The Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria (the Centre), is implementing a two-year project on Children’s Privacy in the Digital Sphere. The overall goal of the project is to promote enhanced protection for children’s right to privacy in the digital sphere in Africa. This goal will be achieved through three main interventions: research for evidence and knowledge building on the standards and practice on children privacy online; evidence based advocacy for children’s privacy in the digital sphere, and capacity building to enhance the development and implementation of relevant protections to enhance online privacy for children. The first pillar of the project entails knowledge building on the regional and domestic standards governing children’s privacy when navigating the internet. One of the main components of this aspect is a regional study which seeks to foster evidenced-based understanding of key issues relating to children’s privacy online in the African context.

Accordingly, the Centre seeks to institute a regional study to analyse the legal protection and practical enjoyment of children’s right to privacy in the digital sphere in the African Context. By utilising concrete examples and authoritative information from African countries, the study is expected to generate the empirical basis for the capacity building and advocacy elements of the project. The study will explore the international and regional standards on children’s privacy online, and identify the standards and key issues in protection of children’s right to privacy in the digital sphere in Africa.

Objectives of the study

 The specific objectives of the study are to:

• Document the nature and scope of children’s right to privacy in the digital sphere in Africa
• Assess the effectiveness of legal frameworks for the protection of children’s privacy in Africa
• Identify gaps in the protection and implementation of children’s privacy online
• Identify good practices in Africa and beyond on protection of children’s rights in the digital sphere
• Make recommendations to policy makers, technology companies and other key stakeholders on the measures to be adopted to promote children’s privacy online in a manner that limits their exposure to harmful content or activities.

Methodology

The analysis will be predominantly analytical, and anchored in human rights theory. The study will pay keen attention to the relevant national practice, regional and international child rights instruments, primary documents such as laws and policies, documents produced by treaty bodies, national legislation, and case law. It will include a systematic analysis of selected countries in Africa to augment the findings, and to ensure a representative picture of the status of protection of children’s privacy rights in the digital sphere. The study will also include a comprehensive analysis of relevant secondary sources such as academic articles and books.

Deliverables

• An inception report
• Draft report
• A final report taking into account the feedback from the Centre and other stakeholders

Timelines

Task  and Date 2020

• Contracting 5 August
• Inception report  10 August 
• Draft Report 28 August 
• Feedback on Draft 11 September 
• Final report submitted 18 September 

Eligibility

Required

• Post-graduate degree in law or social sciences
• Demonstrable knowledge of the African human rights system and digital rights
• Proficiency in English and at least a working knowledge of French
• Demonstrable experience of undertaking similar assignments in the past

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualification or specialisation in human rights, children’s rights, or digital rights
• Prior work in online privacy, digital rights, or children’s rights
• Experience in legal and/or policy analysis in Africa, whether at the regional level or in some African countries

Terms of payment

The successful consultant will be remunerated upon completion of the study to the satisfaction of the Centre for Human Rights.

The payment will be made in South African Rand equivalent of the contractual amount at the official exchange rate applicable on the date of payment.

Application information

Eligible candidates are requested to send their expressions of interest, with the following attachments to Dr Admark Moyo at [email protected], copying Ms. Alina Miamingi at [email protected]:

• A technical proposal and financial proposal
• A detailed curriculum vitae with three contactable referees
• A sample of the applicant’s previous work of similar nature

Closing date for applications is 30 July 2020

For more information, please contact: