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

Under the authority of the Director, Division for Freedom of Expression, Media Development and Media and Information Literacy (CI/FMD), and the direct supervision of Chief of Section, Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists (CI/FMD/FEJ) and the guidance of the relevant Programme Specialists, the consultant will support the implementation, monitoring and reporting of the EU funded project ‘Safeguarding Freedom of Expression and Access to Information through the implementation of the UNESCO Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms’, and provide technical support in the development of tools and resources to be tested in the countries where the EU funded project “Social Media 4 Peace II” is implemented, to ensure that the lessons learned from each project support the implementation of the other and vice-versa.

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 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 implementing the Guidelines.
2. 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.
3. 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.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The consultant will work to maintain effective engagement and coordination of the Global Forum of Networks for Regulatory Authorities and the I4T Knowledge Network to ensure that the networks fulfill their objectives, have a common engagement strategy, and enhance the viability of the networks through the following objectives:

Activity 1. Toolkit for regulatory authorities: Provide inputs for the development of a toolkit and revise the final version of the material which will be designed for regulators to inform on international standards of human rights in the context of the governance of digital platforms with a rights-based approach and enhancing a comparative and lesson learned perspective based on the inputs given by regulatory authorities and other stakeholders.

Activity 2. Toolkit for civil society organizations: Provide inputs for the development of a toolkit and revise the final version of the material which will be designed for civil society organizations, fact-checkers, youth, and academia to inform on international standards of human rights in the context of the governance of digital platforms with perspectives based on the inputs given by regulatory authorities, the Global Forum of Networks, the I4T Knowledge Network and the Social Media 4 Peace project.

Activity 3. Self-assessment: Develop a questionnaire to assess the compliance of any given Member-State with the principles and enabling environment of a Governance system of Digital Platforms which is based on human rights and multistakeholder participation. Support the testing of the tool in the target countries where the project Social Media 4 Peace is being implemented, to inform project activities. This task includes:

• Formulation of a series of questions designed to gather information about the practices, mechanisms, policies and legislation that exist in a country and their compliance the standards and principles defined in the Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms.
• Formulate the possible standard responses to the questions developed.
• Create a hierarchy of legislative, rule of law, policies, and mechanisms required to enable a Governance of Digital platforms that is based on human rights and multistakeholder participation (e.g. ratification of human rights conventions and treaties; independence of judiciary; existence of an independent regulator; existence of a healthy civil society; existence of free press; etc.). This hierarchy shall allow countries ( and all stakeholders operating in them) to identify which areas should be prioritized to achieve a Governance of Digital Platforms based on human-rights and multistakeholder participation.

Activity 4. Trainings for regulatory authorities: Along with the selected regional partners for the project, provide inputs for the development and co-facilitate 5 trainings for regulatory authorities (one per sub-region / 3 in person and 3 online) in the sub-regions of Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean 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. Provide inputs for the preparation of the workshop including for the preparation of learning materials tailored for the different audiences, drafting agendas for each workshop, background documents, minutes, speeches, news items, and liaison with the participants. The Consultant will impart the workshop along with the UNESCO Chief of Section or Programme Specialist and the selected civil society partner, and will facilitate the discussion with the participants. These workshops will be held in a multi-stakeholder format with the participation of civil society and other stakeholder to help regulators advance they capacity building process.

Activity 5. Trainings for civil society: Along with the selected civil society partner for the project, provide inputs for the development and co-facilitate 6 trainings (one per sub-region / 3 in person and 3 online) for civil society, fact-checkers, youth, other groups in situations of vulnerability and marginalization and the I4T Knowledge Network aimed to provide tools for engagement with the multi-stakeholder community involved in the governance of digital platforms and to increase the understanding of the Guidelines to advance their advocacy for a rights-based and multi-stakeholder approach for digital platforms governance. Provide inputs for the preparation of the workshop including for the preparation of learning materials tailored for the different audiences, drafting agendas for each workshop, background documents, minutes, speeches, news items, and liaison with the participants. The Consultant will impart the workshop along with the UNESCO Chief of Section or Programme Specialist and the selected civil society partner, and will facilitate the discussion with the participants. These workshops will be held in a multi-stakeholder format with the participation of regulators to help civil society stakeholders advance they capacity building process.

