Dear friends,
On behalf of the Global Advocacy team, I am delighted to share refreshed resources and upcoming spaces for us to learn from, question, and collaborate with each other.
If you've ever wondered why the Foundation has an advocacy team, what we do, why you've received emails from multiple members of the team, or how you can work with us, then this email is for you.
We're trying to provide answers and open channels for collaboration in the following ways:
* Oct. 28 & 30th calls where we're sharing our team's priorities and projects [1]
* Blog post outlining who we are, what we do, and why we exist [2]
* FAQ with answers to common questions [3]
* Monthly retrospective summarizing developments from around the world that shape people’s ability to participate in the free knowledge movement [4]
Let us know what you think!
Cheers,
Ziski & the Global Advocacy Team
____
[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Public_policy/Conversation_hours_and_Events…
[2] https://diff.wikimedia.org/2022/10/26/meet-the-wikimedia-foundation-global-…
[3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Public_policy/FAQ
[4] https://diff.wikimedia.org/2022/10/21/dont-blink-public-policy-snapshot-for…
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Monitoring Evaluation And Data Analysis For Community Based
Projects On 7th To 18th November 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya
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Register for online training
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Register to attend the
training
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Calendar
for 2022/2023 Workshops
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Contact
us
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Whatapp
VENUE: BEST WESTERN MERIDIAN HOTEL, NAIROBI,
KENYA
COURSE FEE: 2,400USD
Office Telephone: +254-702-249-449
Register as a group of 5 or more participants and get 25% discount
on the course fee.
Send us an email:
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training(a)skillsforafrica.org or call +254-702-249-449
INTRODUCTION
This course focuses on the operations of community projects. The
course aims at educating participants on the programmes of monitoring and
evaluation implemented to ensure successful community projects. The course
acknowledges the need for an improved monitoring and evaluation system, thus
aims to equip participants with skills in the creation of effective monitoring
and evaluation systems
COURSE
OBJECTIVES
·
Processes of project management
·
Knowledge areas of project management
·
Project management formulas, theories and
charts
·
Complex project network diagrams
·
Use of data analysis software (NVivo, Stata, Excel,
SAS)
DURATION
10 Days
WHO
SHOULD ATTEND
This course targets project management official from
non-governmental organizations, National statistics offices, researchers,
governmental ministries, Planning ministries, and financial institutions, among
others.
COURSE
OUTLINE
·
Principles and concepts of project
management
·
Development and development frameworks
issues
·
Community types
·
Community development and empowerment
·
Distribution of development resources
·
Community projects designing
·
Involvement of community in development
projects
·
Management of project cycle
·
Need and project stakeholders’
analysis
·
Influence mapping
·
Control and implementation
·
Development stakeholders management
·
Monitoring and evaluation
·
Project monitoring auditing techniques
·
Evaluation of project management systems and
practices
·
Monitoring indicators and systems
designing
·
Collaboration with national bodies, and project
staff
·
Social and institutional change
evaluation
·
Results and impact measuring
·
Economic, social, and environmental impact
assessment
·
Variables and indicators
·
The LOGFRAME approach
·
Techniques of sampling and surveys
·
Characteristics of data and sources
·
Techniques of appraisals
·
Systems and tools of monitoring and
evaluation
·
Data management standards
·
Identification and presentation of data
outputs
·
Consulting stakeholders
·
Development of the project performance audit
report
GENERAL
NOTES
Ø
This
course is delivered by our seasoned trainers who have vast experience as expert
professionals in the respective fields of practice. The course is taught through
a mix of practical activities, theory, group works and case
studies.
Ø
Training
manuals and additional reference materials are provided to the
participants.
Ø
Upon
successful completion of this course, participants will be issued with a
certificate.
Ø
We
can also do this as tailor-made course to meet organization-wide needs. Contact
us to find out more: training(a)skillsforafrica.org
Ø
The
training will be conducted at Skills for Africa Training
Institute.
