Asia Pacific Policy Analyst/Counsel (Southeast Asia)

The Organization and Role

About Access Now

Access Now defends and extends the digital rights of people and communities at risk. As a grassroots-to-global organization, we partner with local actors to bring a human rights agenda to the use, development, and governance of digital technologies, and to intervene where technologies adversely impact our human rights. By combining direct technical support, strategic advocacy, grassroots grantmaking, and convenings such as RightsCon, we fight for human rights in the digital age.

About this role

The Policy Analyst is deeply involved in aspects of the organization that pertain to Access Now’s advocacy and policy initiatives in the Asia Pacific, with a primary focus on leading efforts in the Southeast Asia sub-region. This position involves close collaboration with regional advocacy and policy teams, regional campaigners and leaders to foster an international dialogue and ensure that legislation and policies around the region respect and extend human rights in the digital age. The Policy Analyst contributes to Access Now’s strategy to ensure that human rights in the digital age are high on the agenda of the relevant government and policy institutions around Southeast Asia in the upcoming years.

The Policy Analyst works closely with the organization’s various advocacy teams. The role may be filled as Policy Analyst, or as Policy Counsel, differentiated by regional and/or preparatory distinctions. This role sits within the Advocacy Arm, on the Policy and International Programs Team, and reports through the Asia Pacific Policy and Advocacy Director. This position works closely with the Asia-Pacific Policy Analyst focusing on Myanmar.

What you will do

• Follow Southeast Asia developments on areas of importance to human rights in the digital age, which can include business and human rights, content regulation and disinformation, cybersecurity, government surveillance, accountability of online platforms and more, depending on prioritisation and planning
• Track and engage on relevant legislation and administrative proceedings, and establish and maintain relationships with regulators and lawmakers across countries in Southeast Asia
• Conduct in-depth research and legal, policy, and legislative analysis to develop evidence-based policy recommendations and strategies
• Produce high-quality policy briefs, blog posts, public comments, reports and other pertinent documents to support lobbying and advocacy efforts
• Monitor relevant digital rights issues in the region and summarise key academic publications to inform ongoing advocacy
• Support and identify collaboration opportunities with partners, policymakers, and stakeholders in the region to advance digital rights objectives
• Coordinate and represent Access Now in multi stakeholder coalitions and public events and before regional policy and governance institutions
• Provide strategic advice to the Asia Pacific Policy and Advocacy Director and Director – Policy and International Programs on regional issues and advocacy strategy
• Work closely with the Asia-Pacific Policy Analyst focusing on Myanmar, providing support and coordinating on regional strategies that address the specific digital rights challenges in Myanmar as well as their impact on the wider region
• Collaborate with colleagues to develop innovative and effective regional advocacy approaches to advance digital rights in the region, including campaigns and media relations
• Collaborate with campaigners on development of materials, and execute comprehensive, substance-driven campaigns
• Research fundraising and partnership opportunities, including innovative collaboration
• Work closely with colleagues to map strategic growth and opportunities for deepening our work in support of communities at serious risk throughout the region, and in response to regional developments that impact the global digital rights landscape
• Coordinate work with colleagues across the organization, setting clear advocacy plans and priorities, monitoring progress, and proactively communicating as conditions change
• Assists in global implementation of the annual RightsCon summit series
• Perform additional duties as assigned

Skills, education, and mindset you will bring

• 3-5 years of experience in Southeast Asia policy and lawmaking, public policy, advocacy, campaigning, or similar function, increasing levels of responsibility – with previous work that may have spanned areas such as internet freedom, internet governance, human rights, legal education, political communication, internet engineering, and/or new technologies
• Solid understanding of the functioning and internal processes of Southeast Asia regional and national regulatory and legislative institutions and other relevant regional policy mechanisms
• Ability to bridge the gap between policy and technology (a technical background is a plus)
• Exceptional writing and communication skills, with proven ability to produce well-crafted policy papers, press resources, and other advocacy material
• Experience engaging and supporting diverse communities including women, LGBTQI or queer communities
• Global perspective and ability to participate in a team with people from around the world
• Strong organisational skills, with the capacity to manage and prioritise multiple deadlines in a complex and dynamic environment
• Experience organising and facilitating events, workshops, and meetings
• In-depth understanding of contemporary digital rights debates and the human rights challenges posed by new technologies
• Experience working in civil society, public sector, and/or a regulatory environment is preferred
• Fluency in English is required, with knowledge of an additional, relevant language for Southeast Asia strongly preferred (including Bahasa Indonesia, Thai, Filipino/Tagalog, Malay, among others)
• Appropriate education and work preparation for the role, with preference for a bachelor or master degree equivalent in law, political science, international relations or public policy is preferred

The Details

Location

This is a full-time position, with preference for those based in Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines. The successful candidate must possess the right to work in the location in which they will be based. At this time most Access Now Team Members are working through hybrid office arrangements, combining remote at-home work with intermittent use of offices and/or co-working spaces.

Remuneration

Access Now offers competitive compensation and benefits packages that align competitively with locations and regions around the world. Location-specific examples of initial placement within the salary range for this role include:

• ฿119,750.00 THB gross monthly (Thailand)
• ₱141,757.58 PHP gross monthly (Philippines)

Benefits for this specific role are tied to the location, and will vary. Regardless of location, all Team Members benefit from a strong global culture aligned around:

• Work-life balance…including a generous paid time-off program between 36 and 40 days annually
• Access to supplemental health care insurance policies
• Professional development and growth opportunities
• Extensive workplace flexibility
• Organizational resilience and support for all team members, including paid family leave and employee assistance programs
• Connection to a diverse, global team of passionate, principled professionals
• Opportunities to recharge (including one month of paid refresher leave after 4 years)