Category

DigitalJobs

Feb 25
0

 Vacancy: Program Officer, Digital Rights (East Africa)

By | Digital Rights, DigitalJobs, Internet Freedom

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is a social enterprise that builds ICT-enabled support systems and advocates for digital rights in order to improve livelihoods for underserved African youth. Our programs include digital inclusion programs – such as the Life Skills. ICT. Financial Readiness. Entrepreneurship (LIFE) training program and the Dufuna program – and a digital rights program. PIN’s operational headquarters is in Lagos, Nigeria, and maintains digital inclusion offices across Nigeria (Aba, Ajegunle, Kano) and digital rights offices in Yaounde, Cameroon; Accra, Ghana; Abuja, Nigeria; Arusha, Tanzania and Lusaka, Zambia.

The Program Officer will lead Paradigm Initiative’s Digital Rights advocacy efforts in the East African region. She (or he) will demonstrate competence in policy intervention, research, stakeholder management, capacity building, fundraising, all focused on the Digital Rights program in the region. The ideal candidate will have great interpersonal relationship skills and will work with the Communications team to ensure publicity and adequate communication on PIN’s various activities and interventions in the region.

Reporting to:

Senior Program Manager (Digital Rights) 

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Conduct desk research concerning ICT Policy issues with focus on digital rights issues: i.e. reviewing bills, laws, policies and government action which violate digital rights in countries in East Africa, as well as incidents which violate digital rights in these countries such as but not limited to arrests for comments made online, restriction of access online, Internet content blocking/throttling/take-downs, Internet shutdowns, Net neutrality violations, enacting of legislation and policies which violate digital rights, etc.
  • Provide expertise and counseling on regional and global policies in accordance with international best practices in order to ensure maximum output
  • Engage relevant national, regional and global institutions on digital rights issues for East Africa focused on digital rights issues such as but not limited to freedom of expression, data privacy, censorship, surveillance, etc.
  • Participate in public hearings of ICT-related policies and ensure contribution/inputs
  • Representing Paradigm Initiative in meetings and conferences as required
  • Help in setting up meetings between policymakers and PI to discuss such needs as may arise regarding legislation or policies that affect Internet Freedom in concerned countries.
  • Monitor digital rights violations and developments in the region and work with the team to document, communicate and seek redress for violations, where necessary
  • Producing materials for communications advocacy including but not limited to policy briefs, fact-sheets, infographics, press releases, newsletters, etc.
  • Assist in organizing and coordinating digital rights advocacy or relevant internet policy development training
  • Fund (and other resources’) mobilization for the Digital Rights program
  • Share daily news reviews and recommendations for action
  • Share relevant ICT policy updates daily on Twitter, Facebook, etc.
  • Submit weekly/monthly/final reports/event reports and others as might be requested/required by your line manager
  • Support logistics needs and assume responsibilities that may be assigned to you during events, meetings, workshop, convenings hosted by Paradigm Initiative in any part of the world.

Key Result Areas

  • Train media, civil society, activists, at-risk citizens, policymakers and relevant stakeholders on digital rights in the East Africa region
  • Advocate for, and communicate around, digital rights issues in the East Africa region
  • Engage relevant national, regional and global institutions for digital rights issues in the East Africa region
  • Promote best practice policy efforts and instruments in the East Africa region
  • Mobilize funds for the Digital Rights program, especially in the East Africa region
  • Develop and implement policies that enhance the organization’s output and services
  • Undertake other tasks in accordance with job expectations
  • Be a leading voice in policy conversation in the region

Research/ Policy Analysis

  • Produce blogs on topical issues in Digital Rights in the region
  • Produce at least two country reports for the Digital Rights in Africa report
  • Author or co-author at least one policy brief in a year
  • Support other research efforts within the organization and/or with our partners
  • Host a quarterly policy review session to analyse, critique and make recommendations on relevant draft or existing legislation, policy or regulation.

Communication Strategies

  • Provide weekly social media content to the Communications team
  • Work with the Communications to commission and execute media campaigns

Stakeholder / Media Relations

  • Initiate and maintain relationship with leading digital rights defenders, policymakers, journalists/ media houses and other relevant stakeholders in the region, working with the Communications team to ensure relationships are leveraged optimally
  • In partnership with the Communications team, ensure adequate coverage of events and activities in the media

Financial Management / Sponsorship

  • Manage budget and ensure accurate financial reporting to the Finance and Assets Unit
  • Increased interest in sponsorship through a proactive grant application process

Salaries and Benefits

Commensurate with experience, plus other benefits such as health insurance, pension contributions, communication allowance, sabbatical leave, paid leave, maternity/paternity leave, dependent relative allowance and 13th-month salary.