Ø
The
training fee covers tuition fees, training materials, lunch and training venue.
Accommodation and airport transfer are arranged for our participants upon
request.
Ø
Payment
should be sent to our bank account before start of training and proof of payment
sent to: training(a)skillsforafrica.org
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Dear all,
We've posted two job openings but the responses so far are from outside the
free software / open source community. If you know anyone that would
probably like to work for OFE, or if you know places where good candidates
might see them, it would help OFE a lot if you could spread these:
https://openforumeurope.org/join-the-ofe-team-as-a-content-manager/https://openforumeurope.org/join-the-ofe-team-as-a-policy-analyst/
Or if you want to apply, that would also be great. We might even have a
third open position at some point, so we're interested in multiple profiles.
Thanks.
Below is a copy&paste of the two openings.
========
Content Manager
*Deadline for application:* Friday 21 October 2022
*Interviews:* will start immediately and continue until the vacancy has
been filled
*Start date:* as soon as possible, exact date to be agreed
*Duration:* 1 year contract with possibility of renewal
*Location:* Brussels
*About OpenForum Europe*
OpenForum Europe aisbl (OFE) is a not-for-profit think tank registered in
Belgium which explains the merits of openness in computing to policy makers
and communities across Europe. The openness principles which guide all our
activities are: user centricity, competition, flexibility, sustainability,
and the importance of relying on the support of a transparent and open
community. Launched in 2002 to accelerate and broaden the use of Open
Source Software (OSS) among businesses, consumers and governments, OFE’s
work has grown and its focusses now include Open Technologies,
standardisation, Digital Government, digital platforms, public procurement,
copyright, cloud computing and cybersecurity.
*We are looking for a:*
*Content Manager*
We currently have an opening for the role of OFE’s Content Manager. This is
a new role, created to increase OFE’s media presence as well as visibility
for our numerous activities such as research, events and other
policy-driven initiatives. The key focus for this role is to manage OFE’s
core and project editorial calendars and to, in collaboration with OFE’s
policy teams, produce engaging and impactful content.
They would also support the policy team in liaising with journalists
covering the Brussels technology beat.
The person will be an integrated part of OFE’s Brussels team and will work
closely with the Executive Director. We are looking for a person with a
strong writer who shares our core values that open technology policy lies
at the heart of European competitiveness.
*Qualifications below:*
- At least 3 years of Brussels/EU experience
- Fluent/bilingual skills in English; French would be an asset
- Open source software background is an asset
- At ease with digital tools
- Previous media management relations experience; experience as a
journalist is a plus
- Minimum education required: first degree level, or equivalent in a
relevant discipline
To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter, only, to
jobs[at]openforumeurope[dot]org with “Content Manager” in the subject line.
Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us at the
above-mentioned email.
For additional information about the role, contact Marcus Stober:
marcus[at]openforumeurope[dot]org.
============
Digital Policy Analyst
*Deadline for application:* 21 October 2022
*Interviews:* will start immediately and continue until the vacancy has
been filled
*Start date:* as soon as possible, exact date to be agreed
*Duration:* 1 year contract with possibility of renewal
*Location: *Brussels, Belgium
*About OpenForum Europe*OpenForum Europe (OFE) is a not-for-profit think
tank which explains the merits of openness in computing to policy makers
and communities across Europe. The openness principles which guide all our
activities are: user centricity, competition, flexibility, sustainability,
and the importance of relying on the support of a transparent and open
community. Originally launched in 2002 to accelerate and broaden the use of
Open Source Software (OSS) among businesses, consumers and governments,
OFE’s focus has since evolved. The main policy topics that we cover are:
open technologies, standardisation, digital government, digital platforms,
public procurement, copyright, cloud computing and cybersecurity.
