Author: Jil Prillwitz

Watch now: Launch of new DRI report on covid-19 and the rule of law in the EU

One year into the COVID-19 pandemic, EU Member States have been among the hardest-hit countries in the world. Suffering from high mortality rates and successive waves of infection, states (re)introduced highly restrictive measures.

To evaluate how the pandemic response has affected the rule of law across the EU, Democracy Reporting International gathered assessments from 35 national experts, covering all 27 Member States.

This analysis is brought together in DRI’s new report Extraordinary or extralegal responses? The rule of law and the COVID-19 crisis, which identifies five critical areas of concern across all EU Member States and provides recommendations on how to address them.

To mark the launch of our new report, we invite met on 5 May 2021, 10:30-12:00 CET  for the discussion of our findings and further perspectives with:

  • Joelle Grogan, Senior lecturer and legal academic at Middlesex University London and author of DRI’s new report
  • Álvaro de Elera, Member of European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová’s Cabinet, responsible for the rule of law portfolio
  • Veronika Bílková, Member of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe

The event was moderated by Paul Zoubkov, Manager Europe at Democracy Reporting International.

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Democracy Reporting International (DRI) works to improve public understanding of the rule of law in the EU as part of the re:constitution programme funded by Stiftung Mercator. Sign up to DRI’s newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Twitter to find out more about the rule of law in Europe.

Pakistan: Helping Khyber Pakhtunkhwa prepare its first human rights plan

DRI Pakistan’s Shaheera Syed looks at how DRI worked with local authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to introduce the province’s first comprehensive plan to protect human rights.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which borders Afghanistan, has long been undermined by conflict. Since 2010 DRI has been working with the provincial government, legislators, and civil society to strengthen democracy and respect for human rights.

In February 2016, Pakistan introduced its first national plan to protect human rights. Since then, the country’s provinces have been introducing new measures. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) first developed a policy on human rights in 2018 to ensure the protection, promotion, and enforcement of human rights within the province. However, until recently, there was no concrete plan to guide the implementation of this policy.

This is where DRI’s Pakistan office comes in. In collaboration with the provincial Department of Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights, we started working on developing an implementation plan in 2019.

The first step was to take stock of the human rights situation in the province. We met with human rights defenders, civil society groups and government officials to get their input on the situation and their ideas for turning KP’s policy into a concrete plan.

Basing ourselves on the findings, we helped write the province’s first ‘Human Rights Action Plan’ in alignment with the national action plan, KP’s human rights policy and Pakistan’s international human rights commitments.

The plan will help improve how government policies are designed, delivered, and overseen to better protect human rights. This includes measures ranging from establishing child units in each district of the province to developing women-oriented legislation.

The plan also provides a way forward for improved coordination between provincial government entities to streamline how the plan goes into effect.

“The Human Rights Action Plan is a milestone achievement of the provincial government and DRI’s engagement with the human rights bodies and women parliamentary caucus was extremely helpful,” said Maliha Ali Asghar Khan, Chairperson of the Woman Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) and member of the Standing Committee on Law, Parliamentary Affairs, and Human Rights KPK. She added that DRI’s assistance helped with the activation of the provincial human rights committees which will enable parliamentary oversight, improving the protection of human rights, especially of women.

“The work we have done with the authorities in KP helps bridge the gap between the international commitments Pakistan has made to human rights and the specific needs on the ground in the province,” says Javed Malik, DRI’s Country Representative in Pakistan.

“We were happy to help facilitate the process, which was led by those who will be directly affected by it. Ultimately, the success of this plan rests on active involvement and political support from local elected representatives to make sure that it turns into reality.“

Find out more about DRI’s work in Pakistan here: http://democracy-reporting.org/pakistan/

Ukraine: Call for participants in Youth in Politics school

Democracy Reporting International is looking for participants for its online school “Youth in Politics”, which is organised in cooperation with the Vostok SOS Charitable Foundation. The school will be held from 15 to 30 March. Young people, aged 18 to 35, are invited to apply. Priority will be given to candidates from the south-eastern regions of Ukraine.

Find more information in Ukrainian here.

Webinar: Power and the covid-19 pandemic

One year on how has the covid-19 pandemic affected the law, and the way states govern? Should we be concerned about the ongoing use of emergency powers? How can we look forward to what lies ahead?

