Call for Consultants: Training Materials on Freedom of Expression in the Middle East and North Africa

The purpose of the consultancy is to update existing modules on freedom of expression and digital rights to encompass domestic law and national and regional trends from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for use in Media Defence’s litigation surgeries.

Background

Media Defence’s vision is a world where journalists no longer face legal challenges that threaten their ability to report freely and independently on issues of public interest, allowing individuals to be better informed, and better equipped to be able to hold those in power to account.

One of Media Defence’s core activities is the delivery of litigation surgeries to increase the knowledge, skills and confidence of lawyers to litigate freedom of expression cases at national and regional courts. These surgeries have a practical focus; the programme is tailored to case studies that participants provide, including cases they are working on or that they intend to pursue.

Having previously facilitated litigation surgeries in sub-Saharan Africa, Media Defence will now be organising its first litigation surgery in MENA/the MENA region and this requires a new set of training materials relevant to that region. The training materials are designed for practising lawyers and give an overview of key concepts and emerging trends in freedom of expression and digital rights.

All Media Defence’s training materials are on our website and licenced under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International Licence. So far, we have developed regional modules for sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Latin America and Europe.

Training Modules

Media Defence is looking to hire a consultant to update Media Defence’s Summary Modules on Digital Rights and Freedom of Expression in South and Southeast Asia where appropriate to focus on the MENA region, including domestic domestic laws and national and regional trends related to the thematic areas listed below. The consultant may use any of the material in the training manuals and modules available on the website.

Deliverables

Media Defence would like to receive the following:

(1) Additional material on MENA to supplement the existing modules (final list of 10 modules to be agreed between consultant and Media Defence):

Module 1: Key principles of international law and freedom of expression

Module 2: Introduction to digital rights

Module 3: Access to the internet (incl. a focus on internet shutdowns and social media blocking)

Module 4: Digital Privacy and Data Protection

Module 5 Defamation and reputation

Module 6: Hate speech

Module 7: Cybercrimes

Module 8: National security

Module 9: Violence against journalists

Module 10: Introduction to UN mechanisms

(3) Adding to the existing glossary for the modules

(4) Updated PowerPoint presentations for each module (based on existing presentations)

Expected timeline

• 20 August 2024: Deadline for submission of proposal
• 28 August 2024: Successful proposal will begin
• 25 September 2024: Initial submission of first updated module
• 7-10 October 2024: Final submission of the first five modules content
• 15 October 2024: Final submission of the last five modules content

Expected profile

• At least five years’ experience drafting resources on freedom of expression for practicing lawyers.
• Demonstrated knowledge of international/comparative law on the right to freedom of expression, digital rights, and internet freedom, with a particular focus on the Middle East and North Africa/MENA.
• Availability to provide the deliverables within the expected timeline.

How to apply

Please submit the following documents to training@mediadefence.org.

• A one-page proposal including key dates and timelines for the project.
• CV of those working on the project.
• Quotation/itemised budget in GBP (£).
• Example of relevant previous work undertaken.

If you have any questions, please contact training@mediadefence.org