Asia policy coordinator (one institutional consultancy): Connecting the unconnected
“Meaningful community-centred connectivity” is a project under the Local Networks (LocNet) initiative, a collective effort led by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) and Rhizomatica in partnership with people and organisations in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). It aims to directly support community networks and other community-centred connectivity initiatives, while contributing to an enabling ecosystem for their emergence and growth. It is part of a multi-year, multi-donor strategy envisaged to address the human capacity and sustainability challenges, along with the policy and regulatory obstacles, that limit the growth of community-based connectivity initiatives.
Main purpose of the position
The LocNet team invites host institutions in Asia* that are already working with community networks to apply and nominate one candidate for the position of policy coordinator.
The candidate selected for this position would lead a 9 ½-month Asia regional-level coordination process around community network-related policy**. The Asia policy coordinator is responsible, from a contextualised and participatory vision, for following up on the policy actions promoted and/or facilitated by LocNet that are generated in the region. Their main function is to develop consistent and clearly communicated policy responses to the most pressing challenges faced by community-centred connectivity initiatives in the region. This includes contributing to efforts through the development of analysis of key policy and regulatory issues, establishing and/or maintaining relationships with regional regulatory bodies and contributing to their processes, and engaging in capacity-building efforts for regulators and policy makers.
The candidate would work closely with support organisations and communities in focus countries to better understand the national policy and regulation and how to influence, interact and comply with it, organise workshops with regional regulatory agencies, maintain a relationship with regional regulatory bodies, and create materials to promote community-centred connectivity initiatives. Finally, the coordinator may contribute to and promote a guide for regulators to support them in engagement on gender and gender mainstreaming in telecommunication spaces.
Start date: 6 March 2024. Please note that given the short timeline in this project, delaying this start date is not a possibility. The selected host institution will be notified by the first week of March 2024.
Deadline for applications: 9 February 2024
Reporting: The position will report to the policy lead for the Local Networks initiative and work closely with other members of the project team.
Primary responsibilities
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Accompany support organisations in selected countries to better understand the national policy and regulation and how to influence, interact and comply with it.
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Coordinate and report the results of face-to-face and virtual meetings of LocNet partner organisations in the region with respect to policy activities.
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Mentor support organisations in engaging and working directly with regulatory agencies and policy makers to address country-specific issues that create a more enabling framework.
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Support community-centred connectivity providers to align with existing policies and regulation, including country submissions and uploading country policy information on the online knowledge resources maintained by LocNet.
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Coordinate the development of the regional or national policy capacity-building courses in their region.
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Maintain collaboration and communication with the ITU regional office and other regional policy and regulatory bodies
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Monitor, and when possible, attend and contribute to the development of regional policy processes leading to World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC) 2025 and the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference 2026, among others.
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Provide support to the LocNet communications associate for the dissemination of activities related to policy in their region.
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Provide support for the collection of data and information in the processes of systematisation, evaluation and documentation carried out for the LocNet policy wiki and/or monitoring, evaluation and learning framework.
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Motivate, through practical and visible actions and in collaboration with the gender area, the participation of women in policy activities, specifically by contributing to the development and promotion of a guide for regulators to support them in engagement on gender and gender mainstreaming in their regulatory work.
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Participate in the project inception meeting in 2024 as well as participate in online and face-to-face meetings and events that are coordinated by the policy outcome area.
Secondary responsibilities
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Advocacy: Support project advocacy plans globally, and especially in their region.
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Fundraising and resource mobilisation: Assist the project team with the development of a multi-year strategy to continue the work of the project.
Qualifications, background and experience
The following qualifications, background and experience are expected from the individual candidate proposed by the host institution:
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Experience writing policy documents and commenting on policy processes.
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Experience with global and regional telecommunications policy spaces, processes and actors.
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Experience in convening and delivering training to policy makers and regulators, or other capacity-building processes and mechanisms which enable community networks, small operators or universal affordable access in Asia, is desirable.
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Experience in policy advocacy issues related to “digital inclusion”, “rural development”, “rural connectivity”, “access development”, “community radio”, “community networks”, etc. is desirable.
