Consultancy: Technology Norms Landscape Analysis & White Paper

The purpose of this Terms of Reference (TOR) is to outline writing, analytic and research services to be performed as part of a relationship between the Consultant and the National Democratic Institute (NDI). It is intended to provide basic details regarding the Consultant’s anticipated scope of work and approach. 

If NDI’s funding agreement with its donor(s) concludes prior to the end date of these Terms, then these Terms will be terminated automatically. A procurement contract agreement, including contractual and financial terms would be sent under separate cover to finalize the agreement should the scope of work be mutually agreed upon. Once signed, these Terms would be appended to the contractual agreement.

I. Background

To strengthen the capacity of local democratic actors to participate in global discourse around technology and internet governance, the National Democratic Institute will increase partner participation in developing democratic norms and ethics around technology, content, and data regimes in two critical regions, Central and West Africa (CEWA) and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The consultant will work to identify forums, networks, and topics where democracy actors could provide input would also provide the means to push back on illiberal influence in these international organizations and groups. 

Through desk research, as well as interviews and surveys with NDI country teams, the consultant will conduct a landscape analysis to identify the root causes, such as existing knowledge of technology issues, limited resources, and a lack of a developed civil society, often suppressed by authoritarian forces, that prevent local democratic actors from engaging in international fora. With this information, the consultant will lead the development of a white paper identifying opportunities for elevating involvement of local democratic actors in these two regions in technology forums. The white paper is scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2021. 

This contract leverages the Consultant’s technical capacity and experience to support the National Endowment for Democracy project on “Building Democratic Technology Norms”.

II. Scope

The Consultant will provide a combination of writing, research, analysis and support services throughout the performance period. The Consultant will begin by reviewing the countries where NDI operates to identify NDI partners’ existing level of engagement in discussions of normative standards, as well as gaps and limitations that hinder local democratic actors’ participation.  The Consultant will then conduct a landscape analysis to identify the root causes that prevent local democratic actors from engaging in international fora. The Consultant will conduct the landscape analysis through desk research, surveys with NDI country teams in CEWA and MENA, and by identifying and interviewing other leaders in this space from a diverse range of voices, including representatives from the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), International Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), International Telecommunications Union, Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), Internet Society, and other groups as identified. The interviews will focus on identifying existing norms and also current gaps.  

With the findings from the landscape analysis, the Consultant will lead the development of a white paper outlining short- and long-term opportunities for elevating the involvement of NDI partners in global technology conversations and setting at least three concrete objectives for advancing this issue. The white paper will also include recommendations for donors and international development organizations to better incorporate best practices for the development of normative frameworks and global standards across programming, while identifying democratic principles and standards setting for technology and internet governance. 

Key findings of the paper will be shared through a launch event, on NDI’s website and through social media, external newsletters, and meetings held with peer organizations and other international development organizations (e.g. IRI, IFES, CIPE) and representatives of the donor community engaged in democracy and governance work (e.g. NED, State Department, USAID).  During these meetings and events, the Consultant will present the key findings and seek to gain buy-in from these groups to commit to implementing the concrete objectives outlined in the paper.

Phase 1: July 15, 2021 – October 31, 2021

• Lead the research and development of a landscape analysis of global technology norms
  • Conduct desk research of existing norms and leaders in this space
  • Develop and implement surveys with NDI country staff in CEWA and MENA
  • Interview at least 20 leaders that the consultant identifies as well as representatives from multi-stakeholder groups
• Analyze the data into a document outlining the existing norms and current gaps. This document will be the basis for developing the white paper.
  • Suggest 3-5 interventions or objectives that organizations and individuals can take to bring more voices from LMIC to the table

Phase 2: November 1, 2021 – January 31, 2022

• Lead the development and drafting of the white paper
  • Provide overview of methodology and key findings
  • Identify opportunities for local partners to be more involved in discussions and decisions on technology norms and standards
  • Include top 3 interventions for donors and implementers to incorporate best practices
• Attend and present findings at the NDI Launch event and meetings with peer organizations and the donor community
  • Present findings at the NDI Launch Event
  • Present findings at a minimum of 5 meetings with peer organizations and donors