How To Apply

Apply via this FORM (https://forms.gle/zrqmDaYoSA9wURQB7)

Deadline:

March 13, 2020 (Do apply immediately, if you are interested in the role, as applications will be reviewed as received, and candidates may be shortlisted and interviewed before the closing date.)

Resumption: Immediately

 

Feb 03
0

4th Industrial Revolution: Readying Africa for the emerging AI decade

By | Digital Rights, DigitalJobs, ICT Policy

Slowly but steadily, countries across Africa have begun preparing for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), where advances in Artificial Intelligence, Automation, Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud Computing, Robotics, 3D Printing, Nanotechnology and Advanced Wireless Technologies will radically alter the way we live, work and govern our societies. Artificial Intelligence has in particular made significant inroads in Africa, with AI enabled start-ups and other AI-focused institutions beginning to make an impact on the economy, social life and governance.

Governments in countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Tunisia and South Africa which have made some of the most significant progress in Artificial Intelligence in Africa have been supportive of these initiatives through monetary support for AI research and development and the promotion of STEM education. Nevertheless only a few like Kenya and Tunisia have AI national strategies which can inform AI’s integration within government and public services. However for AI – a cornerstone technology of the 4IR, to make optimum impact in Africa, sweeping structural changes have to take place in the various country contexts on the continent. I explore 3 major areas below.   

Data infrastructure

Image result for Data CenterArtificial Intelligence applications which solve practical problems acquire their ‘’Intelligence’’ by learning from very large datasets. For example AI models built for facial recognition will have been fed with very large datasets consisting of thousands of human faces in order to be trained on what constitutes a human face. By this token, societies and organizations with highly developed data capture, storage and processing ecosystems are better placed to optimally benefit from advances in AI.

This puts Africa at a strategic disadvantage because Africa, like much of the Global South, is data poor. In Africa and much of the Global South, public data collection for national accounts, household and firm surveys, data collection through administrative systems such as birth records, pensions, tax records, health and census are performed infrequently, and often lack the granularity necessary to make meaningful inferences about small, sub-populations of interest. And where some data exist, they are often not in digitized, machine readable formats which can be immediately harnessed for AI applications.

Therefore, in the public sector where AI applications might have been applied for the greatest public good on the continent, the data infrastructure is sadly non-existent or severely inadequate. In a show of what’s possible in a well developed data ecosystem, the National Health Service of the United Kingdom (UK) has collaborated with Google to bring the benefits of AI to public health in the UK through schemes such as rapid detection of cancers. This rapid diagnosis is powered by training AI models with large datasets of patient data within the NHS system. 

It is not a surprise therefore that some of the most promising AI applications in Africa are almost entirely private sector driven. Private sector organizations in Africa typically have data that is collected cost-effectively, with high frequency, and at fine levels of granularity. These include data from mobile phones, electronic transactions, social media, health and fitness apps and satellites which have driven the continents advances in AI applications such as chatbots and AI virtual assistants. However for Africa to fully tap into the potential of its emerging AI economy, the next decade must be focused on developing her public data ecosystems, and possibly effectively integrating them with the private sector in ways that stimulate development and protects human rights.  

Employment and Economic shifts

Image result for employment africa technology

Experts are not unanimous on the effects of AI and automation on the future of work globally. There is a school of thought which states that the aggregate productivity gains across all economic sectors brought about by advances in AI will even out any initial job losses occasioned by AI and automation. Other prominent thought leaders describe a more sombre outlook for the future of jobs and labour. However one thing they all agree on is the outsized effect advances in AI and automation will have on the future of jobs in Africa, compared to other parts of the world.

Sub-Saharan Africa is already the world’s youngest region today with more than 60% of its population under the age of 25. By 2030, the continent will be home to more than one-quarter of the world’s total under-25 population, growing the size of its workforce by more than the rest of the world. Nevertheless, World Economic Forum data reveals that African countries are very vulnerable to job displacements occasioned by AI and automation. The statistics below illustrates the vulnerability:

  • Sub-Saharan Africa exhibits a high-skilled employment share of just 6%, a contrast to the global average of 24% as South Africa, Mauritius and Botswana lead the way in the local availability of high-skilled jobs while others, such as Ethiopia and Nigeria, maintain large proportions of workers in lower-skilled jobs – which are more susceptible to automation. 
  • From a technological standpoint, 41% of all work activities in South Africa are susceptible to automation, as are 44% in Ethiopia, 46% in Nigeria, 48% in Mauritius, 52% in Kenya and 53% in Angola. 

