Deadline: 30 March 2026
The Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) at CIVICUS is seeking a highly experienced consultant to support the implementation of its 2026 research outputs on social listening and digital manipulation affecting civic space and democracy. The partner will provide technical expertise in designing and implementing social listening methodologies, identifying appropriate analytical tools and platforms, and producing structured datasets and analytical insights to inform DDI research publications. The role will involve close collaboration with the DDI programme team to ensure that the research is methodologically robust, ethically grounded, and capable of generating timely insights on digital narratives, manipulation, and their implications for civic space.
Location: Remote, Open globally.
Duration: 10–12 Months
1. About CIVICUS
CIVICUS is a global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and protecting and expanding civic space worldwide. Through research, advocacy, mobilisation and public engagement, CIVICUS works to expose threats to civic freedoms, influence policy and practice, and support collective civil society responses across diverse contexts.
2. About the Digital Democracy Initiative
The Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) is a programme that emerged from Denmark’s Tech for Democracy initiative in response to the shrinking democratic and civic space. Its objective is “to promote and protect local inclusive democratic space in the digital era”. The initiative is implemented by a consortium of partners comprising Access Now, CIVICUS, Digital Defenders Partnership, Global Focus, European Partnership for Democracy, Fondo de Mujeres del Sur, Witness, and IWGIA. The Digital Democracy Initiative, Enable & Amplify Project, led by CIVICUS in partnership with Global Focus, aims to see that inclusive democracy and civic space are expanded and protected through the improved use of digital technology for civic engagement. Its target groups are local civil society actors operating in restrictive contexts in the global south.
3. Scope of Assignment
The consultant will design and implement research to produce three data packages addressing digital manipulation and its impact on civic space. Indicative thematic areas (final topics to be agreed upon during inception) include:
- Algorithmic Bias & Polarisation: Analysis of narrative amplification and visibility
- Digital Manipulation During Elections: Monitoring online discourse and platform bias during electoral cycles.
- Early Warning Indicators: Identifying digital narratives and patterns that precede physical civic crackdowns or the implementation of restrictive laws.
4. Key Responsibilities
The selected partner will be responsible for:
4.1 Research Design & Methodology
- Developing a robust social listening methodology and identifying keywords, hashtags, and influencer networks.
- Recommending appropriate tools and platforms (e.g., Brandwatch or equivalent).
- Ensuring strict compliance with ethical and legal data standards to protect vulnerable civic actors.
4.2 Data Collection & Analysis
- Conducting structured social listening across selected
- Producing clean and documented primary
- Performing sentiment, narrative, network, and visibility asymmetry
- Developing data visualisations and analytical summaries for each
4.3 Capacity Building
- Conducting at least three training sessions for CIVICUS focal points on social listening tools and data interpretation.
- Providing ongoing advisory support during the research
- Recommending sustainability pathways for internalising social listening capacity within CIVICUS.
5. Deliverables
- Deliverable 1 – Inception Report: Detailed methodology, tool recommendations, and a risk/ethics assessment.
- Deliverables 2-4 – Research Data Packages (3 total): For each output, provide a documented dataset, an analytical insight brief, data visualisations, and a technical methodology note.
- Deliverable 5 – Capacity Building Package: Training materials, recorded sessions, and an advisory memo.
- Deliverable 6 – Final Consolidation Report: Lessons learned and recommendations for future tool sustainability and research
6. Reporting & Coordination
The Consultant will report to the DDI Project Learning & Communications Officer and the DDI Programme Lead. Close coordination will be required with the Editor-in-Chief (for final synthesis), local collaborators, and CIVICUS campaigning and civic tech teams.
7. Required Qualifications
- Proven expertise in social listening research and digital disinformation
- Proven expertise in using technology tools for social listening, research & analysis
- Strong quantitative and qualitative digital research
- Experience working on democracy, elections, or civic space
- Demonstrated capacity-building and training
- Experience working with international civil society organisations, particularly in Global South contexts.
8. Application Process
Interested applicants must submit the following electronically by 30th March 2026 to the following email ID : digitaldemocracy@civicus.org.
- Technical Proposal (max 7 pages).
- Proposed Methodology Outline.
- Financial Proposal with a cost breakdown per research
- CVs of key team members.
- Two to three relevant work samples.