Consultant: Policy Specialist- Social Media Engagement

Overview

More Details

Terms of Reference:

Program/Policy Specialist- Policy Environment for Social Media Engagement

Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is a locally rooted, global peacebuilding organization,  working in 33 countries. Our mission is to find local solutions to today’s toughest violent conflicts.  With headquarters in Washington and Brussels, SFCG’s mission is to transform how individuals,  organizations, and governments deal with conflict. We have been working in Sri Lanka since 2011  and have implemented a range of programs across the country covering different regions. More details  of our work can be found on our website: https://www.sfcg.org/sri-lanka

Background/ Justification:

Sri Lanka has recently experienced varying levels of violence and hate speech resulting from  deep ethnic and religious divisions that remain after the civil war. A rise in online hate speech has  been noted particularly in the aftermath of the Easter bombings in 2019 where gender  dynamics were also seen to shape the rhetoric and messaging adopted by ethnic and religious-based groups. The current context  has also been noted as hostile towards women and sexual gender minorities (SGM), as the social  media space is dominated by men.

Members of the LGBTQI community are especially vulnerable to technology-related violence— including surveillance, threats, and extortion from their families and communities—because of the  criminalization of homosexuality in Sri Lanka. Specific groups of women and representatives of  SGM enjoying public visibility, such as politicians, journalists, and human rights defenders (HRD),  have been targeted by slander and hate speech, which has led many to abandon their jobs or  even the country.

The evidence-based on gendered online hate speech and cyber-SGBV, effective responses, and  how it contributes to offline violence and conflict dynamics (including Conflict Related Sexual  Violence [CRSV]) is weak, leading to a patchwork of responses. While there have been strong  stand-alone research and advocacy efforts by organizations like Hashtag Generation

(#Generation), the Centre for Policy Alternatives, and the Centre for Equality and Justice (CEJ),  there has not been a comprehensive mapping or coordinated response. There is a pressing need  to test, adapt, and coordinate effective responses and scale successful approaches to address  gendered online hate speech. These findings should then inform national priorities to develop an  enabling environment for a comprehensive response to gendered online hate speech. While the  current government shows a commitment to ensuring Sri Lankans participate in public life online, key Sri Lankan institutions have limited understanding and capacity to address the sensitive topic of gendered online hate speech and cyber-SGBV. Leveraging recent learning on addressing  ethnic and religious online hate speech in all three languages, Search and partners are uniquely  placed to address this situation with a non-adversarial and community-driven approach to shift  harmful gender norms at the local and national level.

Given the above context, Search, together with its partners, has been working on advancing effective  responses to gendered-online hate speech and cyber-GBV in Sri Lanka. The 4th phase of the project aims to advance effective responses to online gendered hate speech through four  interlinked outcomes that will:

1. Strengthen/improve the monitoring system based on evidence based learning to inform and promote responses among stakeholders/actors.

2. Increase capacity of civil society and state institutions to implement and promote or scale up existing responses effectively for GOHS and CSGBV to provide better support towards affected groups.

3. Use lessons learnt and best practices to advocate with policy makers within the country as well as with Big Tech to improve GOHS and CSGBV response mechanisms.

4. Challenge and improve the existing knowledge and capacity of users to create and utilize  safe, respectful and inclusive cyber spaces.

In line with the third objective, Search seeks the services of a Program/Policy Specialist to develop a set of policy recommendations based on an in depth, critical analysis of the Policy and Legal context in Sri Lanka.

Scope of Work:

The consultant will conduct a detailed/ in-depth analysis of the Online Safety Act No. 9 of 2024,  together with the Sri Lanka Code of Practice for Online Safety and Responsible Content developed by the SAFEWebLK initiative. This analysis will critically evaluate these documents identifying their strengths, gaps, weaknesses and implications for Sri Lankan Social Media Users. The analysis should take into account and incorporate a comparative review of applicable international frameworks and laws as well as any stakeholder feedback.

Based on the findings of this analysis, the consultant will develop a set of recommendations, which will be incorporated into the analysis/report.

In addition to the above Analysis report with recommendations, the consultant will advise       the Search team on any engagement with Sri Lankan Policy makers and BigTech organizations, during the consultancy period.

 

 

 

Deliverables and Timeline:

Deliverable
Estimated duration
Proof of Delivery
Target due date
Attend the Initial briefing with project team
Collect, Review/analyze Relevant documents
Conduct interviews with selected stakeholders

35 Days
1 Page sample of interview notes

1 page brief report
On or before 21 February 2025
Produce a Report with analysis findings and actionable policy recommendations
Briefings with project team for review and finalization of report (incorporating two rounds of feedback and revisions)
27.5 Days
Analysis Report
20 March 2025
Contract Period:

The contract period will be for and maximum of 62.5 days, between 15th January 2025 and 20th March 2025

Qualifications, Capabilities and Experience:

Qualifications-Knowledge and backround in law, human rights, and social media policy.
Experience in work related to Gender/Cyber Sexual and Gender Based Violence
Well networked with organizations and individuals working to address CSGBV as well as key Bigtech institutions in the Asia Region
Good verbal and written communications skills in English.
Good time management skills

Payment:

Payment will be made in line with the above payment structure, upon submission of deliverables and relevant invoices. All payments are subject to applicable taxes imposed by the State.

The consultant is expected to utilize their own resources (e.g. computer, paper, Internet  connectivity service, etc.) and to work off-site during the period of the consultancy.

Search will arrange transport, meals and accommodation for the consultant when travel outside of Colombo for meetings, workshops etc. are required, within the scope of this project. Transport arrangements will be in accordance to Search is travel Policy. Changes to this will need to be approved by Search at least 3 days prior to the date of travel.

How to Apply:

1) Interested candidates must share their CV, copy of the NIC/ Business Registration and quotation with daily rate via sfcgprocurementsri@sfcg.org on or before 9th January 2025.

The selection of a consultant is subject to SFCG’s competition and procurement policy. Candidates should submit a quotation (in LKR) aligned with expected deliverables to the Search for Common Ground.

Search for Common Ground is an equal opportunities employer. All recruitment will occur in line  with our Diversity and Inclusion, and Safeguarding policies.

Search Sri Lanka is committed to create a diverse, inclusive and equitable environment for its  employees and encourages all candidates irrespective of race, religion or belief, caste, national,  social or ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, physical,  mental or sensory disability, HIV status, marital status, pregnancy, family or parental status.

Search enforces compliance with the Code of Conduct and related policies on Anti Workplace  Harassment, Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Conflict of Interest and  Anti-fraud. Search is committed to safeguarding the interests, rights, and well-being of children,  youth and vulnerable adults with whom it is in contact and to conduct its programs and operations  in a manner that is safe for children, youth, and vulnerable adults.