In light of Africa’s vulnerability to extensive job displacement possibly occasioned by AI and automation, urgent steps need to be taken to implement a bottom-up revision of curricula in schools across Africa. More than ever before, industry participation and input is needed in re-shaping learning and instruction in educational institutions to make ready a workforce for the rapidly changing workplaces of the 21st century. What has been observed so far seems more like a top-bottom approach largely led by the private sector, with the establishment of AI research centres across Africa by the global technology giants. Google opened its AI lab in Accra in April 2019, and the Africa Institute for Mathematical Sciences was established in Kigali Rwanda in 2016 to provide high level manpower in AI and machine learning for Africa.

A more deliberate bottom-up approach will require governments to fashion out policies which respond to the changing nature of employment on the continent, setting the agenda for decades ahead. Implementing this policy might involve tactical steps like investing more in STEM education right from primary, secondary or tertiary education levels. Nevertheless any action needs to flow from deliberate policy which guides government efforts, rather than uncoordinated, knee-jerk government responses to the problem.   

Human Rights and Accountability

Related image

All over the world, developments in AI have outpaced human rights considerations in the design and implementation of these systems. Only belatedly have corporations at the forefront of AI development given serious thought to human rights and accountability in the implementation of AI systems, often in response to pressure from civil society. Both by design and function, AI systems have the potential to hurt human rights, and I explore two areas in the African context where AI systems can do the greatest hurt to human rights.

Data privacy abuses are among the most important ways AI systems can be used to hurt human rights. AI systems need to be trained on massive amounts of data in order to function effectively, and in Africa where only about 23 countries have data protection laws, and even fewer (9) have data protection authorities, it is easy to see the potential for data privacy abuses for AI applications which interface with personal identifiable data of citizens, not least financial and health information.    

Another outlet for human rights violations comes in the shape of the roll-out of facial recognition technology across major cities on the continent. In response to a report by the Wall Street Journal which asserted that Huawei technicians had helped intelligence officials in Uganda to spy on their political opponents, Ugandan police confirmed that the technology company Huawei is rolling out a massive surveillance system that uses facial recognition and other artificial intelligence software to fight crime in the country. Opposition figures within the country are concerned this capability could be used to identify and target demonstrators and opposition figures ahead of the 2021 polls. Similarly, in April 2018, Chinese AI firm CloudWalk signed a deal with the government of Zimbabwe to help build a mass facial recognition system. The AI facial recognition system in use in the Ugandan capital is part of Huawei’s ‘’Safe City initiative’’. This technology is already replicated or will soon be replicated in Kenya, Botswana, Mauritius and Zambia. While the deployment of technologies such as these can be useful in curbing crime, they could also become instruments of oppression in the hands of repressive regimes.

Globally, there is also a growing adoption of AI applications for recruitment of human resources, credit scoring and even in criminal justice administration. These critical decision-making roles which were once the exclusive preserve of humans have huge consequences for those affected by their decisions.The greatest concern with the deployment of these systems is the bias inherent in the algorithms underlying the AI, which are usually trained with data which excludes members of a population. This leads to decisions and outcomes which further exacerbates marginalization.

A high profile example were reports in 2019 which suggested that Apple card, a credit card created by Apple and developed by Goldman Sachs, was seemingly biased against women by giving them less favourable credit limits compared to men. Another concern is the opacity surrounding these AI systems. Citing trade secrets or confidentiality of patents, owners of these AI systems are reluctant to share the source code powering these algorithms. Before these systems or their variants become widely adopted in Africa, policies which protect human rights must be in place to protect the vulnerable and marginalized.

To benefit from AI, Africa must shore up the gains of the 2IR and 3IR        

More African countries need to join countries like Kenya and Tunisia in having AI national strategies which drives coordinated national efforts towards AI development. Furthermore, in addition to solidifying the policy landscape around data infrastructure, digital skills and human rights protection, in order for Africa to benefit optimally from advances in AI which is a keystone technology of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), there must be a recognition that the 4IR is only a continuum of the 2IR and 3IR.

