Request for Application – SENIOR DIGITAL ANALYST CONSULTANCY – HATE SPEECH (ARABIC)

Request for Applications

Senior Digital Analyst Consultancy – Hate SPEECH (Arabic)

Role: Senior Digital Analyst

Reports to: Senior Manager, Jordan

Direct reports: None

Budgetary responsibility: None

Resource responsibility: None

Safeguarding: Support manager and wider team with safeguarding of staff across all global offices

Key relationships: Digital Analysis Unit

Fees: €32,500 for a period not exceeding 65 days over 21 months

Location: Jordan/Remote

Consultancy duration: 21 months (August 2024 to April 2026)

Contract start date: August 2024

Deadline for submission of applications: 30th June 2024

Language requirement: Excellent English proficiency and native-level proficiency in Arabic

About ISD

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) is a global think and do tank dedicated to safeguarding democracy and human rights, and delivering solutions to weaponized hate, polarization, disinformation and extremism around the world. Combining research and analysis with government advisory work and the design and delivery of international training, education and communications programs, ISD works to implement real-world, evidence-based responses to these challenges. ISD has teams in London, Amman, Berlin, Paris and Washington DC.

ISD is at the forefront of analyzing and delivering solutions to these hybridized threats. For over 17 years, our global team of researchers, analysts, policy experts, frontline practitioners, technologists and activists have kept ISD’s work ahead of the curve on the fast-evolving spectrum of digital threats to democracy. We have innovated and scaled sector leading policy and operational programs – on and offline – to push back the forces threatening human rights and cohesion around the world today.

We partner with governments, cities, businesses and communities to turn cutting-edge data and insight into action; trialing and delivering evidence-based solutions across society; and empowering those that can impact positive change at scale. Our research also shapes and informs our education and civic action programs as well as the training and policy support, we provide to central and local governments, frontline practitioners, companies and international organizations.

Role Purpose

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue Jordan (ISD Jordan) is looking for a Senior Digital Analyst to work with the ISD Jordan team to develop the methodology to collect, analyse and publish data on online hate speech in Jordan. The Senior Digital Analyst will deliver a training to the relevant stakeholders, as well as oversee the development and use of the dashboard locally throughout the duration of the project. The consultant will work with another Digital Analyst in developing the modules for the training and will deliver a training on the dashboard developed by the project.

The Senior Digital Analyst will work within the team to design and implement innovative research approaches, provide guidance throughout data collection and analysis process, drafting and editing periodic research reports (both short and long form), and briefing partners and other stakeholders.

The Senior Research Consultant will monitor and track online hate speech across mainstream and alt-tech platforms in Jordan. The consultant will conduct and oversee ethnographic monitoring with support of ISD Jordan team. This will include drafting and editing analytical reports, overseeing rapid response research, and engaging with key partners from civil society in responding to online hate.

Key Responsibilities

Digital Research & Analysis (60%)

• Conduct ethnographic analysis and threat monitoring online related to hate speech.
• Support the creation of analytical outputs including research reports and briefing papers detailing key trends in online hate threats for a range of stakeholders.
• Assist with developing methodologies for both quantitative and qualitative research.
• Participate in the creation of innovative digital research methodologies to study hate speech using large-scale social media data.
• Edit and review researcher outputs where relevant.

Project Management & Delivery (30%)

• Manage analyst monitoring and research projects.
• Editing and review analysis output where required.
• Troubleshoot project challenges and concerns, reporting to senior program manager.
• Oversee research methods, activities, and outputs.

Stakeholder Engagement (10%)

• Support with day-to-day engagement with key stakeholders working to mitigate hate speech, including the escalation of specific information threats identified through ongoing ethnographic monitoring.

Outcomes (the way success will be measured)

• Co-author or author regular outputs from research conducted on hate speech in Jordan.
• Successful use of data analytics tools to produce analysis of trends or incidents on at least 3 online platforms.
• Support the development of new methodologies for online analytics at ISD.
• Produce and deliver at least 3 trainings on hate speech during the duration of the project period, with support from the ISD Jordan team.

Person Specification

Expectations

We expect all staff, consultants and volunteers to:

• Commit to ISD’s vision, mission and Guiding Principles
• Foster diversity, inclusivity and equality of opportunity at ISD
• Demonstrate respect for others and safeguard those who are vulnerable
• Carry out their duties in accordance with ISD’s policies and procedures
• Adhere to risk management and security instructions at all times

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We endeavor to recruit a range of candidates into ISD, to strengthen our team and contribute to our inclusive organizational culture. We particularly welcome applications from candidates currently underrepresented across ISD. We try to make our recruitment as accessible as possible, but please let us know if you have any access requirements that you would like us to be aware of during this process.

Competencies

These reflect ISD’s Guiding Principles which we expect all members of the team to embody, regardless of seniority and role. How these competencies are assessed is outlined in ISD’s Performance Review Process.

Guiding Principles

Integrity

• Personal integrity
• Focus on quality

Collaboration

• Respect for others
• Commitment to the team

Agility

• Efficiency and effectiveness
• Problem Solving

Courage

• Strategic thinking
• Growth Mindset

Specific Requirements

These are a priority for this specific role, and form part of our assessment during recruitment, probation and ongoing performance management. They are also a framework for focusing continuing professional and personal development.

Essential

• Experience working to understand/researching online trends as they relate to society issues
• Proficiency with social listening tools
• Public speaking and stakeholder engagement experience
• Strong experience and knowledge of online analytical tools and approaches, including but not limited to natural language processing, network mapping or OSINT techniques
• Exceptional written and spoken English and Arabic
• Networking and public speaking skills
• Outstanding attention to detail
• Highly organized with the ability to be flexible, multi-task and respond proactively in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work well both independently and in a team
• Proven resilience in managing extremism content

Desirable

• Master’s degree qualification or relevant work experience in relevant field
• Proficiency in programming languages: R, python, java script
• 5+ years professional experience working with journalists or media outlets on issues relevant to technology, hate speech extremism, or disinformation
• Data visualization skills: e.g. Tableau, Google data studios
• Strong data analysis skills
• Additional language fluency a plus
• Subject matter familiarity with disinformation, extremism, hate speech
• Knowledge of and engagement with Jordanian civil society and government partners.