HOSTED BY VISUALIZING IMPACT

The VI Global Fellowship is designed for experienced professionals with a deep interest in social justice to spend one year working on social impact challenges within the context of VI’s largest projects. This year’s Fellowship theme lies at the intersection of digital rights and Palestinian human rights. 

VI Fellows are do-ers,

have an urgent drive to work on social justice,

are skilled creative project managers,

& will work on one topic for a year to create impact.

About

Visualizing Impact is a multidisciplinary collective that applies data journalism, technology, and design to social justice. VI is a winner of the MIT Enterprise Forum Arab Startup Competition in the Social Enterprise category; the Deutsche Welle BOBs Award for Best Social Activism; the Kantar ‘Information is Beautiful’ Community Award; Prix Ars Electronica’s Award of Distinction for Digital Communities; and the On Think Tanks data visualization competition award. Members of our team have presented on the intersection of creativity and social justice in forums such as the MIT Center for Civic Media, the Harvard Graduate School of Design, the United Nations Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East, and the International Women’s Media Foundation’s ‘Cracking the Code’ conference.


The VI Global Fellowship is designed for experienced professionals with a deep interest in social justice to spend one year working on social impact challenges with VI’s largest two areas of work: Digital Rights and Visualizing Palestine.


We set fellows up to create impact by giving them an exciting project to lead and a talented team to manage.


For Digital Rights, we:

  • Co-founded and co-host Onlinecensorship.org, an online platform that collects reports of censorship by social media platforms, in     partnership with the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
  • Work closely with Global Voices (Advox) on a platform highlighting threats against citizen journalists.

On Visualizing Palestine (VP), we:           

  • Create visuals and web platforms that function as a Create Commons engagement tool to address UK Parliamentarians, US Congresspeople, UN officials, community-based advocacy groups, and campus movements
  • Partner with impact-shaping organizations like the Palestinian Museum, the Boycott National Committee, Adalah, and the Community Action Center
  • Have supported community advocacy, journalism, education, and cultural events worldwide
  • Have appeared in public spaces such as the Washington, D.C. metro and in major media outlets such as the Guardian Data Blog, the Huffington Post, the Washington Post, Al-Jazeera English, The Daily Beast, Fast Co., and others
  • Have worked with volunteers to translate VP visuals into 10 languages beyond Arabic and English to share with their networks

Why be a Global Fellow?

  • You believe in the vision.
  • You are itching to apply your professional skills in a multidisciplinary and collaborative environment to critical and ongoing social injustices such as those occurring in the Palestinian context.
  • You want to expand your network, connecting with a conscientious team of designers, technologists, and human rights organizations.
  • You have the skills to leave a lasting mark on a cutting­-edge social enterprise.

Fellows receive CAD $40,000 or USD $30,000 over the course of the fellowship period, a stipend for travel, and a stipend for accomodation for up to one month upon relocation.


During the Fellowship, you will:

Co­produce and generate creative energy with our partners:

Electronic Frontier Foundation - The Electronic Frontier Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization defending civil liberties in the digital world.

Global Voices - Global Voices is a border-less, largely volunteer community of more than 1400 writers, analysts, online media experts, and translators on topics of digital rights and citizen journalism.

Polypod -­ An award­-winning, multi­disciplinary studio in Beirut, Lebanon

Naji el Mir ­- Founder of Paris ­based design studio specialized in motion graphics and Arabic typography.

Giorgio Uboldi -­ Milan-­based communication designer with particular interest in data visualization, UX/UI, and graphic design; research assistant at DensityDesign, focused on the visual representation of complex social, organizational, and urban phenomena.


Manage a diversely experienced team, in close coordination with the directors:

Ramzi Jaber ­- VI Co­founder and Co­director; TEDxRamallah Lead Curator; Co­founder of OnlineCensorship.org; Stanford University Social Entrepreneur in Residence (2011), Ashoka Fellow (2013-­2015)

Joumana al Jabri ­- VI Co­founder and Co­director; TEDxRamallah Co­Curator; co­founder of Febrik; Synergos Arab World Social Innovator Fellow (2013­2015).