Marking the launch of the 2021 “Power and the COVID-19 Pandemic” Symposium, this webinar will bring together five contributors to discuss the impact of the pandemic on legal systems globally, and offer initial assessments for the rule of law, democracy, and human rights:

  • Fionnuala Ní Aoláin, Regents Professor University of Minnesota Law School; Professor of Law, Queens University Belfast; UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms while Countering Terrorism
  • Martin Scheinin, British Academy Global Professor, Bonavero Institute of Human Rights, University of Oxford; part-time Professor, European University Institute, Florence; Collaborator of the PluriCourts Centre of Excellence, University of Oslo; Member of the Scientific Committee of the EU Fundamental Rights Agency
  • Thomas Bustamante, Professor of Legal Theory at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil; Research Productivity Fellow of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development
  • Thulasi K. Raj, Advocate, Supreme Court and Kerala High Court; Equality Fellow, Centre for Law & Policy Research, Bangalore
  • Jakub Jaraczewski, Legal Officer, Democracy Reporting International

The webinar took place on 24 February, 14:00-15:30 CET. It was chaired by Joelle Grogan (Middlesex University London) who is the convenor of the Symposium.

Watch the full video below.

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The Power and the COVID-19 Pandemic Symposium beginning on 22 February 2021 is hosted by the Verfassungsblog and supported by Democracy Reporting International, RECONNECT, and the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law. The Symposium brings together experts from over 70 countries to reflect on how legal and political systems have adapted to ongoing challenges presented by the pandemic to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, and to offer recommendations on the future of good governance.

Election Expert on Women’s Political Representation (m/f/d) — Sri Lanka

Form of Employment: Short-term consultancy

Starting Date: 01 March 2021

Duration: 15 days

Location: home-based

Background

Democracy Reporting International (DRI) is a non-partisan, independent, not-for-profit organisation registered in Berlin. DRI promotes the political participation of citizens, accountability of state bodies and the development of democratic institutions worldwide.

DRI is operating in Sri Lanka since 2016 and has implemented various democratic strengthening projects with the support of the German Federal Foreign Office, the European Union, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). DRI has worked in Sri Lanka on the thematic areas of human rights, constitutions, and democratic discourse with a focus on strengthening civil society in their work towards democratic reforms.

DRI is also working in Sri Lanka on electoral reforms. Women’s political representation in the Sri Lankan Parliament, as well as in other elected political bodies, remains abysmally low. Despite being the majority of the electorate as well as the majority among registered voters, women’s voices remain absent from formal politics. Over the last 31 years (1989 – 2020) during which elections have been held under the proportional representation system, there has been no significant change in the percentage of women who are elected to parliament. In fact, the recent 2020 general election saw the lowest number of women entering parliament through preferential votes in the last two decades. As of the 1 January 2020, Sri Lanka ranked 182nd out of 191 counties in terms of percentages of women in Parliament.[1] The percentage of women who get elected is usually significantly lower than the percentage of female candidates who contest, suggesting that even the few women who do get nominated do not get elected.

In 2012, a mixed-member proportional system was introduced for local authorities elections, where 60% of candidates are elected through wards and the other 40% through proportional representation. A further amendment in 2017[2] brought in quotas for women, requiring that 10% of candidates nominated for the wards must be women and 50% of the candidates on the proportional representation list must be women. 25% of the members in local authorities are required to be women, and if this number is not met through the candidates elected through the wards, that percentage is made up by the proportional representation list.[3] However, there are certain loopholes in the law which can result in a situation where less than 25% of the seats in a particular authority are filled by women.[4] Apart from the law itself, other social, political, economic and cultural constraints exist, which limits women‘s political participation. These include traditional roles attributed to women, lack of support from family, male-dominated politics, challenges getting nominated since major political parties are reluctant to nominate women as they are not considered winnable candidates, perception of voters, lack of equal playing field in the absence of a campaign finance regulation among others.

In light of this, it is important to look at legal and other constraints impacting women’s representation in politics and suggest recommendations on steps that can be taken to increase women entering politics by looking at international best practices, particularly from similar jurisdictions.

DRI, therefore, requires the services of an Election Expert: Women’s Political Participation in Sri Lanka.

Your Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of DRI’s Director of Programmes in Berlin Head Office and the Country Representative (Sri Lanka). The Election Expert will perform tasks and deliverables which include the following:

  • Review existing provisions on women’s political participation in Sri Lanka;
  • Provide input towards improving legislation on women’s political participation in Sri Lanka in line with international standards;
  • Hold interviews with relevant stakeholders to inform the research;
  • Provide comparative examples / best practice cases for women’s political representation from other countries;
  • Synthesize information to outline the needs and shortcomings of women’s political representation in Sri Lanka against international standards and country examples;
  • Provide materials and analysis on women’s political representation, as required;
  • Draft an outline for an analytical paper on improving women’s political participation and revise this as per feedback from DRI and partners;
  • Collate all findings in an analytical paper according to the agreed outline;
  • Provide information for the creation of infographics to illustrate the findings;
  • Draft recommendations for Sri Lankan stakeholders to drive the discussion on improving women’s political participation forward and improve the legal framework;
  • Other relevant duties, as required.

