Description

CIVICUS Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) is seeking an experienced research consultant to map the emerging ecosystem of civic technologies and digital alternatives that strengthen democratic participation, reduce dependency on Big Tech, and enhance civil society’s long-term digital resilience.

Location: Remote (Open)

Global Duration: 4-5 months, 2026

Background

Civil society’s ability to organise, advocate, and protect civic space is increasingly shaped by digital infrastructure it does not control. Building on CIVICUS’ 2025 field guide From Platforms to Commons, which mapped participatory, decentralised, and community-owned digital infrastructure alternatives, this assignment advances that research into actionable guidance covering both external-facing civic functions and internal operational tools.

Scope of Work

The consultant will produce a report (estimated 40-60 pages) organised around five task areas:

1. Research Mapping and Literature Review covering civic technologies, digital sovereignty, platform governance, digital commons, and alternative open-source tools for civil society.

2. Case Study Analysis identifying concrete examples of civic tech tools, platform alternatives, and collaborative digital infrastructures used by civil society actors, with particular attention to the Global South, covering both external-facing and internal-facing tools, and addressing adoption barriers, governance models, sustainability, and contextual safety risks.

3. Synthesis of Programme and Partner Insight consolidating findings from CIVICUS research outputs, DDI programme activities, and partner organisation experiences.

4. Strategic Analysis and Recommendations identifying opportunities for civil society to strengthen digital resilience, analyse gaps in existing literature, and provide actionable recommendations for building and scaling alternative technology solutions.

5. Report Development producing a well-structured, accessible report for a practitioner audience grounded in real-world examples.

Deliverables

Deliverable	Description
Inception Note	Max 5 pages: methodology, research questions, outline, and work plan
Research Mapping Brief	Approx. 10-15 pages updating the From Platforms to Commons landscape
Draft Report	Full draft of 40-60 pages for internal CIVICUS review
Final Report	Publication-ready revised report for dissemination
Presentation	Max 20-slide deck of key findings for DDI partners and stakeholders

Required Qualifications

• Experience researching technology governance, digital democracy, or civic space
• Understanding of civic tech ecosystems, platform governance, or digital commons
• Strong analytical and research writing skills
• Experience working with international civil society organisations, particularly in Global South contexts

How to Apply

Submit the following to [email protected] by 26 April 2026:

• Technical proposal (max 5 pages) outlining approach and methodology
• Financial proposal
• CV(s) of consultant or team members
• Two relevant research or writing samples

Both eligible individuals and organisations are encouraged to apply. Note that proposals that are entirely AI-generated and submitted without substantive original input from applicants may be disqualified during the evaluation process.

About CIVICUS and the Digital Democracy Initiative

CIVICUS is a global alliance of civil society organisations and activists dedicated to strengthening citizen action and protecting civic space worldwide. The Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) emerged from Denmark’s Tech for Democracy initiative and is implemented by a consortium including Access Now, CIVICUS, Digital Defenders Partnership, Global Focus, European Partnership for Democracy, Fondo de Mujeres del Sur, Witness, and IWGIA.