*We are looking for:*
*A Digital Policy Analyst*
*Job description*The Digital Policy Analyst will be part of our Brussels
team. Their main responsibilities will be to:
- Monitor EU policy developments;
- Prepare and participate in events and meetings with the community and
policy makers;
- Conduct research on diverse policy areas;
- Contribute to the delivery of EU projects;
- Manage community and stakeholder relations;
- Prepare communication material for the website (press releases, policy
papers, policy statements) and social media;
This is a hands-on, intense, and challenging opportunity, with direct
policy engagement. In this role, the Digital Policy Analyst will interact
with senior stakeholder representatives in the OFE network and EU
policymakers.
*Desired Profile*An ideal candidate combines technical understanding with
an interest in EU policy. The person has:
- A university degree;
- Ability to grasp and communicate on complex policy issues;
- Interest in the EU decision making process, preferably demonstrated by
work experience;
- A good knowledge of and considerable interest in the ICT industry in
general, and the Open Source movement and EU digital policy more
specifically;
- Initiative, is reliable, and able to multitask and prioritise own work;
- Good interpersonal and team-working skills;
- Perfect fluency in written and spoken English; other EU languages
considered an asset.
Please apply by email submitting a CV and cover letter only to
jobs[at]openforumeurope[dot]org with “Digital Policy Analyst” in the
subject line. Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to
contact us at the above-mentioned email.
======
--
*Giulia Guadagnoli* (*she/her*)
Senior Policy Advisor
OpenForum Europe
tel +32 (0)2 801 13 01
mob +32 (0)476 67 06 74
Book a meeting https://tidycal.com/giulia
web http://www.openforumeurope.org
Follow us on Twitter @OpenForumEurope <https://twitter.com/OpenForumEurope>
--
OFE aisbl, a Belgian international non-profit association
Registered in Belgium with enterprise number 721975651
RPM Tribunal de l’Entreprise Francophone de Bruxelles
Registered office: Avenue des Arts 56, 4C, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Web: openforumeurope.org
e-mail: info(a)openforumeurope.org
The European Commission is flooding Brussels with the last batch of
legislative proposals, including updated liability for software and AI
tools. Meanwhile online platforms are beginning to look into the
implementation of the Digital Services Act.
====
DSA Implementation
---
The very final version of the text of the Digital Services Act (a
corrigendum) is available [1] and will be nodded off by the Council and
Parliament in the coming days. After that it will be published in the
Official Journal of the EU and enter into force 20 days after publication.
Most obligations will apply 15 months after entry into force or from 1
January 2024, whichever is later. However, some obligations on providers of
online platforms, such as publishing the number of average active
recipients and obligations on Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) after
designation, will apply from three months after entry into force.
---
The European Commission is expected to lay out its plans on designation and
supervision of VLOPs by the end of this year. This will take the form of
so-called delegated acts (a.k.a. implementing acts). Apart from a
designation process we also expect the Commission to publish a supervisory
fee structure and how they intend to enforce the rules.
====
Data Act
====
The lead rapporteur for the Data Act, Pilar del Castillo Vera (EPP ES) in
the Industry Committee, has published her draft report with proposed
amendments. [2] One area where she suggests clarification is the provision
under which governments may request data from services during a “public
emergency”. She tries to integrate the notion of rapidity and explicitly
mentions public health emergencies and major natural disasters. Her
suggestions would also exclude all SMEs from the scope. Another limitation
that she proposed to write into the text is to explicitly exclude “personal
data or data covered by professional secrecy”. Our position on this is the
same as during the DSA: The term “public emergency” and the procedures that
trigger it must be clearly defined.
---
Meanwhile in the Council the Czech Presidency is moving ahead with the
negotiations among Member States in the Council. There is a proposal to
extend Article 35, which limits the sui generis database right (SGDR), even
further. Under the Czech proposal the SGDR would never apply to machine
generated data. Under the Commission proposal it wouldn’t apply only when a
user asks for access to data generated by a product or service they use. We
welcome the proposal and also spoke in favour of it with relevant MEPs.