Activity 6. Multi-stakeholder conferences and workshops: Support the organization of one global and regional meetings with relevant groups on implementing and contextualizing the Guidelines to advocate for a multi-stakeholder rights-based approach for the governance of digital platforms.

6.1 Support the team in the organization and facilitate a multi-stakeholder workshop within the regional conference for information integrity that will be held in Cabo Verde in March 26 – 29, 2025 ensuring active participation and engagement from the Francophone and Lusophone regulatory authorities’ network and the I4T Knowledge Network Members. The workshop should assess and set the agenda for the implementation of the Guidelines, while applying a gender approach.

6.2 Support UNESCO’s team in the organization and facilitate a multi-stakeholder workshop within 2025 IGF ensuring active participation from the I4T Knowledge Network and the IGF. The workshop should assess and set the agenda for the implementation of the Guidelines, while applying a gender approach.

6.3. Support UNESCO’s team to organize one global meeting in September 2025. The conference will aim to reinforce the multi-stakeholder approach of digital platforms governance, enhance the active participation of digital platforms and evaluate the advance of the roadmap. Participate in coordination meetings and provide technical assistance in the events’ agenda and strategy.

Activity 7. Global Forum of Networks: Strengthening and structuring a governance for the Global Forum of Networks and support the strengthening of the I4T Knowledge Network through its engagement with the later . Ensure coherence and connection between the actions taken by the different network communities (the Global Forum of Networks and the I4T Knowledge Network) to follow the implementation of the Guidelines and participate in their different working meetings as well as in the preparatory meetings.

7.1 Follow up with the actions and strategic directions established in the Roadmap for the Global Forum of Networks for 2025-2026.

7.2 Strengthening and structure governance for the GFN and, when necessary, support the I4T Knowledge Network. Includes defining engagement mechanisms of non-members, establishing priority topics and key external stakeholders to support, and the preparation of non-binding statutes.

7.3 Host the different working meetings of the GFN and participate those required of the I4T Knowledge Network and provide information about the approach and actions taken by the networks to ensure the coherence of the work of both networks in their development process.

7.4 Identify priority activities and 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.

7.5 Facilitate the dialogue between the networks, to share experiences, good practices and advice to make sure the networks are connected and fit into each other.

7.6 Provide overall coordination work for the networks to ensure a continuous dialogue and the activities follow up.

Activity 8. Fundraising strategy: Identify partnerships and provide inputs for fundraising opportunities to provide a viable mechanism for project networks, the Global Forum of Networks and the I4T Knowledge Network to pursue their respective activities and objectives.

Activity 9. Strategic Guidance: Support UNESCO team, GFN and I4T knowledge in identifying emerging issues affecting the governance of digital platforms and developing new activity lines to help member states in the implementation of the Guidelines.

DELIVERABLES

1. Monthly reports of the activities and supporting documents produced, which include:
   1. Report on meetings with the project stakeholders, the Global Forum of Networks and the I4T Knowledge Network;
   2. Report on status and liaison with partners with the development of toolkits and training materials for the planned workshops;
   3. Throughout the execution of the workshops, report on the assessment of participants, outcomes and lessons learned from the trainings.
2. Documents including the elements for the Self-Assessment document.
3. Documents including the updated toolkit and training material for the workshops.
4. A document that integrates the different plans, statutes, governance mechanisms, indicators and follow-up processes of the different networks.
5. A document that integrates a strategy and action plan for fundraising opportunities for the Global Forum of Networks and the I4T Knowledge Network to pursue their respective activities and objectives.
6. Final detailed report on the overall consultancy.

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, 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).

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Work Experience
• Work experience in the UN or experience with assignments for the UN is considered an asset.
• Work experience in the regions or with regional stakeholders from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

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