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At least three years of experience in project management, including reporting and people coordination.
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Technical experience in the deployment of community networks is desirable.
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Track record as an inclusive network builder and team player.
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Ability to plan and think strategically, in particular to revise practices and suggest solutions to ensure efficiency of the implementation of the project.
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Capacity to work autonomously and in a team setting.
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Excellent writing, documentation, filing and communication skills.
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Excellent written and spoken English.
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Ability to communicate in Spanish, French or Portuguese would be an advantage.
Location
Location: The applicant will work at a location within the region agreed with the host institution and preferably be from and living in the Asia region where the institution is largely based. Institutions with experience in regional networks will be given preference.
Remuneration and duration of contract
The host institution selected will receive USD 29,260. This fund should cover a minimum 0.8 full-time equivalent, 9 ½ month contract for the Asia policy coordinator, who is expected to work from 6 March 2024 until 31 December 2024. While the 2024 contract would be for 9 ½ months, there is a possibility for further time extension should funding allow.
A contract between the successful host institution and APC will be drawn up containing the specific terms and the disbursement process.
How to apply
Interested institutions should submit an application with the following information in English:
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A cover letter or proposal from the interested institution stating how it intends to host the Asia policy coordination of the project. It should state the name of the candidate who is nominated by the institution, the qualifications of the candidate and their interest in the position. This cover letter or proposal should also include: details on its organisational capacity, an organisational profile (including its legal registration, organigram and past experience in managing grants), how it will provide support to the regional coordinator, and a budget proposal outlining the way funds will be used.
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A CV of the candidate nominated for the position of regional coordinator. Institutions are encouraged to nominate women candidates.
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Three references for the candidate: names, relationship, contact details.
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Completed due diligence form, available here.
Information to be highlighted about the nominated candidate includes:
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Experience in relation to contributions, via written submissions, attendance, etc., to policy processes in the region.
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Experience in capacity building, particularly in relation to regulators and policy makers.
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Experience in processes related to communication, connectivity and/or digital inclusion in community contexts.
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Experience in project coordination.
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Computer and internet skills.
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Where the candidate is based.
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Confirmation that the candidate is able and willing to travel frequently.
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Languages spoken and written.
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Why the candidate would like to be part of this project and is interested in this position.
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Why the candidate would like to work with the Local Networks initiative.
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Other information that might be of importance to our assessment of the application.
In order to apply, kindly fill in the online application form found here by 9 February 2024, 23.00 UTC. Please note that only short-listed host institutions will be contacted.
Project details
This project aims to contribute to our vision of digital inclusion: Rural, remote and marginalised communities have the opportunities, capacities and resources to achieve and shape meaningful community-centred connectivity that contributes to the strengthening of local well-being, economies and cultures. It is part of a multi-year, multi-donor strategy envisaged to address the human capacity and sustainability challenges, along with the policy and regulatory obstacles, that limit the growth of community-centred connectivity initiatives.
The project will adopt human rights-based and gender equality approaches, with a special emphasis on women-led initiatives and integration of a gender perspective at all levels of project conceptualisation, planning and implementation. In addition, an ecosystem approach that integrates participation and ownership of project participants will be used to ensure sustainability beyond the life of the project.
About APC
APC is a global network of civil society organisations whose mission is to empower and support organisations, social movements and individuals in and through the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to build strategic communities and initiatives for the purpose of making meaningful contributions to equitable human development, social justice, participatory political processes and environmental sustainability.
About Rhizomatica
Rhizomatica is a civil society organisation whose mission is to increase access to and participation in telecommunications by supporting communities to build and maintain self-governed and owned communication infrastructure. Rhizomatica's approach combines regulatory activism and reform, critical engagement with technology and the development of decentralised telecommunications infrastructure, and direct community involvement and participation.
* Host institutions can be non-state entities, particularly civil society organisations and non-profit organisations, who work closely with remote communities and practise a human rights-based approach. Regional entities with work around digital rights and rural connectivity will also be considered.