25 May 2018
The Women's Rights Programme of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) is looking for an experienced feminist researcher to join APC’s virtual office and help support our exciting work. The research lead will be responsible for coordinating a Feminist Internet Research Network of partners who will undertake data-driven research to support change in policy and in discourse on internet rights in four main thematic areas: access, big data and artificial intelligence, online gender-based violence, and gendered labour in the digital economy.
APC is a global network of civil society organisations whose mission is to empower and support organisations, social movements and individuals in and through the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to build strategic communities and initiatives for the purpose of making meaningful contributions to equitable human development, social justice, participatory political processes and environmental sustainability.
Purpose of the job: The successful candidate will join APC’s Women's Rights Programme (APC WRP) to support research initiatives that are part of the Feminist Internet Research Network for their duration, including developing research methodology, facilitating peer-review processes and coordinating the production of the main research outputs. The research lead will be also responsible for animating peer exchange among the network members and ensuring cross-communication among the research teams engaging with different themes.
Start date: 20 July 2018
Remuneration and duration of contract: This is a 0.8 full-time equivalent (FTE) position on contract for an initial 12-month period, which includes a three-month probation period. The contract is renewable for three years depending on performance. Remuneration is based on APC’s salary scale. Short-listed candidates will receive specific information on the salary range on request.
Location: The successful applicant may work from anywhere in the world provided they have reliable and consistent internet access. APC provides an equipment allowance and requires staff to use their own computers and office equipment. International and regional travel will be required occasionally. Please note that APC is a networked organisation based primarily in the global South, and privileges this political lens and location in our work.
The deadline for applications is 10 JUNE 2018 at 23:00 UTC.
Please note only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
For more information about APC, refer to https://www.apc.org/
Background on the Feminist Internet Research Network
The Feminist Principles of the Internet (FPIs) were collectively crafted by feminists and activists, primarily located in the global South. The principles foreground the rights of women, gender-diverse and queer people and others to fully participate in public life free from violence and to explore their sexual autonomy and expression.
This project focuses on the making of a feminist internet as critical to bring about transformation in gendered structures of power that exist online and onground. The objective is to ensure that the needs of women, gender-diverse and queer people are taken into account in internet policy discussions and decision making. This is to be achieved through the setting up of a Feminist Internet Research Network where members undertake data-driven research that provides substantial evidence to drive change in policy, law and discourse around internet rights.
The overarching research questions for the network are:
1. What forms of discrimination do women, gender-diverse and queer people face because of social, political and economic changes driven by digital technology and the internet?
2. What are the challenges and opportunities in policy, infrastructure and socio-cultural norms for the making of a feminist internet?
Based on emerging areas and gaps in knowledge that were identified in the mapping of research in gender and digital technology, the research network members will focus on the following important themes: a) access (usage and infrastructure) and gender; b) big data and its impact on vulnerable populations; c) policy initiatives and movements that address online gender-based violence; and d) the precarious forms of gendered labour in the digital economy.
The network will also facilitate the exchange of learnings and capacity building among members and others, through the projects' main activities, which include: annual convenings and a research hackathon; participation in key events around internet rights and policy; theme-based exchanges and engagement with a wider community of policy actors and practitioners; repackaging of research findings in short-form materials such as policy briefs, guidelines and visuals; development of an open and multidisciplinary curriculum on feminist internet; and publications on online platforms and in peer-reviewed journals.
How to apply
Send your CV and a cover letter in English that illustrates your interest in the position to jobs@apc.org with “RESEARCH LEAD” in the subject line.
The following information should be included in your CV or cover letter
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Your interest in the position.
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Your experience in coordinating or playing a lead role in a multi-country team of researchers, and other tasks described for this position.
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Link or attachment of one research paper that you think best demonstrates your capacity and knowledge needed for this role.
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Your specific area of research or interest that overlaps with that of the project (described in more detail below).
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Why you would like to work with APC and any other information you think might be of importance to our assessment of your application.
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Your digital skills.
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Where you live.
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Languages you speak and write.
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Three references including name, relationship and contact details. At least one of these should be related to your work experience in the areas referred to in this call.
The research lead will be responsible for the following tasks
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Development of overall research methodology.
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Supporting the work of a peer-advisory committee that will be set up as part of the project. The committee will consist of a mix of resource people from different disciplines and be tasked with ensuring that research ethics, methodology and outputs are discussed and critiqued at various project stages.
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Working closely with selected research initiatives throughout the research duration, including checking on progress, providing input, facilitating peer-review processes, and ensuring cross-communication among the research teams and network members.
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Supporting the project coordinator administrative tasks, including managing the support funds for the network or planning the network convening.
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Facilitating learning exchanges among the network members and other researchers across disciplines through identifying opportunities and facilitating participation of the network members in online conversations and events and supporting their submissions of papers to academic journals.
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Coordinating production of main research outputs, including a digital book and curriculum for formal/informal academic institutions.
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Ensuring that research outputs are available in multiple languages and formats for use by broader research communities.
Qualifications and capacity
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Postgraduate degree in one of the following areas: social and political sciences; economic and social development; gender and feminist studies; development studies; human rights, science and technology studies, or equivalent experience.
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Demonstrated strong research skills in mixed methods research methodologies and interdisciplinary approaches applied to gender and social impact analysis of development projects. Capacity to engage with data-driven research is an advantage.
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Sound knowledge of research theories and methodologies that are feminist and that consider intersecting forms of discrimination experienced by people from heterogeneous locations (based on class, race, religion, caste, ethnicity, ability, gender expression, sexuality).
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Experience in development and implementation of research ethics when data is sensitive and/or digital in nature, and on the ethics of knowledge creation, use and dissemination.
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Knowledge of and experience in conducting data-driven research studies and coordination of multilingual research projects and output design is an advantage.
Experience and skills
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Experience and background in working with civil society.
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Enthusiasm for networking and a track record as an inclusive network builder.
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Excellent English writing and oral communication skills.
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Apart from English, proficiency in Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese or French would be an advantage.
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Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work cross-culturally.
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Ability to work in a team and across time zones.
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Ability to work independently and to coordinate people and processes via online communications.
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Experience working in an online virtual/remote environment would be an advantage.
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Adept digital skills including use of spreadsheets.
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Ability to meet tight, multiple and concurrent deadlines.