Your Education and Experience

  • University degree in law, gender, politics, social sciences, or any other relevant discipline;
  • At least 5 years of professional experience in applied research and/or political analysis or international politics, particularly regarding women’s political participation, electoral reforms, and election observation;
  • Demonstrated expertise in analysing trends in relation to women’s political participation, including legislation and regulations;
  • In-depth understanding of elections and democracy issues in Sri Lanka and internationally;
  • Knowledge of international standards for democratic elections, especially related to women’s political participation;
  • Comparative expertise on women’s political representation internationally;
  • Demonstrated experience of writing high-quality research reports;
  • Excellent analytical skills and the ability to conceptualise policy formulation within the subject area;
  • Excellent English language skills (spoken and written) is a requirement.

For interested applicants, please send your application (short outline of how you would address this topic, CV and fee rate) to [email protected]. Please include “2021: Election Expert: Women’s Political Representation in Sri Lanka” in the subject line.

Closing date for applications: 28 February 2021.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The position may be filled before the end of the deadline so early applications are encouraged.

Organisation responsible for this vacancy:

Democracy Reporting International gGmbH

Elbestr. 28/29

12045 Berlin,

Tel +49 30 27877300

Fax +49 30 27877300-10

Data processing of personal data in third countries will not take place. We process your data in accordance with the provisions of § 26 German Federal Data Protection Act. More information about processing your personal data: privacy policy.

[1]‘Women in Politics: 2020 (Map)’, Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women, 2020. Available at https://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/library/publications/2020/women-in-politics-map-2020-en.pdf?la=en&vs=827

[2]Available at https://elections.gov.lk/web/wp-content/uploads/publication/acts/16-2017_E.pdf

[3]For a detailed explanation of the system see – Chulani Kodikara and Kumudini Samuel, ‘The Significance of the 25% Quota for Women in Local Government’, Groundviews, 7th February 2018. Available at https://groundviews.org/2018/02/07/the-significance-of-the-25-quota-for-women-in-local-government/

[4] ‘Women’s quota in local authority elections: Outcomes will fail the promise’, Verité Research, DailyFT, 9th February 2018. Available at http://www.ft.lk/opinion/Women-s-quota-in-local-authority-elections–Outcomes-will-fail-the-promise/14-649106

Тренер(-ка) для Програм навчання з підготовки до стажувань в ОМС – Україна (ч/ж/н)

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Ми шукаемо в Україні тренерів для проведення навчальних заходів для молоді в рамках підготовки для стажування в місцевих органах влади у південно-східних регіонах України (тренінги будуть проходити в режимі онлайн (за можливості офлайн, орієнтовно в містах південних та східних областей).

Назва посади: тренер/тренерка для програм навчання в межах підготовки до стажувань для проекту «Демократія в дії — залучення молоді та громадянського суспільства до політичного процесу в Україні»/«Tangible Democracy – Engaging Youth and Civil Society in the Political Process across Ukraine».

Умови і період співпраці: багаторазова короткострокова співпраця (від 1 до 3 тренінгів для кожного з 2-х тримісячних тренінгових циклів для молоді, тренінги плануються один раз на тиждень), період роботи квітень – листопад 2021 року.

Обраних тренерів/тренерок буде включено до бази експертів, яких DRI запрошуватиме до виконання конкретних завдань протягом реалізації проекту з окремим узгодженням графіку, тематики та завдань.

Місця проведення програм: онлайн або у містах південних та східних областей України.

Контекст та мета програм:

Democracy Reporting International (DRI) є безсторонньою, незалежною, неприбутковою організацією, зареєстрованою в Берліні. DRI сприяє участі громадян у політичних процесах, підзвітності державних органів та розвитку демократичних інституцій в усьому світі. DRI працює в Україні з вересня 2014 року.

Офіс зі сприяння демократії (DRI) у співпраці з Благодійним фондом «Восток-SOS» проведуть серію з 2 циклів тренінгів для підготовки до стажувань молоді в місцевих органах влади у південних та східних областях України.

Мета програми стажувань: Завдання тренінгів в межах програм стажувань – ознайомити активну молодь з повноваженнями органів місцевого самоврядування, реалізацією реформ та сформувати навички, достатні для виконання посадових обов’язків державних службовців та посадових осіб місцевого самоврядування. Очікується, що завдяки тренінговій підготовці учасники зможуть успішно пройти практику та сформувати кадровий резерв органів самоврядування.

