Call for Policy Brief Series Proposal

Call for researchers:

Freedom House is seeking a researcher to develop an expert perspective on the role and importance of online regulation reforms in Armenia elaborated through well thought-out policy brief. The preferred topic of the policy brief will be the balanced form of online regulation in Armenia in line with international best practice, but researchers are also welcome to propose other topics related to ensuring a favorable legal environment for effective online content regulation. Freedom House will provide necessary support to this researcher throughout the writing process and the final paper will be published by Freedom House and posted on its website.

The resulting policy brief will analyze the current trends in the regulation of Armenia's online environment and offer concrete policy recommendations for the government, civil society, and the international community to design effective online space regulation while maintaining a balance between security issues, civil liberties, freedom of expression and privacy rights. The policy brief will be published in both English and Armenian and will help to boost the capacity of civil society organizations and the government to develop and implement evidence-based policies.

Procedure:

To apply for this opportunity, please submit a synopsis of your proposed topic, your CV, and a short, unedited writing sample in English (no more than 800 words) to [email protected] no later than September 25, 2023 with “Armenia media self-regulation policy brief” as the subject line.

The proposed timeline for drafting and finalizing analysis is October–December 2023. The policy brief should be written in English and should not exceed 7-10 pages in length (3000-3500 words). The selected researcher will be asked to deliver a first draft of their thematic analysis by mid-November, and a final draft, with comments integrated, by the end of November.

The brief will be published by Freedom House, with a byline and affiliation of the author. Freedom House will provide an honorarium of $600. The researcher and selected proposal will be identified based on a thorough evaluation conducted by a selection committee. The researcher will be notified by October 2, 2023.

 Program Information

This initiative is part of Freedom House’s ongoing project, “Advancing Democratic Culture in Armenia.” The project creates space for dialogue among civil society, the government, policymakers, journalists, and the public to identify constructive ways to address disinformation and protect democracy and human rights in the Republic of Armenia.

Founded in 1941 by Eleanor Roosevelt and others, Freedom House is the oldest non-profit, nongovernmental organization in the United States dedicated to promoting and defending democracy and freedom worldwide. Freedom House supports the global expansion of freedom through its advocacy activities, monitoring, and in-depth research on the state of freedom, and direct support of democratic reformers throughout the world.

Issuance date: September 11, 2023

Read more here.