OVERVIEW

Parent Sector : Communication and Information Sector (CI)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: Communication and Information

Type of contract : Non Staff

Duration of contract : From 1 to 6 months

Recruitment open to : External candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 15-FEB-2024

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE POST

The Communication and Information Sector’s mission is to promote freedom of expression, media development and media literate societies, and to build knowledge societies through fostering universal access to information, innovation for sustainable development and the preservation of documentary heritage. (The role of this vacant position does not include responsibility for UNESCO’s wider external communications, which is managed by the Division for Communications and public Engagement).

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Digital platforms have become a new front in the pursuit of peace. The transformative role that digital platforms have played in advancing human rights is undeniable. Yet the same digital platforms that have democratized access to knowledge and culture, and fostered global connection, have also become ecosystems of misinformation, disinformation, ideological polarization, and incitement to violence, discrimination, and hate. Such features have undermined democracies and threatened human rights across the world.

Thus, while companies lack transparency, accountability and due diligence, many countries have embarked on regulatory processes without a human right respecting approach and as a solo solution, weakening deeply the civic space and leading to different kinds of censorship.

Following a series of multistakeholder consultations, UNESCO published in November 2023 the Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms.

The Guidelines establish a clear framework of responsibilities and roles for states, digital platforms, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, media, academia, the technical community, and other stakeholder, which advocates a multi-stakeholder approach to digital platform governance, emphasizing transparency, institutionalized checks and balances, openness, accessibility, diverse expertise, and the promotion of cultural diversity.

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:

1. 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 the implementation of the Guidelines.

2. Regulators and public sector authorities 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.

3. Governments and civil society 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 a series of workshops and update the curricula of trainings for the different stakeholder groups 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 a ‘Network of networks’ comprising regulatory authorities, electoral management bodies, think thanks and research centers. This collaborative effort is designed to facilitate the exchange of best practices, and to monitor and assess the effective implementation of the Guidelines at the national, regional, and global levels.

Conference and working meetings from the different stakeholders groups of the networks will happen in February 2024 in Paris (for the think tanks and research centers), in May 2024 in Santiago Chile (the electoral management bodies) and in June 2024 in Dubrovnik, Croatia (for the Audiovisual regulators). These meetings will delve into a workplan and a high-level roadmap for the implementation of the Guidelines.

Long Description

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the authority of the Chief of Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists and the guidance of the relevant Programme Specialists, the Consultant will have 4 main objectives:

Activity 1. Develop and facilitate workshops tailored to different stakeholder groups to deep dive into the Guidelines and to increase understanding and awareness of a human rights-based approach on digital platforms governance. The Consultant will meticulously plan the timeline, responsibilities for the organization of these workshops throughout the first semester of 2024 and defining major milestones. In particular, the consultant will be responsible for:

1.1 Designing and executing 6 workshops conducted between February 2024 and June 2024, dedicated to the implementation of the Guidelines and tailored to the various involved groups – civil society organizations, regulators and other public authorities) – and defining a precise timeline to conduct them. The preparation of the workshops includes the preparation of learning materials tailored for the different audiences, drafting agendas for each workshop, background documents, minutes, speeches, news items, liaising with the participants. The consultant will impart the workshop along with the UNESCO Chief of Section or Programme specialist and will facilitate the discussion with the participants.

1.2 Drafting a report after the conduct of each workshop including details about the participants, discussions, the format and the outcomes.

Long Description

Activity 2. Update or provide inputs to the different training materials for duty bearers (judges, parliamentarians, electoral management bodies, regulators, security forces). In particular, the consultant will be responsible for:

2.1 In collaboration with the Elections Specialist, develop a module on rights-based approach to the governance of digital platforms as part of UNESCO’s training for electoral practitioners.

2.2 In collaboration with the Rule of Law team, provide inputs to update the training on the UNESCO Judges Initiative judges on a rights-based approach to the governance of digital platforms.

