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Available Fellowships

Democracy Fellowship – Civil Society Division

New Media Development and Internet Freedom - Civil Society and Media - Washington, DC

1. Introduction
   The USAID Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance, Office of Democracy and Governance (DCHA/DG) Civil Society & Media Division, requests interested candidates from World Learning’s Democracy Fellows Program with USAID.
   
   
2. Background
   This Democracy Fellow will serve in the Civil Society Division of USAID’s Office of Democracy and Governance (DCHA/DG), providing research and other technical support in the areas civil society and independent media, with a focus on digital and new media, in developing and transitional states. DCHA/DG  together with other USAID offices provides technical leadership, democracy officer training, research and field support to advance the development of independent, professional media in the over forty countries (currently) where USAID implements media sector activities.  The Civil Society & Media Division also provides technical leadership in the areas of civic education, citizen advocacy, NGO development, labor union support, and other support programs for the development of civil society in transitional societies.  Increasingly, the Division is exploring the interface between civil society and new technologies and new forms of communication.
   
   
3. Program Description
   The Democracy Fellow will provide technical guidance in the use of technology to support democracy development objectives. This will include participation in the design and implementation of USAID’s Internet freedom programs, and programs focusing on civil society and independent media in developing and transitional states. The fellow will also provide technical guidance to programs in other areas of interest to DCHA/DG.
   
   More generally, the Democracy Fellow will provide technical assistance in developing strategies for effective use of technology to strengthen movements for social change. The Fellow will assist the DG Office in advancing the effectiveness of digital media and civil society programs overseas through contributions to strategy, program design, field support, training, and monitoring/evaluation. He/she will provide advisory support for media activities funded through Civil Society & Media Division and DG office contracts and agreements.
   
   
   1. Technical leadership
      The Democracy Fellow will assist with developing and carrying out the Division’s analytic approach to new media, digital technologies, information security and Internet-related development.
      
      The Democracy Fellow may engage in technical research, analysis and writing projects relating to strategies for developing new media and Internet Freedom programming.
      
      Activities would specifically include:
      
      • Keeping abreast of trends in new media development, circumvention technologies and information security, and Internet freedom; disseminating lessons learned and best practices from USAID and other donors’ programs.
      • Developing a field guide for new/digital media to be used by USAID missions, including information on how civil society organizations can best use new media tools;
      • Identifying best practices and cutting edge approaches in advocating for promoting freer, more professional digital and new media for use in grant programs and assistance to Missions;
        
   2. Activities in support of program development would likely include:
      
      • Assist DCHA/DG and USAID missions design and implement strategies and programs for civil society and media development activities emphasizing strategic use of new technology for positive social change;
      • Assist in development of indicators, measurement tools and evaluation criteria for new media and civil society programs; and participate in evaluation of these programs;
      • Advise on the effective use of technology across technical democracy and governance areas;
        
        
4. Fellow Qualifications
   The following qualifications for the Democracy Fellow are highly desirable:
   
   
   • U.S. Citizenship is required.
     
     
   • Educational Background: 
     University degrees (at least to the Masters level) in international development, international relations, communications, social sciences, computer science and/or security studies.
     
     
   • Work Experience:
     Substantial experience in many of the following areas:
     
     
     • Experience adapting technology solutions to developing country environments;
     • Experience implementing and/or designing media and/or civil society development programs utilizing social and new media;
     • Experience designing or implementing media and/or civil society development assistance programs abroad;
     • Advanced knowledge of major foreign language(s) or depth of knowledge in one region of the world;
     • Experience and/or knowledge of techniques for defending against malware, DNS and DDOS attacks;
     • Experience with mobile data collection using multiple, crowd-sourced, sources of information;
     • Experience in securing electronic communications from surveillance;
     • Experience writing and/or publishing news and opinion online;
     • Experience developing human, non-technical approaches to information security;
     • Experience conducting and/or managing cross-cultural training activities.
       
   • Interpersonal and Team Experience: 
     Candidates should have experience working or with teams, including experience in working collaboratively with media and/or development professionals to accomplish shared objectives.
     
     
   • Written and oral communications: 
     As a technical advisor, qualified applicants will have professional writing skills and ability to create succinct and convincing written products in an adroit manner. Sophisticated oral communications skills to explain complex ideas or very technical terms (such as how a circumvention tool works) in brief, easily comprehended terms is required.
     

Duration of the Position
Immediate Availability – Fellowship duration is one year, with the possibility of an extension for an additional year.

Interested candidates should send a complete application to:

Democracy Fellowship – Civil Society / Media
New Media Development and Internet Freedom
Civil Society and Media
World Learning
Democracy Fellows Program
1015 15th Street, NW
7th Floor
Washington, DC 20005
Fax: 202.408.5397
Email: dfp.info@worldlearning.org