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 multi-stakeholder 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 problem 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.

While freedom of expression is a vital regulatory objective in times of peace, its protection becomes even more critical during crises such as armed conflicts, where it underpins transparency, accountability, and the dissemination of essential information. These Guidelines provide an important foundation for aligning principles of crisis regulation globally, yet with this project study, UNESCO aims to go further by emphasizing that crisis situations constitute a distinct governance sphere requiring urgent attention from policymakers as well as from other stakeholder groups. Conceptual approaches are needed to map this emerging and increasingly significant field globally, alongside empirical research to assess the diverse perspectives of regulators in the Global North and Global South.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Individual Specialist will work under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, the direct supervision of the Chief of the Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists Section (FEJ), and with the guidance and cooperation with other relevant UNESCO colleagues.

The Individual Specialist will draft a high-quality, well-researched, and data-driven project study on digital regulation in time of crisis. The Individual Specialist is expected to work collaboratively with UNESCO colleagues and other contributors, such as members of the I4T Knowledge Network throughout the completion of this study.

In this context, the Individual Specialist will prepare and submit the project study “Digital Regulation in Time of Crisis” (hereinafter referred to as “the Work”).

She/He will ensure that the Work is completed in a timely manner and to the expected standard of quality and integrating the findings from the various interviews and workshop. She/He will contribute to the authorship of the Work.

The Work shall comprise approximately 50-60 standard pages (320 words per page), shall be written in English at mother-tongue level, in a style corresponding to the target audience and UNESCO’s guidelines.

The Work will include key findings from interviews conducted with the regulatory authorities and relevant stakeholders. It will also include key findings from an expert workshop to be held during World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) 2025 in May.

Scope of Work and Responsibilities

Project Phases:

• Phase 1 – Qualitative interviews: Conducting interviews with regulatory authorities and relevant stakeholders from two countries still be to be defined – currently experiencing crises – to evaluate their perspectives on digital communication capacity, digital network resilience, and the state of freedom of expression, particularly as it pertains to journalism. The interviews also aim to explore how these countries have developed national models for holistic ecosystem management. The interviews with local stakeholders will be conducted in their respective languages with a native consultant.
• Phase 2 – Quantitative survey: the survey (about 20 multiple choice questions plus 3 open questions) will target international regulators and other stakeholders to gather a comprehensive overview of their perceptions and responses to various crises.

Research and Writing:

• Study Development: Develop a comprehensive and well-structure study fed by the key findings from the two phases of the project and by the expert workshop to be held during WFPD.

Collaboration and Coordination:

• Engagement with UNESCO: Regularly communicate with UNESCO to receive guidance, share drafts, and incorporate feedback. The Individual Specialist is expected to make revisions based on feedback from UNESCO and I4T Knowledge members.
• Incorporation of Feedback: Revise drafts to integrate comments from UNESCO, the I4T Knowledge members, peer reviewers and consultees. The Individual Specialist is expected to participate in periodic review meetings to discuss feedback and ensure the project study is conducted in due time.

Quality and Accuracy:

• Data Verification: Ensure that all data, statistics, and references are accurate, reliable, and properly sourced. The Individual Specialist is responsible for providing original, plagiarism-free content.
• Clarity and Coherence: Write in clear, accessible language suitable for a broad, international audience, including policymakers, academics, civil society organizations, and the general public.
• Fact-Checking: The Individual Specialist is expected to fact-check all claims made in the project study to maintain its credibility.

DELIVERABLES

1. Deliverable 1: Submission of the draft questions for the qualitative interviews and submission of the final list of respondents (phase 1).
2. Deliverable 2: Completion of the 10 qualitative interviews.
3. Deliverable 3: Submission of the qualitative report findings, including the English translations if necessary.
4. Deliverable 4: submission of first draft of the WPFD workshop event’s concept note.
5. Deliverable 5: Submission of the key findings of the WPFD workshop, submission of the draft questions for the quantitative survey and submission of a list of the final list of respondents (phase 2).
6. Deliverable 6: Completion of the quantitative survey and submission of a general report of quantitative outcomes.
7. Deliverable 7: Submission of the translation of the quantitative survey responses.
8. Deliverable 8: Submission of the final project study incorporating the findings and outcomes from both phases of the project.
9. Deliverable 9: Presentation of the project outcomes during the International Conference for the Governance of Digital Platforms (place TBD).

All written deliverables should be produced in English at mother-tongue level and tailored to the target audience of the Report, which includes media and development experts, civil society organizations (CSOs), and UN agencies. They should be appropriate for the publications target audiences (Member States, academia, journalists and media organizations, intergovernmental bodies, non-profits organizations, and technology companies).

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)

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REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

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.

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 (written and oral) and editing skills. Ability to collect, exchange, develop, consolidate, synthesize and analyze a vase array of information and provide insights 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.

Languages:

• Excellent written and editing skills in English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Work Experience
• Work experience in the UN or experience with assignments for the UN is considered an asset.

• Experience in global events management.

• Familiarity with the UN system.

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