Our vision: Our vision is for everyone living in West Asia-North Africa and the diaspora to be able to access and engage with the internet, mobile services, and other networked spaces safely and without fear of censorship, surveillance, or repercussion.
Our mission: SMEX advances freedom of expression and the right to privacy in WANA through research and reporting, monitoring state and tech companies’ policies, protecting the safety and security of online users, and collaborating with regional advocates to sustain a safer digital space.
About the project
SMEX is leading a project focused on reforming the governance of Lebanon’s mobile telecommunications sector. Through a comprehensive mapping of the sector’s governance structure, the project aims to address one of the underlying drivers of Lebanon’s ongoing recession: the lack of transparency and effective governance.
By clearly outlining the sector’s governance landscape and identifying longstanding inefficiencies, the project will promote greater transparency, accountability, and public oversight. It will equip stakeholders with practical tools to monitor governance practices and advocate for systemic reforms, ultimately helping to reduce corruption and maladministration.
The project envisions more transparent decision-making processes, leading to evidence-based policymaking, increased public trust, and stronger institutions. Enhanced governance will translate into improved service delivery for users, stimulate economic recovery, and foster a healthier, more resilient telecom sector. In the long run, it will streamline development and implementation processes, reduce wasteful expenditures and compensation costs, and reinforce a culture of openness and accountability.
About the role
SMEX is seeking a researcher with expertise in legal and governance frameworks to conduct a comprehensive analysis of Lebanon’s mobile telecommunications sector and develop actionable policy recommendations to advance systemic reforms.
This research will address governance challenges in Lebanon’s mobile telecom sector and produce critical evidence to advocate for improved sector governance, engaging directly with public administrations and decision-makers to push for meaningful change. It will research international best practices, define a public management framework, create a detailed organizational chart that exposes systemic issues and empowers advocates to push for reforms, and develop a tailored governance model, with legal expert input.
Building on SMEX’s prior work, the findings will fuel a targeted advocacy campaign—including policy publications, media engagement, stakeholder consultations, and high-level meetings—to drive greater transparency, accountability, and user-centric services across Lebanon’s mobile ecosystem.
Responsibilities
- With the support of the telecom expert, develop a comprehensive research framework and methodology to analyze Lebanon’s mobile telecom governance structure.
- Design a phased work plan with clear milestones for data collection, analysis, and validation
- Analyze international governance models and best practices in mobile telecom sectors to identify adaptable solutions for Lebanon.
- Identify and prioritize key stakeholders across government, private sector, and civil society
- Establish strategic partnerships with subject matter experts in telecommunications, governance, and anti-corruption.
- Map decision-making processes and accountability mechanisms.
- Identify systemic vulnerabilities and corruption risks in current structures.
- With the support of telecom and legal experts, formulate actionable recommendations for institutional reforms.
- Define the public management framework for mobile companies in Lebanon, outlining the laws and responsibilities between the state (as owner) and the mobile network operators.
- Create a detailed organizational chart that explains the responsibility matrix and decision-making processes.
- With the support of telecom and legal experts, develop a governance model specifically for mobile companies.
- Consult with legal professionals to adapt the governance models to the mobile telecommunications sector.
- Consult with telecom experts and legal advisors as well as experts suggested by SMEX.
- Conduct meetings and interviews with stakeholders to address the governance structure and develop a structure that addresses existing corruption vulnerabilities, leveraging their expertise in policy analysis, access to information, and anti-corruption efforts.
- Collaborate with Parliament members who have an interest in the mobile telecom sector to gather their feedback and secure their support for the mobile governance project.
- Interview public monitoring bodies like The Audit Bureau and other similar bodies, which will benefit from the clarity and collaboration around the Telecom Sector, improving their ability to oversee and hold the sector accountable effectively.
- Consult with journalists, civil society and think tank organizations, media outlets, and researchers to benefit any investigative work, reporting, evidence-based analysis, etc.
Qualifications
- Expertise in governance best practices as well as governance models and legal context
- Skilled in gathering intelligence from publicly available sources, such as industry reports, online forums, and specialized databases.
- Proficient in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including conducting interviews, reviewing analytical reports, and designing surveys to assess impact.
- Strong ability to assess source reliability, verify information, and identify disinformation or misleading data.
- Familiarity with SMEX’s core work and a shared commitment to human rights values, including privacy, users’ rights, digital surveillance, data protection, freedom of expression, accessibility, and open culture.
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Law, Social Sciences, Development Studies, Statistics, Computer Science etc..).
- Demonstrated experience in governance research or a related field is highly desirable.
- Experience in writing and publishing research reports, policy briefs, or academic papers on governance-related topics.
Behavioral Competencies
- Strategic Thinking
- Time Management and commitment
- Problem Solving
- Effective Communication
Additional Information
Duty Station: Beirut, Lebanon
Office Presence: Hybrid
Employment status: Consultancy
Reporting Line: Media Program Manager/Internet Governance Project Lead
Salary: $3000 in total for a timeline of 4 months (payment upon deliverables)
Application
The applicant should fill in this form.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
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