Some background: [3]
======
AI Liability
======
The European Commission presented a new AI Liability Directive. [4] The
stated goal is to complement the AI Act in making sure people and companies
who were harmed by high-risk AI systems (think recruitment, admissions,
autonomous drones, self-driving cars) are able to seek damages. Under the
proposed text the burden of proof on the claimant would be reversed under
certain conditions, as it would be very hard for an outside person to
understand how the AI algorithm works. Also, courts will have the explicit
right to request companies to disclose technical information about their
algorithms.
---
In a related move, the Commission also presented its proposal for an
updated Product Liability Directive. [5] This Directive covers all unsafe
products, including software and digital services, meaning it also covers
machine learning algorithms. Under the new rules providers would be
responsible for software updates and patches. The proposal asle makes one
huge exception: free and open source software provided outside the course
of a commercial activity will not be covered. This provision appears in a
recital only. Perhaps it would be best to move it to a proper article.
========
EMFA
========
The European Media Freedom Act was proposed by the European Commission. [6]
It has the aim of helping journalists and media protect their independence
across the EU, but reads a little like a smörgåsbord covered with soft law
measures. It prohibits Member States from surveilling media or journalists,
except under a “national security” clause. It obliges Member States to have
“open and non-discriminatory” prodecudure for electing heads of public
broadcasters and to distribute public advertising funds fairly. The idea
seems to be that by stating these principles in EU law, citizens and media
would be able to enforce them in court.
---
As expected, an alteration of the so-called “media exception” resurfaced in
the proposal. Media companies had unsuccessfully tried to make it harder
for online platforms to remove or restrict visibility to their content in
the Digital Services Act. The new provision asks some online platforms to
send registered media outlets a prior warning before removing or
restricting their content. The provision will essentially only apply to
Very Large Online Platforms (as per DSA) that allow business users to offer
goods or services to consumers (as per Regulation on fairness for business
users of online intermediation services).
==============================
Combatting Violence Against Women
==============================
A directive on combatting violence against women and domestic violence [7]
is currently in the works of the European Parliament and the Council. While
the piece of legislation doesn’t focus on the online world it nonetheless
has provisions against the non-consensual sharing of intimate or
manipulated material, cyber harassment, cyber stalking and cyber incitement
of violence and hatred. It would mandate that all EU Member States make
these actions punishable as criminal offences. Member States must also
ensure that competent judicial authorities can issue binding legal orders
to remove or disable access to such material from online platforms.
=====================
Political Advertising Online
=====================
The EU is trying to come up with universal rules on political advertising
online. [8] The definition of what constitutes political advertising is
quite broad, which is one major point of discussion. It is not directly
related to payment, which causes quite a bit of confusion. Potentially even
a Wikipedia article about a candidate could fall into this category.
However, the obligations are mainly addressed at “providers of advertising
services”, which effectively leaves Wikimedia projects out of scope.
---
Another point of tension is whether political advertisements can be
targeted. The DSA will already prohibit the use of sensitive personal data
(e.g. political preferences, sexual orientation, religous beliefs), but
some lawmakers would like to go further. Others say that politicians should
be able to target voters online with ads only if they have explicitly
agreed to give some data like gender, age and location. A clear majority is
not in sight.
=====================
Big Fat Brussels Meeting
=====================
We have published the dates, location and a draft agenda for this year’s
Big Fat Brussels Meeting (2 &3 December). Feel free to add your name to the
participants list if you plan to come:
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/EU_policy/Big_Fat_Brussels_Meeting_VIII
====
END
====
[1]
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HaPpOkD5DdMsYlJXt-tBQtax7yduCcek/view?usp=…
[2]https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/ITRE-PR-732704_EN.pdf
[3]
http://copyrightblog.kluweriplaw.com/2022/03/04/a-vanishing-right-the-sui-g…
[4]https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_5807
[5]
https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/document/3193da9a-cecb-44ad-9a9c…
[6]
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18YDbhYiSQVa2x2upKW4nBipgpgQdI2Xc/view?usp=…
[7]
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_…
[8]
https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?refere…