CIVICUS Global Alliance has announced a call for Civic Space Research Consultants to support its internationally recognized CIVICUS Monitor project. The consultancy opportunity is aimed at experienced researchers and analysts with regional expertise in civic space, human rights, and civil society issues. Successful applicants will join CIVICUS’ Preferred Supplier List and may be engaged on a needs basis to assist with research, drafting, and editing activities related to civic space developments around the world.

The opportunity offers professionals the chance to contribute to one of the most comprehensive global initiatives tracking civic freedoms and the enabling environment for civil society across 198 countries and territories.

About the CIVICUS Monitor

The CIVICUS Monitor is an online research platform that tracks the state of civic space globally. It assesses respect for fundamental freedoms, including:

Freedom of association
Freedom of peaceful assembly
Freedom of expression
The state’s responsibility to protect civil society

The platform also provides civic space ratings for all 198 countries and territories covered by the project. These ratings are determined through a detailed methodology that evaluates legal frameworks, policy environments, and documented civic space developments.

To ensure comprehensive and up-to-date reporting, the CIVICUS Monitor collaborates with more than 20 regional research partners worldwide. Through these partnerships, the platform publishes regular country updates and country briefs highlighting recent civic space trends, restrictions, and developments.

Role and Responsibilities

CIVICUS is seeking consultants with strong regional expertise to assist the Monitor team with research and content development activities.

The selected consultants will primarily support:

Drafting country updates on civic space developments
Editing and reviewing published content
Producing country briefs focused on recent civic space trends
Gathering and organizing information from multiple sources
Verifying facts and research findings
Identifying emerging patterns and developments affecting civic freedoms

Consultants will work on assignments as required, depending on organizational needs and the relevance of their regional expertise.

The role requires strong analytical capabilities and the ability to transform complex information into clear, accurate, and publication-ready content.

Desired Regional Expertise

CIVICUS is particularly interested in consultants with specialized knowledge of civic space developments in specific regions.

Examples include:

Latin America
Europe and Central Asia
Asia Pacific
West Africa
Central Africa
East and Horn of Africa
Southern Africa
North Africa
Middle East

Applicants are expected to clearly indicate the region in which they possess the strongest expertise when submitting their proposals.

Qualifications and Experience Requirements

The organization is looking for candidates with a strong background in research, human rights, and civil society issues.

Preferred academic qualifications include a Master’s degree in fields such as:

Political Science
Law
Sociology
International Relations
Journalism
Regional Studies

However, CIVICUS notes that relevant professional experience may substitute for formal academic qualifications in certain cases.

Applicants should also demonstrate:

At least three years of professional experience working directly with civil society organizations and/or human rights defenders
Excellent understanding of global civil society and development issues
Knowledge of international human rights frameworks relating to freedom of association, peaceful assembly, and expression
Experience conducting civic space research
Experience drafting documents for publication in English
Ability to verify and organize information from diverse sources
Strong analytical and trend-identification skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Language Skills and Technical Competencies

Given the regional nature of the consultancy, language proficiency is considered an important asset.

Examples of desired language capabilities include:

Spanish for Latin America
French for West and Central Africa
Arabic for the Middle East and North Africa
Russian for Central Asia

Candidates should also possess:

Basic computer literacy
Experience working with online publishing systems or web-based platforms
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
Strong organizational and time-management skills

These competencies are essential for producing high-quality research outputs within established timelines.

Benefits of Joining the Preferred Supplier List

Successful applicants will be added to CIVICUS’ Preferred Supplier List, creating opportunities for future consultancy assignments aligned with their expertise and availability.

Benefits may include:

Participation in internationally recognized civic space research initiatives
Collaboration with global civil society networks
Opportunities to contribute to influential publications and advocacy efforts
Exposure to emerging civic space trends across different regions
Flexible consultancy arrangements based on project requirements

The arrangement allows CIVICUS to draw on specialized expertise while providing consultants with opportunities to contribute to impactful global research.

Application Process

Interested candidates are required to submit a proposal package to CIVICUS by email.

Applications must include:

Motivation Statement

Applicants should explain:

Their interest in the consultancy
Their relevant regional expertise
Their suitability for the role

Experience and Supporting Materials

Applicants should provide:

A current CV
Relevant professional experience
Examples of completed work
Testimonials where available
Relevant writing samples

Budget Proposal

Applicants must submit:

Proposed hourly rates
Proposed daily rates

Financial information should be provided in:

United States Dollars (USD), or
South African Rand (ZAR) for applicants based in South Africa

Selection Process and Deadline

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted by CIVICUS.

As part of the evaluation process, shortlisted applicants may be asked to complete a short practical editing exercise to demonstrate their research and writing capabilities.

Applications must be submitted to:

comms.proposals@civicus.org

Subject line:

TOR Regional Civic Space Research

The deadline for applications is 8 July 2026 (Close of Business).

Conclusion

The CIVICUS Civic Space Research Consultant opportunity provides experienced researchers and civil society professionals with a chance to contribute to global efforts to monitor, document, and analyze civic freedoms. Through the CIVICUS Monitor, consultants will support evidence-based reporting on human rights and civic space trends while helping strengthen understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing civil society worldwide.

VIEW THE ToR HERE

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.