Обов’язки та відповідальність:

1) У координації з командою DRI, підготовка та проведення тренінгів для активної молоді у південних та східних областях на щонайменше одну із наступних тем (перелік тем невичерпний):

  • Нормативні документи та нормотворчий процес на місцях. Практичне діловодство для державного службовця.
  • Місцеве управління в умовах кризи (case study: пандемія Covid-19)
  • Державні закупівлі в Україні: законодавство та практика застосування
  • Інклюзивний процес прийняття рішень. Ґендерна політика на місцях
  • Основи цифрової безпеки для державних службовців.Захист особистих та сенситивних даних
  • Публічна інформація та відкриті дані у роботі місцевих органів влади

2) Співпраця та координація з партнерами, зокрема з Благодійним фондом «Восток-SOS»

3) Підготовка матеріалів для учасників

4) Звітування (зразок буде надано DRI) за проведеними тренінгами та оцінка тренінгу (зразок буде надано DRI: експерту потрібно буде додати тематичний блок для оцінювання рівня знань з тематики тренінгу, провести анкетування та консолідувати дані)

Необхідна кваліфікація та досвід:

  • Вища освіта зі спеціальностей у сфері демократичного управління та розвитку, наприклад: політологія, право, міжнародні відносини, тощо;
  • Щонайменше п’ять років досвіду у вибраній тематиці(ках) та перевірений досвід проведення воркшопів, тренінгів та лекцій;
  • Відмінні знання поточних політичних та правових реформ в Україні та державного управління;
  • Перевага надаватиметься експертам з досвідом проведення інтерактивних тренінгів в онлайн-форматі.

Останній день подання документів: 9 травня 2021 (о 23:59 за середньоєвропейським часом). Заявки прийматимуться до моменту формування необхідної кількості тренерів. Вітаються заявки від кваліфікованих у вище вказаних тематиках експерток.

Просимо зацікавлених кандидатів та кандидаток надсилати:

– своє резюме,

– інформацію про тему та зміст тренінгів, які ви хочете провести та чому, його очікувані результати,

– рекомендації експертів (за наявності),

– очікувану вартість тренінгу в Євро, з розрахунку один тренінг – 2,5-3 години,

на електронну адресу: info.ukraine@democracy–reporting.org, вказавши в темі листа «Trainer for Study Programs».

*Експертам, які вже надсилали своє резюме у відповідь на дане оголошення, подавати свою кандидатуру знову не потрібно.

З огляду на кількість заявок, які зазвичай надходять до DRI, до співбесіди будуть запрошені тільки кандидат(к)и, що увійшли до короткого списку. Із потенційними тренерами можуть зв’язатися до завершення терміну подання заявок.

Навчання організовується в рамках проекту «Демократія в дії — залучення молоді та громадянського суспільства до політичного процесу в Україні» за фінансової підтримки Міністерства закордонних справ Німеччини.

 

Trainer for Schools “Youth in Politics” – Ukraine (m/f/d)

Democracy Reporting International in Ukraine is looking for trainers to conduct educational events for young people within Schools on Democracy “Youth in Politics” in the south-eastern regions of Ukraine. (Trainings will be held online, and if possible offline, most likely in the Luhansk region, and in the cities of Kherson, Mykolaiv, Dnipro).

Job Title: Trainer for series of Schools on Democracy “Youth in Politics” for the project “Tangible Democracy – Engaging Youth and Civil Society in the Political Process across Ukraine”

Terms and Period of Cooperation: Multiple short-term cooperations (1-3 training days for each of the 4 Schools) during February – October 2021.

Selected trainers will be added to the database of experts, whom DRI will invite to perform specific tasks during the project implementation, with separate coordination of schedule, topics and tasks.

Location: South-eastern regions of Ukraine (trainings will be held online, and if possible offline, approximately in the Luhansk region, and in the cities of Kherson, Mykolaiv, Dnipro).

Background:

Democracy Reporting International (DRI) is a non-partisan, independent, not-for-profit organisation registered in Berlin. DRI promotes political participation of citizens, accountability of state bodies and the development of democratic institutions worldwide. DRI works in Ukraine since 2014.

DRI Ukraine in cooperation with the Charitable Foundation “Vostok-SOS” will conduct a series of 4 Schools on Democracy “Youth in Politics” with post-school events/initiatives in the south-east of Ukraine.

Duties and Responsibilities:

  1. In coordination with the DRI team, preparation, and conduction of trainings (duration of one on average 2 – 2,5 hours) for active youth on at least one of the following topics (the list of topics is not exhaustive):
  • What is democracy and how does it work? Challenges for democracy in the modern world: populism, radicalism, polarisation.
  • How is the political system in Ukraine organised? Powers and functions of public authorities, the interaction of state institutions with each other, the legislative process.
  • Human rights in politics (human-oriented politics, human rights in the political programmes of Ukrainian parties).
  • Gender policy. Gender balance in the decision-making process. Women in politics: the path and opportunities for future politicians.
  • Ukraine’s movement in the EU: the main achievements and challenges.
  • Decentralisation and local self-government. Resource provision of local self-government, inter-municipal cooperation.
  • Public participation in decision making: tools, procedures, technologies. Citizens’ appeals, public hearings, general meetings and public expertise.
  • Public budget: how can everyone change the life of their city?
  • Practical project writing skills: from idea to implementation.
  • Strategic communications in politics. How to design an effective communication strategy? Communication with stakeholders. What is wrong with state communications in Ukraine?
  • Protection of public interests: advocacy and lobbying. Successful strategies and principles.
  • Media hygiene: the who, how and why of manipulated information. How to recognise fakes? Where to look for and check information?
  1. Cooperation and coordination with partners, in particular with the “Charitable Foundation Vostok-SOS”.
  2. Development of materials for school participants.
  3. Reporting (sample will be provided by DRI) on trainings and evaluation of trainings (A sample will be provided by DRI. The expert will need to add a thematic block to evaluate participants’ level of knowledge on the training subject, conduct questionnaires and consolidate data.)
  4. Mentorship post-school support to participants during the development of their initiatives (if needed – to be discussed separately).

