Gender & Inclusion Consultant - Russia and Eurasia Programme

Position description

Request for Consultancy Services Project on Strengthening Georgia’s Resilience to Disinformation and Cyber Threats

Chatham House is a world-leading source of independent analysis, informed debate and influential ideas on how to build a prosperous and secure world for all. Our convening power attracts world leaders and the best analysts in their respective fields from across the globe. The institute undertakes rigorous analysis with the aim of setting the agenda and shaping policy by encouraging forward thinking in international affairs. Chatham House’s research expertise combines both thematic and deep country-specific knowledge to develop unique perspectives on global issues.

Chatham House has a wealth of expertise both on Georgia and on disinformation and cybersecurity. It has been a globally recognised focal point for analysis on Russia and the independent states of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the South Caucasus for over 30 years. The institute is also seen as a world leader on cyber and Internet policy issues. It has been conducting research and simulations of cyber crises with the aim of increasing capacity in cybersecurity and developing relationships between the cyber security communities in different regions and countries around the world, including in India, the United Kingdom, the Gulf region South East Asia and Commonwealth countries. In addition, Chatham House’s Digital Society Initiative brings together policy and technology communities to help forge a common understanding and jointly address the challenges that rapid advances in technology are causing for domestic and international politics. 

Project Background and Impact 

The institute has recently embarked on a new project entitled “Strengthening Georgia’s Resilience to Disinformation and Cyber Threats”, supported by Global Affairs Canada. This project aims to strengthen Georgia’s resilience to threats against democracy from disinformation, malign external influence and cyber-attacks. It will do so by increasing the understanding of Georgia’s main vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies affecting the information spheres and related cyber issues, and testing and improving collaboration among key stakeholders, paying particular attention to incorporating human rights and gender equality considerations. This will be done through designing and implementing a simulation exercise involving key actors, which will help develop recommendations for a multistakeholder response strategy to disinformation and cyber-attacks.

Desired Project Outcomes

• Increased knowledge of Georgia’s main cyber vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies affecting the information spheres 
• Establishment of inclusive multistakeholder strategies and adaptive response mechanisms to strengthen Georgia’s capacity to deal with information pollution and cyber-attacks.

The project seeks to build capacity of a range of stakeholders through training, network building and development, raising awareness of key pressure points in different communities, and strengthening accountability mechanisms.

Purpose of the consultancy 

We are recruiting a consultant with expertise in human rights issues, gender and inclusion, as well as familiarity with digital and ICT policy and/or Georgia to support the team with the implementation of the project.

The Consultant will advise the team through incorporating human rights and gender and inclusion considerations at each phase of the project. S/he will also support the team in conducting a mapping of key stakeholders and policy considerations in Georgia. During simulation development and delivery, s/he will incorporate signposting to human rights and gender and inclusion considerations. These considerations will also be incorporated into post-simulation outputs.

Project Activities and Outputs 

Between January 2021 and January 2022, the project will deliver the following activities and outputs:

• Vulnerabilities mapping and stakeholder consultations 
• Stakeholder scoping and mapping
• Pre-Simulation stakeholder brainstorming workshop (June/ July 2021)
• Simulation exercise (October/ November 2021)
• Simulation stakeholder debrief
• Expert comment and promotional social media content
• Promotional media and multimedia content
• Simulation summary report
• Interactive lessons learned and best practices webinar

Please note that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the plan may change. Any changes will be discussed with the consultant.

Outputs 

The Consultant is expected to contribute to the different project activities by delivering the following:

1. A gender and inclusion and human rights mainstreaming framework/ strategy for the project which includes:

• A situational analysis of human rights and gender equality in Georgia, including an assessment of the existing relevant inclusivity and human rights commitments in legal or political frameworks that Georgia has already committed to and which we can promote and reference in the simulation. 
• An assessment of good practice in incorporating inclusivity and human rights in disinformation and capacity building projects with concrete recommendations for the project team on ways to embed human rights and gender and inclusion considerations throughout the project activities and alignment with project outcomes. 
• An assessment of the existing relevant inclusivity and human rights commitments in legal or political frameworks that Georgia has already committed to and which can be promoted and referenced in the simulation. 
• A desk-based assessment of the inclusion and human rights context of the key stakeholders that we will be working with in the project, highlighting opportunities and issues 

(Estimated number of days: 5)

2. An analysis of the stakeholder map focusing on inclusivity and human rights issues including:

• Proposing a methodology for collecting information during the research phase that will allow the team to refine and complete an assessment of the inclusivity and human rights context in Georgia.
• Refining and completing the assessment of the inclusion and human rights context of the key stakeholders in Georgia, based on information gathered during research interviews. 
• Identifying local/regional NGOs, think tanks, institutions or other organizations who should be considered critical stakeholders to the project and/or who could support the project’s delivery. 
• Updating the recommendations for how the inclusivity and human rights should be addressed within the simulation design and delivery. 
• Advise and lead on consultations with stakeholders working on inclusivity and human rights where applicable and necessary. 
• Review of the vulnerability and stakeholder mapping reports and advise on any gaps for further consideration by the project.

(Estimated number of days: 5)

3.Input into the simulation material with inclusivity and human rights considerations.

(Estimated number of days: 4)

4. Review of the simulation summary report and advice on any gaps for further consideration by the project

(Estimated number of days: 2)

5. Based on project implementation, input into key recommendations for a whole of society approach to combatting disinformation and influence and building resilience to it through incorporating inclusivity and human rights considerations.

(Estimated number of days: 3)

6.Input into the outreach strategy from an inclusion and human rights perspective, advising on tactics the project could adopt for a wider and more diverse outreach.

(Estimated number of days: 2)

 

The budget for this position is £10,570 (inclusive of VAT).

Application instructions

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