The countries which have benefited the most so far from the 4IR are those which have continuously invested and improved on the foundational infrastructructure underpinning the 2IR and 3IR – stable electricity, efficient mass transportation (e.g. efficient rail systems) and reliable and fast broadband access, amongst others. As of today, electricity supply and Internet access in Africa is non-existent for large segments of the population, or provided inadequately where existent. Without access to basic, foundational infrastructure like excellent power and broadband, Africa’s 4IR development will be stymied. However, with continuous investments in these sectors as well as new technologies of the 4IR such as AI, Africa might as well turn a corner, and begin a new chapter of development the continent has never seen.  

The author, Babatunde Okunoye is a research officer at Paradigm Initiative.

   

 

Jan 23
0

Vacancy: Chief Operations Officer

By | DigitalJobs

Paradigm Initiative (PIN) is a social enterprise that builds ICT-enabled support systems and advocates for digital rights in order to improve livelihoods for underserved African youth. Our programs include digital inclusion programs – such as the Life Skills. ICT. Financial Readiness. Entrepreneurship (LIFE) training program and the Dufuna program – and a digital rights program. PIN’s operational headquarters is in Lagos, Nigeria, and maintains digital inclusion offices across Nigeria (Aba, Ajegunle, Kano) and digital rights offices in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia.

The Chief Operations Officer will oversee administration across offices and lead PIN’s operations on the continent including strategy development, research, writing, media representation, program alignments, co-fundraising (with the Executive Director) and advocacy. The ideal candidate will have a lot of experience in the social sector and a strong understanding of local or grassroots organizations and movements in African countries. She (or he) will demonstrate expertise in digital rights and inclusion programs and processes.

Roles and Responsibilities

  1. Administration
  • Identify new funding opportunities in the countries in which we work and work with managers and team members, as may be required to make sure that every income-earning opportunity that comes our way is utilized maximally
  • Preparation of grant proposals and initiating fundraising activities to ensure the availability of resources for all programs
  • Overseeing the delivery of administrative functions by the Human Resources Manager, Finance Manager and Communications Manager
  • Attending meetings and representing the organization at functions that align with PIN’s core values and mission
  • Building and maintaining high-quality relationships and communications with partners, donors, funders, and other partners
  • Actively promoting the organization’s programs, projects, and services
  1. Program Management
  • C0-designing, co-development, supervision, and evaluation of programs at Paradigm Initiative
  • Leading staff and assure the highest quality program outputs
  • Conducting periodic technical reviews of programs, providing feedback to ensure projects are following or advancing best practices, achieving expected targets, meeting beneficiary and donor expectations, and achieving the objectives set in the strategic management plan
  • Providing thought leadership thereby expanding Paradigm Initiative’s technical reputation, while following and engaging in relevant technical dialogue within the industry
  • Compiling and maintain reports on the monthly, quarterly and annual program activities
  • Analyzing trends in programs, identifying issues, developing and recommending solutions to the Executive Director
  • Supporting the cultivation and strengthening of institutional relationships with donors, partner organizations and other collaborators in the international development arena
  • Building and maintaining high-quality relationships and communications with partners and other stakeholders

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

  • Advanced degree in Business Administration in the Social Sector, Public Administration, International Affairs, Political Science, or related areas
  • 10-15 years’ experience within social sector organizations, with at least 5 of those in a senior managerial role
  • Experience working with, or a strong understanding of, local or grassroots organizations and movements in African countries
  • Work experience in Central, East, Southern or West Africa
  • Significant demonstration of project leadership and management experience
  • Proven ability to think analytically and plan strategically, including setting objectives and identifying and capitalizing on opportunities for PIN’s work
  • Poise, flexibility, discretion, and mature judgment to handle and respond appropriately and professionally in stressful circumstances
  • Well organized, self-motivated, and able to conceptualize and implement programs and work as part of a team
  • Creative thinking and an ability to develop new lines of work, whether in new countries or particular thematic issues
  • Excellent leader (leads by example) and skills developer, particularly with remote staff
  • Outstanding research, analysis, communication and writing skills
  • Fluency in English is required, working knowledge of French is a major advantage
  • A sense of humor, passion for people and ability to not take yourself too seriously

Salaries and Benefits

N 7,856,894.73 p/a (gross) plus other benefits such as health insurance, pension contributions, communications allowance, sabbatical leave, paid leave, maternity/paternity leave, dependent relative allowance and 13th month salary.