Required Qualifications and Experience:

  • Higher education in the field of democratic governance and development (political science, law, international relations, etc.);
  • At least five years of experience in the mentioned topic(s) and proven experience of conducting workshops, trainings and lectures;
  • Excellent knowledge of current political issues and legal reforms in Ukraine, knowledge in public administration.
  • Preference will be given to experts with experience in conducting interactive online trainings.

How to Apply:

Application deadline: 26 February, 23:59 (Central European Time). Applications will be accepted until the required number of trainers is selected. Applications from female experts qualified in the topics above are welcomed.

Interested candidates are asked to submit their CV and cover letter with information about the topic and content of the training they want to conduct and why, indicate its expected results and provide recommendations (if any) to the e-mail address: [email protected]. Please indicate “Trainer for Schools” in the subject line.

* Experts who have already submitted their resumes in response to this announcement do not need to reapply.

Given the high number of applications that DRI regularly receives, only shortlisted applicants will be invited to the interview. Potential trainers can be contacted before the application deadline.

The Study Programmes are organised under the project «Tangible Democracy – Engaging Youth and Civil Society in the Political Process across Ukraine» with the financial support of the German Federal Foreign Office.

Data Analyst Consultant (m/f/d) – Libya

Form of Employment: Short-term consultancy

Starting Date: 25 January 2021

Duration: 5 months with an estimated number of 20-30 days of work

Location: Remote deskwork      

Background:

Democracy Reporting International (DRI) is a non-partisan, independent, not-for-profit organization registered in Berlin. DRI promotes political participation of citizens, accountability of state bodies and the development of democratic institutions worldwide. In Libya, Democracy Reporting International (DRI) has been supporting the constitution-drafting process and the work of Libyan civil society organisations on topics related to the constitution, human rights and local governance.

Jusoor Center for Studies and Development is an independent Libyan not-for-profit think and do tank registered in 2015. Jusoor is committed to economic and social development through women empowerment and developing innovative policies.  Jusoor aims to promote research, critical thinking, open discourse and innovative solutions with a special focus on women’s issues.

The Fa’ela project has the vision of a Libya in which women effectively participate in public life. This vision is based on the theory of Change that if women CSOs and women leaders have better technical and organisational capacity, are better connected and coordinating with other CSOs and female decision-makers, and are supported by respected and influential Libyan figures, then these women CSOs and women leaders will engage more in public life and encourage other women to do so, this will contribute to an effective participation of women in public life in Libya, because women CSOs’ and women leaders’ increased capacity, resilience, engagement in strong networks will strengthen their role as female role models and carve out a space for women at large to step up and claim their spot in public life.

Accordingly, and in collaboration with Jusoor Centre for Studies and Development, under the Fa’ela project, DRI will conduct an assessment of the Situation of Libyan Women to identify the specific needs of women organisations and women leaders in Libya. Through this study, partners to this project will better understand the situation of Libyan women and the constraints facing them in taking leadership positions and taking part in decision-making processes. The main objective of this study is to assess to what extent, how and through which means women engage effectively in political, economic and social life in Libya. As part of the research methodology, the team will be collecting primary data from a number of sources including surveys, focus groups and in-depth interviews.

DRI is therefore looking for a data analyst to support the research team in providing guidance and feedback to the data collectors on the ground and analysing the data in accordance with the methodology outlined by the lead researcher.

Your Tasks:

Under the supervision of the Fa’ela Project Manager and in collaboration with the Lead Researchers, the data analyst is expected to undertake the following tasks:

  • Provide guidance and feedback on the data collected and when necessary, support the team and provide suggestions to improve the quality of the data;
  • Routinely analyse and interpret data collected using appropriate analytical techniques and provide feedback to the team;
  • Provide technical support in data collection, compilation and quality control;
  • Identify new possible data sources or data collection techniques if required;
  • Establish appropriate processes within the team for managing, analysing and presenting the data collected;
  • Clean and structure data and prepare for analysis;
  • Conduct exploratory data analysis (identify differences within data, look at innovative ways to examine the data and extract themes, different stories to tell and ideas, explore multiple datasets for trends or outliers);
  • Highlight data trends and explore resurging themes in complex data sets;
  • Communicate findings of the analysed data to the research team, lead researcher and stakeholders, both in a written and a visual manner;
  • Write a report with the outputs of the data analysis;
  • Present the report to the team through a visual presentation;
  • Submit to the Fa’ela team the processed data sets.

