Deadline: July 8, 2022
Applications are invited for the Open Internet for Democracy Leaders Programme 2022. The Programme is a year-long non-residential leadership program that empowers emerging leaders from across the globe to build their advocacy and organizing skills to protect internet freedom.
The Open Internet for Democracy Leaders are a unique cohort of global advocates from civic organizations, media, and the private sector who are passionate about protecting and promoting an open internet.
The program aims to:
- Empower emerging open internet advocates to advance internet policy discussions and organize for change in their country and/or region.
- Strengthen the Open Internet for Democracy Community by connecting emerging open internet advocates with their global peers.
Core Responsibilities
- Create a joint policy paper on ways to strengthen digital governance
- Together, the cohort will collaborate on a joint policy paper to produce recommendations and case studies that identify opportunities and threats around a specific policy trend with significant impact on an open, and democratic online space.
- The cohort will select the topic during a four day in-person project design sprint (anticipated to take place in late January 2023, location TBD). The policy paper will be further developed and finalized through on-going virtual engagement with the cohort throughout the remainder of the Leaders program.
- Conduct national or regional advocacy to strengthen digital governance
- Individually, Leaders will be responsible for organizing a local or regional activity with diverse stakeholders (e.g. civil society, independent media, and local business) to disseminate the findings from the policy paper produced as a cohort (see first bullet point). Some examples of possible advocacy activities include:
- An advocacy campaign to raise awareness among policymakers about the pitfalls of policies that would contribute to the spread of digital authoritarianism.
- Training modules or videos that explain the implications of digital authoritarianism for civil society, media, and/or the private sector.
- A multi-stakeholder workshop or roundtable discussion (with civil society, media, and/or the private sector) to discuss a proposed government action that threatens digital rights.
- A clear strategy for engaging local and regional open internet advocates and groups to collaborate on future efforts.
- Individually, Leaders will be responsible for organizing a local or regional activity with diverse stakeholders (e.g. civil society, independent media, and local business) to disseminate the findings from the policy paper produced as a cohort (see first bullet point). Some examples of possible advocacy activities include:
- Communications and Outreach
- Produce at least 1 blog post or article for https://openinternet.global
- Actively engage in conversations on open internet issues, such as on Twitter with the program’s @OpenNetGlobal account.
- Community Collaboration & Thought Leadership
- Participate at the 2022 Internet Governance Forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (virtually or in-person – TBD)
- Contribute to knowledge and awareness of the Open Internet for Democracy Community about local/regional/national threats to an open internet through participation in relevant events and ongoing information sharing.
Benefits
Selected applicants will be joining a community of like-minded advocates in which they will have opportunities for peer learning and sharing their work. During the program, Open Internet Leaders will:
- Receive an honorarium of $2,000 USD for completing their required activities.
- Learn from leaders in the digital rights and advocacy community during presentations and workshops.
- Access mentorship and soft skills training opportunities.
- Connect with cohort of Leaders during an in-person project design sprint.
- Participate as Open Internet for Democracy representatives at international conferences such as the Internet Governance Forum and RightsCon.
Eligibility
- Applicants must live and work in an OECD-DAC eligible country.
- Demonstrated interest or experience working on digital rights and open internet issues, with preference given to those focused on media, local private sector/business, or civic/political participation.
- Experience in one or more of the following areas: policy, activism, research, or technical expertise.
- Strong writing skills.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision in collaboration with colleagues across different time zones.
- Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills
- Fluency in written and spoken English.
- Demonstrated public speaking experience speaking a plus.
- Ability to travel to at least one international conference (location TBD; costs covered; In-person participation in such events is contingent on health considerations related to the COVID-19 pandemic) a plus.
- Access to reliable internet connection that will enable participation in video or virtual workshops or conferences.
- Ability to actively participate in regular check-in calls with program organizers and in virtual orientation sessions.
Application
For more information, visit Open Internet for Democracy.