How To Apply

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and the contact information for three references to leadership@paradigmhq.org. Please use “Chief Operations Officer” and your name as the subject of your eMail (for example, “Chief Operations Officer_Chabota Siliko”). Only complete applications will be reviewed and due to the usual volume of applications, we may only be able to contact shortlisted candidates.

Deadline: 22nd February, 2020 (Applications are reviewed as they roll in, kindly apply before the deadline).

Note: There is a possibility of immediate resumption for role.

May 25
0

Paradigm Initiative Holds Digital Rights Workshop in Cameroon

By | DigitalJobs

Paradigm Initiative, in partnership with Internews, will organize two capacity building workshops for civil society organizations working on human rights and digital rights in the anglophone and francophone regions of Cameroon. The workshop will hold from May 2 to 5, 2018

The main objectives of these workshops for the first phase are to raise the awareness of participating organizations about Internet rights and Internet policy issues; provide participants with advocacy skills to engage key stakeholders in all sectors; to mobilize their commitment to promote and defend digital rights in Cameroon.

These workshops are organized by Paradigm Initiative in partnership with Internews, an international NGO based in the United States. This training also benefits from the support of Afroleadership and the Center for Youth Education and Economic Development (CYEED), local partners of the event.

Following on from those organized in other African countries, this training is in line with Paradigm Initiative’s commitment to building the capacity of African organizations on digital rights issues to enable them to effectively advocate for freedom of expression and other human rights challenges on the continent.

According to the African Union’s Declaration on the Rights and Freedoms of the Internet, and the Declaration on Internet Governance, most African countries lack significant mechanisms to encourage inclusive citizen and stakeholder participation in the process of implementing Internet policies and digital rights.

These training workshops are organized to deepen the knowledge of participants from the North West, West and Central regions of Cameroon. A total of about 30 participants will be equipped on digital rights topics with participatory strategies to engage stakeholders at the local, national, regional and international levels.

Paradigm Initiative is a social enterprise that builds an ICT-enabled support system and advocates digital rights in order to improve livelihoods for under-served youth. Our programs include digital inclusion programs – such as the Life Skills. ICT. Financial Readiness. Entrepreneurship (LIFE) training program and Techtiary program – and a digital rights program. Through our offices in Nigeria (Aba, Abuja, Ajegunle, Kano, Yaba) and Yaounde Cameroon, we work to connect under-served youth with improved livelihoods through our digital inclusion and digital rights programs.. Paradigm Initiative works with experts across Eastern, Western, Southern and Central Africa. Paradigm Initiative has been working for nearly 10 years on digital rights in Africa with the support of local, national and international partners.

Internews is a non-profit, international organization, established in 1982, with offices in California, Washington DC, and London, as well as regional centers in Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Latin America and North America. For nearly 40 years, Internews has worked in more than 100 countries with local partners to build hundreds of sustainable organizations, build the capacity of thousands of media professionals, human rights activists and information entrepreneurs as well as improving lives and building sustainable development.

 

May 24
0

Paradigm Initiative at RightsCon

By | DigitalJobs

Paradigm Initiative is participating at RightsCon 2018 in Toronto, Canada. RightsCon holds from May 16 to May 18, 2018. Attending are Digital Rights Program Manager (Anglophone Africa), Boye Adegoke, the  Director of Programs, Tope Ogundipe, and the Executive Director of Paradigm ‘Gbenga Sesan,

Shared below are the three sessions we are organizing to help further conversation and cooperation on digital rights issues.

A- Session 47: Africa’s Digital Rights Secretariat: Net Rights Africa Coalition and its prospects

Date: May 17

Time: 16:00 – 17:00

Venue: Room 201A

Speakers: Sanja Kelly (Freedom House), Sheetal Kumar (Global Partners Digital), Julie Owono (Internet Sans Frontieres), Gbenga Sesan, Michael Moss (MLDI) and  Henry Maina (Article 19)

Moderator: Tope Ogundipe

Synopsis: The Net Rights Africa Coalition, originally a solution to solving a problem of digital rights in Nigeria by coming up with the globally-acclaimed Digital Rights and Freedom Bill for Nigeria, has now scaled Africa to replicate its successes across regions. In doing more of what it has done in the past, the Coalition seeks to recognize the prominent challenges of digital rights across African regions and work with a cluster of experts to resolve them. The Coalition is also currently being used as a feeder for the annual Digital Rights status in Africa report.

This session seeks to rally major experts on digital rights issues in Africa and have them discuss how to make this Coalition a bigger reality and success.

