedom of expression and access to information in line with human-rights international standards.

Governments, civil society, along with the Global Forum of Networks and the I4T Knowledge Network, respectively implement and advocate, based on identified drivers for the governance of digital platforms, consistent, rights-respecting contextualized regulations aligned with international human rights standards. 

Therefore, UNESCO will develop tools, update the curricula of trainings for the different stakeholder groups, and facilitate regional and global meetings to increase global understanding of a human rights-based approach on digital platforms governance based on the Guidelines. Moreover, UNESCO is now supporting the establishment of networks communities comprising regulatory authorities, think tanks and research centers. This collaborative effort is designed to facilitate the exchange of good practices, and monitor and assess the effective implementation of the Guidelines at the national, regional and global levels.

Conference and working meetings from the different stakeholder groups in the different regions of these communities will be happening from January 2025 to October 2025. These meetings will delve into a workplan and a high-level roadmap for the implementation of the Guidelines.

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or above) in law, public policy, political science, social sciences, communications, media studies, or internet studies.

Work Experience:

• At least ten years of relevant professional experience in policy analysis, research, editing and/or project management with at least 2 years of experience related to freedom of expression and to the study of laws related to content regulation.
• Proven experience in training and/or policy advice, particularly related to human rights in the digital environment.
• Demonstrated experience in multi-stakeholder consultations and in bringing diverse stakeholders together towards a common vision and knowledge.
• Experience in collaborative projects, particularly those involving diverse teams, external partners, and stakeholders, to develop workshops and training materials.
• Experience in global events management.

Skills & Competencies:

• Good understanding and knowledge of UNESCO mandate and its programming in the areas of freedom of expression and access to information.
• Proven ability to facilitate dialogue and work collaboratively to build relationships and networks with diverse groups of organizations and individuals, including relevant institutions, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, civil society and the private sector; ability to participate effectively in high-level negotiations.
• Strong research skills and proven subject matter expertise on issues related to platform regulation, digital policy, and/or freedom of expression
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral) and ability to exchange information on complex issues. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in multicultural environment with external and internal partners.
• Excellent organization and planning skills, including the ability to organize own work priorities and deadlines. Ability to work under pressure.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Familiarity with the UN system.

Languages:

• Excellent knowledge of English and/or French (both written and spoken).

Source: https://careers.unesco.org/job/Paris-Senior-Consultant-(FEJ)/812294102/