Deliverables:

  1. Processed Data Sets sheets;
  2. Final Report outlining the main trends, themes, ideas, stories and interesting learnings which stem out of the analysed data;
  3. Visual Presentation of the report;

Required Language of the deliverables:

The data is available in Arabic and the report is required in English (UK).

Your Skills and Experience:

  • University degree in International Development, Gender studies and other relevant fields/areas.
  • At least four (04) years of demonstrable knowledge and experience in research and data analysis in the development field;
  • Demonstrable experience in research and data analysis in the field of gender equality, women empowerment and its policy implications;
  • Familiarity with qualitative data analysis tools and software;
  • Strong qualitative skills, attention to detail and data accuracy;
  • Strong communication skills, especially with respect to data;
  • Strong team worker;
  • Ability to work under pressure whilst maintaining good quality and delivering on time;
  • Thorough knowledge of MS-Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access);
  • Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills;
  • Good knowledge of English and Arabic;
  • Experience in the Libyan context is preferred;

How to Apply:

If you are interested in this position, please send your application (CV, 2 examples of reports that feature data you have analysed and your daily rate) to [email protected]. Please include “Data Analyst” in the subject line and refer to the source where you have found this opportunity. This position is subject to funding. Applying for this position by post mail is possible, please find our address details below.

Closing date for applications: 4 January 2021. The position may be filled before the deadline has been reached, so early applications are encouraged.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

DRI is committed to diversity and treats everybody equally, independent of gender identity, sex, pregnancy, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, age, ability, socio-economic status, political opinion (as long as respectful of democratic principles), or any other status protected by the laws in the locations where we operate.

Organisation responsible for this vacancy:

 Democracy Reporting International gGmbH

Elbestr. 28 / 29

12045 Berlin, Germany

Data processing of personal data in third countries will not take place. We process your data in accordance with the provisions of § 26 German Federal Data Protection Act. More information about processing your personal data: privacy policy.

The rule of law in the EU in 2020: What went right? What went wrong?

2020 will go down in history, and not just because of the covid-19 pandemic. This year saw the rule of law emerge from a technical legal issue to the mainstream of European politics. We have seen developments across the EU that invoked hopefulness, anger, satisfaction, and disappointment.

DRI’s Jakub Jaraczewski looks at four trends that highlight what went well on the rule of law, and four that highlight what went very wrong in 2020.

What went right?

1.      Rule of law conditionality in EU budgets: Its final shape is not exactly what many advocates and experts wanted, and the joint threat of a Hungarian-Polish veto was harrowing, but ultimately the EU will impose rule of law conditionality in its budgets for the first time ever.

2.      Support for the rule of law goes mainstream: In public debate, the rule of law traditionally took a backseat to democracy and human rights. 2020 saw this change, as matters related to the judiciary, legality, and transparency went mainstream and enjoyed broad public backing, with the majority of EU citizens supporting the concept.

3.      Across the EU, there has been a pushback against rule of law backsliding: Some countries, such as Slovakia and Malta, saw positive political changes or improvements in how they approach the rule of law. In other EU member states, courts stepped up to oppose attacks on the judiciary, with tribunals in Germany and the Netherlands, as well as rank-and-file courts in Poland, fighting back on efforts to undermine the judiciary in Poland. Local governments also became increasingly invested in the rule of law.

4.  The European Commission’s record on the rule of law in 2020 was far from perfect. But at times, the ‘Guardian of the Treaties’ has lived up to expectations. The actions taken against Malta and Cyprus regarding their ‘golden passports’ schemes and the much-awaited rule of law report on the 27 EU member states were this year’s highlights.

What went wrong?

1.      The situation in Hungary and Poland has deteriorated even further. Despite the efforts outlined above, the governments in both countries – emboldened by the lack of a strong response from the EU (Hungary) and recent electoral victories (Poland) – pushed forward with their bold plans to further subjugate their legal systems and abolish checks and balances to their power.

2.      The European Commission failed to live up to expectations on several occasions. Lack of strong action on Hungary and Poland, but also the failure to respond to worrying developments in countries such as Bulgaria continue to tarnish the record of the von der Leyen Commission. The Commission could have acted faster and, when doing so, brought cases with wider rule of law implications before the European Court of Justice instead of focusing only on narrow issues.

 3. Covid-19 was a massive challenge for all EU member states. From the perspective of the rule of law, the emergency measures introduced by governments in response to the pandemic were all over the place. With questions as to the legality, clarity, proportionality, and necessity of many draconian measures, coupled with a lack of pan-European coordination by the EU, there was much left to be desired about the rule of law stress test the EU endured this year.

