Team Leader, Lead Researcher

Job Description

In October 2021, USAID’s Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation, Center for Excellence on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DDI/DRG) awarded DevTech Systems, Inc. the Swift Expertise and Grounded Analytics (SEGA) Task Order under the Analytical Services IV IDIQ to provide the Center, USAID regional bureaus, and USAID field missions with a mechanism to rapidly assess needs and opportunities in the context of a democratic transition, and to implement short-term advisory services where they are needed most in response to an unforeseen political transition. 

Digital Democracy, a relatively new area of analysis, programming and strategic direction for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), responds to the growing challenge of digital repression and technology-enabled democratic backsliding. Building on USAID’s Digital Strategy, which outlines the Agency’s vision for the “responsible use of digital technology in development and humanitarian work”1; “Digital Democracy” is a technical focus area for programming that aims to align the development, use, deployment, and governance of technology with international human rights norms and democratic values. As part of President Biden’s Presidential Initiative for Democratic Renewal, announced during the Summit for Democracy (S4D), USAID seeks to “assist partner countries in realizing the benefits of digital technologies that support democratic values and respect human rights, rather than undermining them. [By assisting governments to] “enshrine democratic principles in their countries’ use, development, and governance of technology, while empowering civil society, technologists, and the private sector to encourage the same… [USAID seeks to promote] open, secure, and inclusive digital ecosystems” worldwide.2

To inform this effort, the USAID Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG) Center’s Civil Society and Media (CSM) division embedded within the Agency’s Bureau for Development, Democracy, and Innovation (DDI), has tasked DevTech, under SEGA, with conducting a comprehensive research study of the digital democracy and digital repression landscape in 40 USAID countries, which will document and analyze trends and patterns to inform future program design. This study includes an analysis of countries’ legal and regulatory environments, including of existing regulations which may enhance or prohibit one’s ability to exercise their fundamental human rights; existing institutional resiliencies to digital repression in spaces such as civil society, universities, and government oversight bodies; current and future capacity of the technology sector to embed human rights and democratic values in their development and design work; and existing multi-stakeholder networks and partnerships that could be strengthened and expanded. Following this comprehensive analysis, the Center seeks to establish a field guide, including a new robust set of tools to build, supplement, and expand USAID’s existing technical expertise and skills to effectively program in this relatively new area.

• Manage a four-person assessment team and ensure high-quality products are delivered in a timely manner. The team will include two Subject Matter Experts (US or international), specializing in digital policy and regulations, legal and regulatory frameworks, digital human rights, digital innovations, and/or a background in private sector technology innovations and two Researchers (US or international) with expertise in collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data. The team will also be supported be a network of international and local SME, Analytic, or Country Experts to support in-country research efforts.

• Lead and facilitate a design workshop with DDI/DRG staff in collaboration with DevTech’s MERL Director to: (1) establish a working definition of Digital Democracy for USAID, (2) refine the research objectives and its intended use, (3) develop a series of research questions to guide the analysis, (4) determine the most relevant and appropriate indicators to monitor democratic trends and patterns as well as changes in digital repression, and (5) identify priority countries and/or regions to engage with as part of the analysis.  
• Lead, coordinate, and participate in the development of a fit-for-purpose research methodology drawing on qualitative and quantitative methods, to conduct the comprehensive Digital Democracy and Digital Repression Analysis. The Methodology Plan will become an annex to the Final Report and will include detailed information related to the following: sectoral overview, assessment framework, assessment design matrix, methods overview, data verification and data quality, qualitative and quantitative protocol and design, data limitations and considerations, staffing, communications plan, and data tools. (Due within 14 days of the design workshop)
• Lead, coordinate, and participate in data collection and analysis activities. Data collection methods are likely to include but are not limited to a literature review, analysis of Digital Ecosystem Country Assessments (DECAs), case studies, secondary data review, key informant interviews, and an online survey.
• Lead and facilitate a validation and interpretation workshop with DDI/DRG staff, as part of our data analysis, to gather inputs, establish and prioritize actionable recommendations, and ensure that the proposed indicators are relevant and appropriate to the purpose of monitoring trends and patterns at the country, regional, and global levels.
• Lead, coordinate, and participate in the development of the Final Report to expand USAID’s understanding of the relationship between technology and democracy and human rights. In addition, the report will seek to summarize patterns and trends at the country, regional, and global levels to help USAID identify entry points to address the explosive proliferation of digital repression and foster ecosystems in which it is harder for digital technology to be repressive moving forward. The report will also include a final set of proposed indicators to monitor trends and patterns at a global level along with a set of recommendations on how to engage governments, technologists, civil society, and academia in coalitions to identify trends and patterns to help USAID obtain a better sense of when and where to intervene with Digital Democracy programming. 

• Lead, coordinate, and facilitate a series of internal, USAID working group sessions to outline the structure of the Field Guide, define roles and responsibilities of the team, and the timeline for the Guide’s development.
• Collaborate with USAID DDI/DRG staff to produce a Field Guide outlining the major issues in the digital democracy space and the most useful indicators for assessing the state of a country’s Digital Democracy landscape.
• Coordinate activities and arrange periodic meetings. Play lead role in conference calls or in-person meetings if/when requested.

• Master’s degree in international relations or a related field with at least seven – ten years of experience in digital development, technology, and/or democracy.
• At least five years of proven experience in conducting evaluations, research efforts, and special studies in the field of democracy, human rights, and governance as a team leader (or similar) of donor-funded projects.
• Experience designing and implementing mixed methods research including instrument design and qualitative and quantitative analysis.
• Experience facilitating and providing leadership in collaborative and participatory research with multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent oral and writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Excellent communication, team management, and leadership skills.
• Ability to travel internationally preferred.

NOTE: This job posting should not be construed to imply that the requirements are the exclusive standards of the position nor will it be the sole basis for any subsequent employee evaluations. Incumbents will follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as may be required by their supervisor.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), age (40 and older), physical and mental disability, genetic information (including family medical history) or characteristics, military status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, citizenship or alienage, or any other protected status as established by applicable federal, state, or local law.

About the Organization

DevTech Systems, Inc. (DevTech) is an international consulting firm dedicated to development, with 38 years of experience providing advisory services and technical assistance to government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders in more than 100 countries. DevTech core practice areas include: Monitoring Evaluation, Research and Learning; Data Solutions; Public Financial Management and Fiscal Sustainability; and Education, Gender, and Youth.