Activity 3. Insure coherence and connection between the actions taken by the different networks to follow the implementation of the Guidelines and participate in their different working meetings that will take place in February in Paris, May in Santiago and June in Dubrovnik as well as in the preparatory meetings.

3.1 ​​​​​​Participate in the different working meetings for the networks and provide information around the approach and actions taken by the other networks in their development process.

3.2 Provide inputs to the different networks in the construction of their workplans and indicators to have coherence with the principles and processes of the Guidelines.

3.3 Facilitate the dialogue between the different networks, to share experiences, good practices and advice.

Activity 4. Organize the agenda and facilitate the working day meeting on the second day of the conference in Croatia where the Network of networks will be gathering. This landmark event is scheduled to take place in June in Croatia, where participants will engage in substantive discussions and chart the course for the implementation of the Guidelines. The Consultant will specifically:

4.1 Participate in the logistical meetings and preparations for the Conference.

4.2 ​​​​Prepare the agenda for working group meeting on Day 2.

4.3 Prepare draft methodology for the workshops of Day 2 and define the indicators to follow up the implementation process of the Guidelines.

4.4 Organizing and preparing background documents for Day 2.

4.5 Facilitating the dialogue with the regional communities of networks involved in Day 2 and define with them the indicators.

4.6 Based on the results of Day 2 workshops, draft a roadmap for the regulators networks to monitor the implementation of the Guidelines.

Long Description

DELIVERABLES

1. Monthly reports of the activities and supporting documents produced:

1. a. On the design and facilitation of workshops on the implementation of the Guidelines with relevant networks. This shall include the agenda, the list of attendance to the different workshops, the training materials and the feedback from attendees.
2. b. On the preparation and development of the second day of the conference in Croatia and the Day 2 agenda, the methodology for Day 2 working groups, the list of attendees, the roadmap to follow.

2. Documents including the updates and inputs to the different training materials for duty bearers (Judges initiative, security forces, electoral management bodies).

3. A document that integrates the different plans, indicators and follow up processes of the different networks.

4. Final detailed report on the overall consultancy.

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

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

Experience:

• At least 10 years of experience in policy analysis, research, editing and/or project management with at least 2 years of experience related 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 twoards a common vision and knowledge.
• Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with other organizations, governmental agencies, public and private organizations.
• Experience in global events management.

Skills and competencies:

• Proven ability to facilitate dialogue and work collaboratively to build relationships and networks with diverse groups of organizations and individuals, inclusing 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 organizations and planning skills, including the ability to organize own work priorities and deadlines. Ability to work under pressure.

Languages:

• Excellent knowledge (spoken and written) of English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Languages:

• Knowledge of another UNESCO Official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish).

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should complete the on-line application, download and complete the Employment History form (Word file). At the end of the Word file, insert extra pages with the following required information:

Part 1: Technical Proposal

a) an up-to-date curriculum vitae.

b) a statement indicating how their qualifications and experience make them suitable for the assignment.

c) an indication of the approach (methodology, detailed workplan) they should adopt to carry out the assignment, including any inputs that may be required from UNESCO.

Part 2: Financial Proposal

a) A competitive fee for the assignment, which should be quoted as a monthly fee in US dollars or in euros for the 6 months contract.

Please do not include travel costs. Travel costs required in the course of the consultancy will be included directly in the actual consultant contract.

Please submit your supporting documents in English.

Additional information:

• The selected candidate will work remotely. No travel supported.
• This consultant contract is for a period of 6 months.
• Estimated contract start date February 2024.
• Applications submitted without Technical and Financial proposal will not be considered.

UNESCO places great emphasis on ensuring that the objectives of the work assignment, as described in the Terms of Reference, are met. Accordingly, in evaluating the proposals for the assignment, attention will focus first and foremost on the technical elements. From those proposals deemed suitable in relation to the criteria set forth in the Terms of Reference, UNESCO shall select the proposal that offers the Organization best value for money.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

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