4.      Political groups in the European Parliament have not done enough to defend EU values. While many MEPs and the parliament as an institution continued to fight for stronger rule of law in Europe, the biggest political players failed to address the issue in their own ranks. Too often political groups turned a blind eye to what was going on within their member parties, with the European People’s Party continuing to go soft on Hungary’s Fidesz and Bulgaria’s GERB, while the Socialists & Democrats ignored the actions of the Maltese Labour Party.

Democracy Reporting International (DRI) works to improve public understanding of the rule of law in the EU as part of the re:constitution programme funded by Stiftung Mercator. Sign up to DRI’s newsletter and follow us on Facebook and Twitter to find out more about the rule of law in Europe.

Senior Project Development and Fundraising Officer – Pakistan (m/f/d)

Form of Employment: Full-time

Starting Date: As soon as possible or 5 January 2020

Duration: Three months, with the possibility of extension

Location: Islamabad

Background:

Democracy Reporting International (DRI) is a non-partisan, independent, not-for-profit organisation registered in Berlin. DRI promotes political participation of citizens, accountability of state bodies, and the development of democratic institutions worldwide.

DRI is currently recruiting a full-time Senior Project Development and Fundraising Officer for its Country Office in Pakistan. In collaboration with, and under the supervision of the Country Representative, you will provide project development and oversee fundraising and delivery.

Your Tasks:

  1. Designs project proposals with the Country Representative that meet the prescribed guidelines of donors.
  1. Identify funding opportunity for the organisation that is relevant to organisational key mandate area of implementation.
  2. Identifies and facilitate opportunities for relationship building with key donors and stakeholders particularly in DRI’s area of project implementation.
  3. Contribute/Develop fundraising documents such as Expression of Interest, Proposals and Concept Notes by considering DRI’s country and global strategy and donor requirements.
  4. Ensure to work with the DRI Pakistan team to obtain relevant, technically sound proposals.
  5. Ensure the capability and professional knowledge to follow all donor requirement during proposal preparation.
  6. Other relevant duties, as required.

Your Skills and Experience:

     Required:

  • University degree in social sciences, public administration, development, or other relevant fields.
  • 8 or more years of professional experience developing and/ or implementing projects related to democracy development, governance or human rights, preferably in an international NGO;
  • Proven experience in having worked on projects funded by a variety of international donors,
  • Knowledge of international democracy standards, democratic governance and human rights issues.
  • Excellent writing, reasoning and analytical skills
  • IT skills
  • Good communication and negotiation skills;
  • Ability to work as part of a diverse team;
  • Fluency in written and spoken English and Urdu.

What We Offer:

DRI offers you flexible working hours, health insurance, training options, and the opportunity to work as part of a diverse team.

How to Apply:

If you are interested in this position, please submit your application (cover letter and CV) to [email protected]. Please include “Senior Project Development and Fundraising Officer” in the subject line and refer to the source where you have found this opportunity. This position is subject to funding.

Closing date for applications: 31 December 2020. The position may be filled before the deadline has been reached, so early applications are encouraged.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

DRI is committed to diversity and treats everybody equally, independent of gender identity, sex, pregnancy, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, age, ability, socio-economic status, political opinion (as long as respectful of democratic principles), or any other status protected by the laws in the locations where we operate.

Organisation responsible for this vacancy:

Democracy Reporting International gGmbH

Elbestr. 28 / 29

12045 Berlin, Germany

Data processing of personal data in third countries will not take place. We process your data in accordance with the provisions of § 26 German Federal Data Protection Act. More information about processing your personal data: privacy policy.

Legal Drafting Expert – Pakistan (m/f/d)

Form of Employment: Part-time

Starting Date: December 2020

Duration: Up to 20 working days over a period of 3 months

Location: Karachi        

Background:

Democracy Reporting International (DRI) is a non-partisan, independent, not-for-profit organisation registered in Berlin. DRI promotes political participation of citizens, accountability of state bodies, and the development of democratic institutions worldwide.

DRI is currently recruiting a Legal Drafting Expert for its Country Office in Pakistan. In collaboration with, and under the supervision of the Project Manager/Democratic Governance Expert and in consultation with the relevant department/s of the government of Sindh, the expert will draft Rules to facilitate the implementation of the Sindh COVID-19 Emergency Relief Act 2020 passed by the Provincial Assembly in June 2020.