 

B- Session 45: Electoral Choices and Artificial Intelligence: The Need for Transnational Collaboration in Africa

Date: Thursday, May 17

Time: 17:15 – 18:15

Venue: Room 204C

Moderator: Adeboye Adegoke 

Speakers: Grace Githaiga (KICKTANet), Grace Bomu (KICKTANet), Henry Maina (Article 19), Titi Akinsanmi (Google).

Moderator. Adeboye Adegoke (Paradigm Initiative)

Synopsis: This session will focus on the intersection of civic participation, algorithms/artificial intelligence, and human rights. Patterning has become a key identifier of results especially as it has to do with machine learning. With the huge exchange of data in Africa and with no means of measuring for accountability, these patterns are said to open to several manipulations and even selection of predetermined choices of citizens especially during the performance of the most civic obligation of all – voting. Several pieces of evidence point to these facts in the past with respect to the US elections, the UK Brexit process and more recently in Kenya. More emphasis will be placed on Africa as a virgin ground and how this ground can be protected from the likely perversion of technologies to the detriment of the people.

 

C- Session 46: Litigating Internet Shutdowns in Africa: Identifying Blurred Lines and Roadmaps:

Date: Friday, May 18

Time: 09:00 – 10:15

Venue: Room 205C

Speakers: Titi Akinsanmi (Google),  Padraig Hughes (Media Legal Defence Initiative), Peter Micek (Access Now) and Gbenga Sesan (Paradigm Initiative)

Moderator: Boye Adegoke (Paradigm Initiative)

Synopsis: This panel discussion will address the proliferation of instances where states have blocked or partially restricted access to the internet, and civil society strategies to challenge internet shutdowns using litigation before domestic and regional courts.

**
Besides these sessions, our team members would also be participating in other sessions. You can follow @ParadigmHQ on twitter for a regular update on our activities at RightsCon.

Mar 28
1

Call for Application: Fully-sponsored participation at the 2018 Nigeria Internet Governance Forum

By | DigitalJobs, ICTs

Paradigm Initiative is pleased to announce its fully funded Fellowships to the Nigerian Internet Governance Forum 2018.  

The fellowship is open to all undergraduates in their penultimate year (year before final year), irrespective of field of study.

Selected fellows will be sponsored to attend the 2018 Nigeria Internet Governance Forum in Abuja in July 2018. The fellowship will cover flight, accommodation and per diem.

Selection will be based on the following criteria:

  1. Keen interest in ICT Policy issues in general, and Digital Rights in particular
  2. Willingness to complete a final year project related to Digital Rights, irrespective of field of study and angle (legal, technical, social, etc) of approach to the relevant issues
  3. Availability to travel to — and from Abuja — between July 1 and 4, 2018

Fellows who dedicate their final year thesis to a digital rights issue may also be supported by Paradigm Initiative in their research.  

If you would like to secure one of the five (5) fellowship slots, please do the following:

  1. Record a 3-minute video of yourself speaking on what “Digital Rights” means to you as a young Nigerian.
  2. Upload the video online and share on social media, using the hashtag #NIGF18withPI, and copy @ParadigmHQ
  3. Fill this form and make sure to include the link to your video: http://bit.ly/PInigf

 

You must complete all three steps above before 12 midnight June 15, 2018, when the competition will end. Please note that applications after this deadline will not be considered.   

Mar 25
0

Vacancy: Google Policy Fellow, East/Southern Africa

By | DigitalJobs

Advertised Position

Google Policy Fellow, East/Southern Africa

Summary

Paradigm Initiative is recruiting to fill a vacant Google Policy Fellow position in the organisation. The Fellow will be working on the Digital Rights Program of Paradigm Initiative, with focus on East and Southern Africa. The fellowship will run for six months from May 2018 to November 2018.

The Fellow will have the opportunity to work at the forefront of debates on digital rights policy, broadband and access policy, content regulation, copyright and creativity, consumer privacy, open government, government surveillance, data security, data innovation, free expression and more.

The Fellow will lead Paradigm Initiative’s Magoyi (digital rights-focused) program in East and Southern Africa, with a strong focus on communication and advocacy; training; stakeholder engagement; research and publications; and policy.

