UPDATED: Consultant – Social Media Analyst, Ramallah, West Bank/Gaza – April/May

The Carter Center is guided by a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering; it seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health. The Center has been invited to observe the upcoming Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) in May and presidential elections in July and plans to send an initial team of experts to begin its pre-electoral assessments in early May. Travel restrictions have been lifted in Israel, making the deployment of an expert mission possible. An application to Israeli authorities to enter is still required. Pending developments, the Carter Center may deploy an international observer mission, and the person hired for this position would become part of the core team. This position is scheduled for an initial period of two months with possibility of extension.

The Center is seeking a highly qualified individual to serve as Social Media Analyst. S/he will assess the role and impact of social media and digital threats on the comprehensive electoral process. The analyst is responsible for reviewing the legal framework for media against international standards for online media and the internet, and assessing the impact of social media platforms and their use on the polls, including freedom of speech and data privacy.

The analyst will work with Carter Center staff in the Center’s office in Ramallah, with occasional travel to Gaza. S/he should have a depth of experience working in journalism or digital media, election observation, and/or a related human-rights field. Significant substantive experience in projects related to the impact of information technologies and/or social media in the arena of democracy and elections is highly desired. Candidates with a demonstrated understanding of Palestinian politics, experience working or living in West Bank/Gaza or Arabic language proficiency will be given highest consideration. Three to five years of experience in a related field is required, in addition to a degree in political science or another relevant field. 

Responsibilities

  • Serve as the social media analyst for the Carter Center in Palestine, conducting an analysis of the social media landscape in advance of the anticipated elections;
  • Contribute to overall social media analysis strategy, research tools, and reporting mechanisms and liaise with a small team to implement the project. 
  • Conduct an assessment of the national legal framework against international standards for online media and the internet.
  • Track main political and social discourses in the main social media platforms (Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, etc.) prior to, during, and after the legislative elections.
  • Monitor the elections through qualitative analysis of various social media platforms.
  • Create social media monitoring databases.
  • Strategize meetings to be held between country experts and relevant stakeholders to analyze the situation in Palestine regarding digital communications, and participate in meetings on behalf of the Center.
  • Provide technical assistance to non-governmental organizations to use social media monitoring tools and technologies.
  • Produce accurate and timely written reports as well as contribute to drafting of reports with findings and assessments of the use of social media during the election and its impact, highlighting key challenges and incidents, and assessing the findings against international standards and best practices.

Qualifications:

  • Degree in political science, journalism, computer science, international relations or related field.
  • Experience conducting social media monitoring activities, notably with a focus on disinformation, hate speech or online harassment.
  • Significant substantive experience in projects related to the impact of information technologies and/or social media in the arena of democracy and elections;
  • Expertise in one or more of the following subject areas – disinformation, hate speech, online harassment, computational propaganda, and dark political advertising.
  • Understanding of democratic election standards and international human rights law, particularly related to freedom of expression, opinion and participation.
  • Good written and verbal communications skills.
  • Understanding of R and /or Python and familiarity with APIs.
  • Knowledge of data science and / or statistical principles a plus.
  • Experience with CrowdTangle a plus.
  • Fast learner, self-starter, adaptable.
  • High level of comfort learning on the go.
  • Arabic languages skills, both written and spoken, are desirable but not required.

Please upload a cover letter and a CV to https://airtable.com/shrUe4bEmLbGtjdQ9. Only applications uploaded in the system will be considered.

Deadline for submissions: April 23, 2021 or until filled. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their application documents as soon as possible; decisions will be made on a rolling basis from the deadline until the position is filled. Due to the large volume of applicants, only those candidates selected for an interview or additional consideration will be notified by the Center. No phone calls or in-person contacts will be entertained.