Your Tasks:

  • Review the Sindh COVID-19 Emergency Relief Act 2020 and draft rules and regulations required for carrying out the purpose of the Act
  • Conduct consultations with relevant officials of the Sindh government prior to the drafting of the rules
  • Work closely with DRI Provincial Team and officials of the relevant department/s and draft Rules in consultation with them
  • If required, conduct briefings and provide technical advice to relevant officials for effective implementation of the Act
  • Shall prepare the first draft of the Rules by end of January 2020
  • Other relevant duties, as required

Your Skills and Experience:

Required:

  • University degree in Law or equivalent; Masters preferred
  • In-depth knowledge of the political context of the country, particularly Sindh
  • Demonstrated experience in engaging/working with Government department/or other public institutions
  • Demonstrated understanding and expertise in drafting laws and rules
  • Excellent understanding of the COVID-19 and related issues
  • Excellent communication and negotiation skills and ability to work as part of a culturally diverse team
  • Fluency in written and spoken English and Urdu
  • Report writing skills

How to Apply:

If you are interested in this position, please send your application (cover letter and CV) to [email protected]. Please include “Legal Drafting Expert” in the subject line and refer to the source where you have found this opportunity. This position is subject to funding. Applying for this position by post mail is possible, please find our address details below.

Closing date for applications: 11 December 2020. The position may be filled before the deadline has been reached, so early applications are encouraged.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. If you are one of those shortlisted, we will contact you within one week after the expiration of the deadline.

DRI is committed to diversity and does not discriminate in employment based upon gender (including pregnancy), race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, age, ability, socio-economic status, or any other status protected by the laws in the locations where we operate.

Organisation responsible for this vacancy:

Democracy Reporting International gGmbH

Elbestr. 28 / 29

12045 Berlin, Germany

Tel +49 30 27877300

Fax +49 30 27877300-10

Data processing of personal data in third countries will not take place. We process your data in accordance with the provisions of § 26 German Federal Data Protection Act. More information about processing your personal data: privacy policy.

Consultations on Belarus Electoral Law Reform – Senior Elections Expert (m/f/d)

Form of Employment: Short-term consultancy

Starting Date: 9 Dec 2020

Duration: Dec 2020 – June 2021

Location: Remote deskwork

Background:

Democracy Reporting International (DRI) and European Exchange (EE) will hold a series of international consultations on electoral reform in Belarus involving Belarusian and international experts. In a participatory process, democratic forces will develop recommendations for the reform of the electoral framework (including electoral law, party law, criminal law, media law, constitution, etc.) for presidential, parliamentary and local elections.

To assist in this work, DRI is recruiting a Senior Elections Expert (m/f/d) who, under the supervision of the DRI contact point, will support the process with the drafting of preparatory materials, informing discussions with international perspectives, and producing the final outcome reports.

Tasks & Responsibilities:

Phase I (Dec 2020)

  • Review existing analysis and recommendations on the electoral framework in Belarus, provide a summary
  • Participate in two online discussions with Belarusian and international experts
  • Draft a summary report on discussion outcomes
  • Contribute to the agenda planning for online events
  • Liaise closely with the DRI contact point to further refine tasks above, and at all key stages of implementation

Phase II (January – June 2021)

  • Conduct a more in-depth review of the electoral framework based on the outcomes of Phase I and working group advice
  • Participate in four online discussions with local Belarus and international stakeholder representatives
  • Provide discussion papers and draft summary reports on discussion outcomes
  • Participate in a limited number of follow-up meetings to promote findings
  • Contribute to the agenda planning for online events
  • Liaise closely with the DRI contact point to further refine the tasks above, and at all key stages of implementation

It is foreseen that the total assignment is likely to take approximately 30 working days, with up 10 days for Phase I, and 20 days for Phase II.

Currently, only Phase I funding is secured, so the contract for Phase II services will be concluded upon confirmation of further expected funds.

Qualifications We Require:

  • University degree in law, political sciences or other relevant fields
  • At least 10 years of work experience in the field of elections and/or good governance and democratisation
  • Proven research experience in the field of elections, encompassing a diversity of contexts/ jurisdictions
  • Familiarity with the Belarus electoral and political context is a strong asset
  • Fluency in written and spoken English
  • Advanced knowledge of Russian and/or Belarusian is a distinct advantage
  • Good communication and negotiation skills and ability to work as part of a culturally diverse team

How to Send Your Offer:

If you are interested in this consultancy, please send the following documents to [email protected]:

  • CV with references to comparable assignments, ideally at international NGOs
  • Financial offer stating the days required and the respective daily rate

Please include “Belarus Electoral Consultations” in the subject line.

Closing date for applications: 8 December, 09:00 AM (CET). The position may be filled before the deadline has been reached, so early applications are encouraged.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.

DRI is committed to diversity and does not discriminate in employment based upon gender (including pregnancy), race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, age, ability, socio-economic status, political opinion or any other status protected by the laws in the locations where we operate.

Organisation responsible for this vacancy:

Democracy Reporting International gGmbH

Elbestr. 28/29

12045 Berlin, Germany

Data processing of personal data in third countries will not take place. We process your data in accordance with the provisions of § 26 German Federal Data Protection Act. More information about processing your personal data: privacy policy.