Line Manager

Director of Programs

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Provide expertise and counseling on regional and global policies in accordance with international best practices in order to ensure maximum output
  • Participate in public hearings of ICT-related policies and ensure contribution/inputs
  • Monitor digital rights violations in the region and work with a team to document, communicate and seek redress for violations, where necessary
  • Fund (and other resources’) mobilization for the Digital Rights program
  • Establish, manage, maintain and review programs and operations
  • Strategically develop key policies that enhance organizational growth and development
  • Engage relevant national, regional and global institutions on digital rights issues for East and Southern Africa
  • Take decisions that promote the organization’s procedural standards
  • Disseminate information on digital rights issues and take initiatives on new trends so as to add value to the organization
  • Consistently review, monitor and evaluate policies that support growth and development
  • Conduct research on policies and procedural standards in order to achieve goals and objectives
  • Manage and maximize team output and performance, where necessary
  • Plan and develop policies that support equity, transparency, and accountability

 

Qualifications and Skills

  • Degree in Law, Public Policy, Public Administration or relevant body of knowledge along with relevant experience
  • Knowledgeable about digital rights and current policies/trends that promote ICT-related growth and development
  • Experience in policy planning, research, implementation, program monitoring and program evaluation

Key Result Areas

  • Train media, civil society, activists, at-risk citizens, policymakers and relevant stakeholders on digital rights in the East/Southern Africa region
  • Advocate for, and communicate around, digital rights issues in the East/Southern Africa region
  • Engage relevant national, regional and global institutions for digital rights issues in the East/Southern Africa region
  • Promote best practice policy efforts and instruments in the East/Southern Africa region
  • Complete relevant research and publication of timely policy briefs, reports, blogs, articles, etc, for digital rights issues in the East/Southern Africa region
  • Mobilize funds for the Digital Rights program, especially in the East/Southern Africa region
  • Periodic analysis and review of policies, strategies, and procedures
  • Develop and implement policies that enhance the organization’s output and services
  • Undertake other tasks in accordance with job expectations

Application Details

Fill the application here on or before April 15, 2018. Please note that this position is open to only candidates from the East/Southern Africa region.

Mar 25
0

Vacancy: Program Officer (Election News Fact Checking Project)

By | DigitalJobs

Job Title: Program Officer (Election News Fact Checking Project)

Project Duration: May 1, 2018 – April 30, 2019

As fake news online becomes a serious menace, there is a need for lovers of free speech to combat it before haters of free speech use it as an excuse to curtail citizens’ right to free speech online. To this end, Paradigm Initiative is collaborating with Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism to leverage Dubawa, a fact-checking platform, in debunking fake news and propaganda during the coming election season, thereby ensuring only factual news thrive online and citizens are able to make informed decisions.

Paradigm Initiative, therefore, seeks a Program Officer to manage this crucial project. The Program Officer is responsible for managing partner relationships and overseeing project implementation in its entirety. He/she will also:

  • Manage the project’s narrative reporting, budgets, and  financial reporting
  • Manage a team of volunteers that would work with her/him on the project
  • Work closely with team members to identify and develop new strategic partnerships and activities.
  • Regularly identify fake news with consequence for the 2019 elections and craft well-written, research-based articles to debunk them
  • Use the tools of infographics, short videos, illustrations, etc, to advance the cause of the project
  • Lead the advocacy efforts against fake news  during the 2019 elections
  • Work with traditional and online media outfits to identify fake news and leverage their platforms to neutralize the effect of such fake news
  • Organise events with high profile politicians and policymakers in attendance to address election-related fake news and propaganda
  • Represent Paradigm Initiative on television shows, conferences, events to discuss the project

Who should apply:

  • You enjoy excellent journalism; consuming it and producing it
  • You are concerned about the negative impact of fake news and are ready to do  something about it
  • You love advocacy and have experience running a successful advocacy project, or at least being an important part of it
  • You can and do regularly write, with evidence of your writing on major media platforms
  • You have experience in journalism
  • You have a tested ability to engage in quality research, both desk and field
  • You have a good nose for identifying plain or deodorised bullshit
  • You have a keen eye for details
  • You have experience in managing, developing or supporting programs
  • You have experience developing and managing monitoring and evaluation efforts
  • You have demonstrated interpersonal skills
  • You have excellent communication skills: speaking, writing, and listening.
  • You have an excellent handle on digital tools and social media usage

Application

Interested? Fill the application form on/or before April 15, 2018. Only shortlisted candidates would be contacted for the interview session. The selected qualified candidate will resume immediately.

