Result of Service

– Level of cooperation with the IGF Secretariat;‎ – Timely submission of outputs; ‎ – Quality of synthesis and summarizing of the community discussions, outputs ‎demonstrating high-level knowledge of the subject matter; ‎ – Readability of the outputs; ‎ – Positive feedback from Member States and other stakeholders.

Work Location

Remote

Expected duration

85 days

Duties and Responsibilities

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) was held in two phases: Geneva (2003) and Tunis (2005). World leaders declared their commitment to building a people-centred, inclusive, and development-oriented Information Society, recognizing the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in advancing development. The Geneva Plan of Action and Tunis Agenda laid the foundation for Internet governance, ICT financing mechanisms, and implementation measures through specific targets and Action Lines. One of the major outcomes of WSIS was the establishment of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), as mandated in the Tunis Agenda. Paragraph 72 of the Agenda set forth the IGF’s role as a global multi-stakeholder platform to discuss public policy issues related to Internet governance, ensuring the Internet’s sustainability, security, stability, and development. The IGF Secretariat is based at the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG). Since its inception, the IGF’s mandate has been reviewed and renewed twice by the UN General Assembly: first in 2010 for five years (Resolution 65/141) and again in 2015 for ten years (Resolution 70/125). The WSIS+10 Review in 2015, supported by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), assessed a decade of progress and set the stage for future discussions. This process culminated in Resolution 70/125, which extended the IGF’s mandate until 2025 and called for a high-level review meeting (WSIS+20) to evaluate the implementation of WSIS outcomes. The WSIS+20 review in 2025 will include an assessment of the IGF’s role and mandate, reflecting on how the forum has evolved over the years to incorporate discussions and activities in alignment with evolving digital governance challenges. The UNGA draft resolution on modalities for the WSIS+20 review has yet to be adopted. It emphasizes a broad and inclusive preparatory process, engaging all stakeholders to assess progress, address gaps, and align WSIS outcomes with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UN DESA will provide Secretariat support for the WSIS+20 review. Under the supervision of the IGF Secretariat’s Head of Office; and the Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government’s Governance (DPIDG) Senior Public Administration Officer, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the consultant will be responsible for preparing key documents related to the WSIS+20 overall review particularly those of the IGF, and its role in the implementation of the Global Digital Compact (GDC). The consultant will be tasked with research, synthesis, drafting, stakeholder engagement, and engagement with relevant UN bodies and multistakeholder groups. The specific tasks include: 1. Twenty-Year Review of the IGF: Achievements and Impact. Develop a comprehensive document assessing the IGF’s progress and impact over the past two decades. Conduct research on IGF participation trends, evolution of topics discussed and activities undertaken (within and beyond the annual meeting), and expansion of national and regional IGF initiatives (NRIs). Highlight IGF’s role in informing global digital policy processes, fostering multistakeholder dialogue, and inspiring and informing national and regional discussions. Showcase key milestones, including the increasing participation of governments, civil society, technical community, and private sector. Assess how the IGF has adapted to the changing digital landscape and its contributions to global digital governance. Provide insights on how host countries have leveraged the IGF to engage local stakeholders and stimulate national discourse on Internet/digital governance. 2. The Future of the IGF: Strategic Outlook. Develop a forward-looking document on the future of the IGF, based on the work of the Leadership Panel (LP) and the Multistakeholder Advisory Group (MAG). Outline options for enhancing IGF’s role within the global digital governance landscape, and in particular, the UN system and its coordination with other UN agencies dealing with digital policy. Propose strategies for better communication of IGF outputs to decision-makers. Recommend frameworks for monitoring progress and impact, including using the Internet We Want framework and alignment with the Global Digital Compact (GDC). Analyse funding challenges and propose models for securing the IGF’s long-term institutional and financial sustainability within the UN system. Suggest improvements to IGF’s institutional structure, including the establishment of systematic reporting mechanisms to track progress. 3. Non-Paper on WSIS+20 Overall Review. Support the drafting of a Non-Paper on WSIS+20 review, to serve as a starting point for discussions towards the development of the final outcome document to be adopted by the UN General Assembly. The Non-Paper would be based on prior submissions and consultations with all stakeholders, including but not limited to UN Agencies, Ensure key suggestions and priorities identified by stakeholders are reflected in the final draft. 4. IGF’s Contribution to the Implementation of the Global Digital Compact (GDC). Prepare a concise document outlining how the IGF contributes and could further contribute to the implementation of the GDC. Map IGF discussions, initiatives, and outputs to the key commitments of the GDC. Highlight how IGF’s multistakeholder approach can support the realization of GDC objectives. Identify areas where IGF can play a role in the follow-up and monitoring of GDC-related commitments. Provide recommendations derived from submissions on how IGF sessions and intersessional work can align with GDC implementation strategies. Based submissions suggest ways to integrate IGF processes into UN-wide digital governance initiatives. 5. WSIS+20 Stakeholder Consultations Summary Reports. Attend and prepare detailed summary reports during the Office of the President General Assembly’s (OPGA’s) stakeholder consultations on the overall WSIS+20 review by the United Nations General Assembly. Support the consultation sessions, ensuring stakeholder inputs are captured and summarized. Develop guidelines and templates for written submissions and consolidate the submissions for analysis. 6. Zero Draft and Outcome Document. Support the drafting of the Zero Draft outcome document for the WSIS+20 review by synthesizing and incorporating comments received from stakeholders and Member States into a Zero Draft outcome document for the WSIS+20 review. Provide background research and policy recommendations for the Zero Draft. Compile and analyse comments on the Zero Draft and provide summaries to inform revisions. Support the drafting of the outcome document based on stakeholder feedback and discussions. Review comments on the draft document and ensure key suggestions are integrated into the subsequent version(s). The consultant will be expected to engage with key stakeholders, document meetings, and provide substantive inputs for discussions at the 20th IGF Annual Meeting and beyond. All deliverables should be prepared in consultation with the IGF Secretariat and in line with established methodologies and guidelines.

Qualifications/special skills

– An advanced university degree in information communication technologies, social sciences, ‎development studies, management or other relevant disciplines or equivalent fields; however, a first university degree in the relevant field of studies, combined with an additional two years of relevant experience, may be accepted as a substitute. – A minimum of 7 years of professional experience, including analytical work related ‎to Internet/digital governance, public policymaking, development management, participatory governance, capacity building, etc. – Experience ‎in drafting substantive publications, meeting summaries, and synthesizing complex ‎information and inputs. ‎ – Excellent writing skills in the English language.‎ – Experience in editing/proofreading UN documents.

Languages

Excellent written and oral English language skills are required. Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.