The CIVICUS Global Alliance has announced a new consultancy opportunity under its Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI), seeking a Senior Advisory Consultant to support the development of its Digital & Civic Space Strategy 2026.

This remote, global consultancy is designed to shape one of CIVICUS’ most important strategic frameworks on digital rights, civic participation, and democratic space.

The assignment runs for seven months, with an application deadline of 31 May 2026.

Overview of the Consultancy Role

The consultancy focuses on transforming CIVICUS’ draft strategic framework into a fully developed, evidence-based and implementation-ready strategy. The selected consultant will lead the production of thematic advisory papers and facilitate a global consultation process across civil society stakeholders.

This role sits within the Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI), a multi-partner programme addressing shrinking civic and democratic space in the digital age. The initiative brings together global organisations working on digital rights, civic technology, and information integrity.

The consultant will be responsible for ensuring that the final strategy is:

Evidence-based and analytically rigorous
Grounded in global civil society perspectives
Practically implementable across regions
Aligned with digital rights and inclusion principles

About the Digital Democracy Initiative

The Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) is a collaborative programme originally developed in response to increasing threats to civic space online. It focuses on strengthening democratic participation in digital environments while addressing challenges such as surveillance, disinformation, and restricted access to online platforms.

Key partners include:

Access Now
Digital Defenders Partnership
European Partnership for Democracy
Witness
Global Focus
CIVICUS

The initiative has generated extensive research and programme learning across six global regions, forming the foundation for the new Digital & Civic Space Strategy.

Purpose of the Consultancy

The consultancy is designed to bridge the gap between strategy design and final implementation. It will support CIVICUS in consolidating research, stakeholder input, and programme experience into a cohesive strategic framework.

The consultant will produce five thematic advisory notes and lead a structured global consultation process involving:

CIVICUS staff and programme teams
DDI grantees and partners
Digital rights organisations
CIVICUS global membership network

This ensures the final strategy reflects both institutional knowledge and grassroots perspectives.

Key Responsibilities

The consultancy is divided into two main streams of work:

1. Development of Thematic Advisory Notes

The consultant will produce five analytical advisory papers (8–12 pages each) covering:

Digital Security and Resilience
Information Integrity and Disinformation
Civic Technology and Digital Democracy
Digital Rights and Policy Advocacy
Digital Inclusion and Equity

Each note will include:

Analysis of global trends and challenges
Review of DDI programme insights
Identification of strategic gaps and priorities
Actionable recommendations for future programming

2. Multi-Stakeholder Consultation Process

The consultant will design and facilitate consultations across diverse stakeholder groups. This includes:

Virtual and regional consultation sessions
Interviews and structured focus groups
Surveys and participatory engagement tools
Inclusive engagement with Global South stakeholders

The process will ensure that marginalized voices are meaningfully included in shaping the strategy.

Deliverables

At the end of the consultancy, the consultant will produce:

Five thematic advisory notes (8–12 pages each)
Consultation design tools and engagement instruments
Consultation synthesis report (10–15 pages)
Integrated strategy input package with recommendations
Presentation of findings to CIVICUS leadership

These outputs will directly inform the final Digital & Civic Space Strategy.

Required Skills and Experience

The consultancy requires a highly experienced professional with expertise in digital rights, civic engagement, and policy development. Ideal candidates should have:

Advanced academic qualifications in relevant fields such as political science, law, or digital policy
Proven experience producing strategic policy or analytical reports
Strong understanding of global digital rights ecosystems
Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations
Familiarity with civic space challenges, especially in the Global South
Excellent analytical and writing skills in English

Additional language skills such as French, Spanish, Arabic, or Portuguese are considered an advantage.

Preferred Experience

The strongest candidates will also have:

Experience working with international civil society organisations or networks
Knowledge of internet governance and digital rights forums
Experience in AI governance, disinformation, or civic technology
Background in participatory strategy development processes
Experience working across multiple regions or global programmes

Reporting and Work Structure

The consultant will report to the Programme Quality & Innovation Lead at CIVICUS. Regular updates, milestones, and reviews will be conducted throughout the consultancy period to ensure alignment with strategic goals.

The role is fully remote and involves close collaboration with global teams across CIVICUS’ programmes and partner networks.

Why This Consultancy Matters

This consultancy plays a key role in shaping how civil society engages with digital transformation. As governments and technology platforms increasingly influence civic space, there is growing need for rights-based, inclusive, and globally informed digital strategies.

The resulting strategy will help CIVICUS and its partners:

Strengthen protection of digital civic space
Improve response to online threats such as disinformation and surveillance
Support inclusive digital participation
Build stronger global advocacy networks

Final Thoughts

The CIVICUS Senior Advisory Consultancy for the Digital & Civic Space Strategy 2026 represents a significant opportunity for experts in digital rights and civil society strategy development. It combines research, policy design, and global facilitation into a single high-impact assignment.

For experienced consultants working at the intersection of democracy, technology, and human rights, this role offers a chance to directly shape global approaches to protecting civic space in the digital era.

SEE FULL TOR & APPLY 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.