Mar 24
0

Call for Paradigm Initiative Media Fellowship 2018

By | DigitalJobs

Paradigm Initiative Digital Rights and Inclusion Media Fellowship is a 5-month program designed to immerse outstanding, early career, journalists in digital rights and digital inclusion advocacy – and intervention efforts – in Africa. Selected journalists will work with Paradigm Initiative on various projects and contribute to improving public understanding of digital rights and inclusion issues.

Components of the Fellowship

  • 2-day Orientation and Digital Rights/Inclusion training
  • 2-week residency at Paradigm Initiative’s offices in Nigeria. The Fellow will spend time at the Yaba HQ, Aba LIFE Centre, Abuja office, Ajegunle LIFE Centre and Kano LIFE Centre
  • 4-month virtual collaboration with Paradigm Initiative
  • Fellowship may also include fully-funded local and international travels to participate in and cover relevant events
  • Interaction with leading stakeholders in digital rights advocacy

Expectations  

  • Fellows will be expected to participate in all scheduled activities
  • Fellows will be expected to publish, in their affiliated newspapers or magazines, at least twelve reports on digital rights and inclusion issues during the fellowship period. Fellows will retain full editorial direction on the stories
  • Fellows will be expected to continue to provide coverage to digital rights and inclusion issues after their fellowship
  • Paradigm Initiative will provide fellows with a monthly stipend, and a one-time research grant, during the fellowship period

Who can apply?

  • The Fellowship is open to journalists affiliated with mainstream print and online newspapers in Africa
  • Interested candidates must demonstrate previous coverage of human rights and/or tech issues and interest in advocacy journalism
  • Interested candidates must not have spent more than ten years in journalism. We are most interested in outstanding, early career journalists

How to apply

Fill the application form here: https://bit.ly/2rf7OSk

 

Deadline: May 30, 2018.

Fellowship will run from July to December 2018.

Mar 01
0

Stakeholders Hold Roundtable on Digital Rights and Engagement in Lagos  

By | #PINternetFreedom, DigitalJobs, ICT Policy

Effective digital engagement by government agencies remains a big priority for the Federal Government because of its immense potential, this was the position of Tolu Ogunlesi, the Head of Presidency Office of Digital Engagement (PODE). Ogunlesi was speaking at a stakeholder roundtable on digital rights and digital engagement organised by Paradigm Initiative, Facebook and PODE.

The roundtable, which held on February 22, in Lagos, brought together stakeholders from government agencies, the private sector and the civil society.  It provided an engaging atmosphere for a lively debate on issues affecting internet freedom and digital engagement by government agencies in Nigeria. Issues discussed at the roundtable include data privacy and protection, law enforcement, libel, fake news, and digital engagement by the government. The roundtable followed the first edition held in Abuja last year.

Speaking at the roundtable, the Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, ‘Gbenga Sesan emphasised the need for continuous conversation between stakeholders in the private sector, civil society and the government on digital rights issues in Nigeria. He said, “Digital right issues are far too important to our democracy and it is crucial that we engage in conversation with security agencies and public servants on how we can ensure freedom of people online while keeping the nation and citizens safe.”

In her remarks, Public Policy Manager, Africa of Facebook,  Akua Gyeke said, “Facebook is an important platform for political conversation in Nigeria, and we are happy to be a part of this. Facebook is dedicated to keeping people safe online, foster civility and responsible behaviour and promoting free expression and sharing.”

Tolu Ogunlesi, who led the conversation on a proposed Digital Engagement Policy for Federal Government, said that his office was working hard on creating digital engagement standards that would guide all government offices in their use of digital tools to ensure effective communication with the public.

“There is currently no social media policy for the Federal Govt. This is understandable as social media use is relatively new in government circle. But this situation has led to inconsistency in the way government offices use digital media. We are currently working on creating a digital engagement policy for the federal government. It will provide guidelines on platforms to use, accounts administration, logo and naming standard, editorial policies, archival system, content process and management, among other things”

Participants at the roundtable include Anselm Ozioko of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission representing the Acting Chairman of the Commission and the Acting Director of Defence Information Brigadier General John Agim, who provided perspectives from the national security and law enforcement side. Other participants are Chioma Okee-Aguguo representing the CEO of  National Information Technology Development Agency, Olufemi Fadare of the National Identity Management Commission, Olusola Teniola, President, Association Of Telecommunication Companies Of Nigeria (ATCON), Edet Ojo, Executive Director at Media Rights Agenda.

    en_USEnglish
    fr_FRFrench en_USEnglish