Hani Asfour ­- VI branding and design partner; founding partner of Polypod; Creative thought leader with 20 years of experience; graduate of MIT and Harvard.

Ahmad Barclay -­ Mastermind of VP information architecture; leads data visualization workshops around the world; cofounder of Arena of Speculation.

Jessica Anderson - Operations Lead; previous experience in refugee rights legal advocacy in three countries; M.Sc. in International Development from the University of Oxford.

Bassam Barham ­- VI’s technology lead, strategizing on how technology can aid social impact and building VI’s tech and innovation capacity.

Morad Taleeb ­- VI web developer specialized in front end design and UX/UI.

Sandy Nassif - Bookkeeping and HR Prior to joining VP, Sandy spent 8 years with the Beirut DC Cultural Association, developing expertise in NGO administration. She now handles VP's accounting and HR. Sandy has a Bachelor's degree in Social Science and a Master's degree in Anthropology.

Iman Annab - Project Manager and VI Global Fellow, Previously a research consultant to the positions of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer at Yougov Siraj, a Dubai-based research and most quoted research agency in the Middle East; Holds a graduate in social justice education and a Bachelor’s Degree in graphic design.

Reem Farah - Projects and Research Coordinator, Manages VP’s network of researchers and community outreach projects; Graduate of a joint specialist degree in International Relations and Peace, Conflict, and Justice Studies from the University of Toronto.

 

Fellow’s Role

Visualizing Impact is a center of excellence for communication on social justice. The team focuses on locating and testing actionable solutions to critical social issues. The fellow will bring their knowledge into the pool of VI's expertise to enhance the effectiveness of this work. Fellows will be placed on a project falling within one of the two areas below, depending on expertise:

Creative Director and Project Lead

How can data science, technology, advertising, and design be used to enhance social movements focused on justice?

The fellow will be integrally involved in activities such as running an ambitious international advocacy campaign, and conceptualizing and implementing tools for communication, strategy, and momentum-building with key social movements and networks. 


Are you the right candidate?

We are looking for fellows who:

Have a strong background in managing creative teams. Experience with data visualization projects a strong plus.

Have grit. Follow deep thinking with persistent action and do whatever it takes to bring a project to the finish line.

Are relentlessly committed to social justice, and have knowledge of the Palestinian context.

Have proven project managements skills. This means time management, resourcefulness, effective prioritization, focus, diligence, and the ability to bring the potential out of a talented team working remotely across several timezones.

See creativity as a process that involves repeatedly driving at ideas, doing research, searching for inspiration, connecting with experts, asking the right questions, and unearthing valuable insights from unlikely places.

Are available full time for one year to join the team in Toronto, Dubai, or Amman.

Have at least 5 years of professional experience, or a graduate degree plus 3 years of work experience.

Are fluent in English (written and spoken); additional language abilities are an asset.

Are willing to travel - there will be possible travel to Beirut, Amman, Dubai, and Ramallah (where travel to these cities is not possible, do not be deterred from applying).

*Note: we may ask fellows to undertake a brief volunteer assignment as part of the assessment process.

How to apply

Send us the following through the Apply Now section:

❏ Resume,­ no longer than 2 pages

❏ A cover letter responding to the following:

How are you inspired by innovation in collective action? How do technology and design relate to social justice? What is one example of impact for social justice using design and technology?

❏ Visual Story responding to this brief (this is optional but would strengthen your application)

Note: Napkin sketches, drawings, photography, video, or any other medium is acceptable. We are not looking for technical skill as much as creativity and the ability to tell a story effectively.

❏ One page responding to the following:

Tell us about an experience with creative tension within a team.

❏ One letter of recommendation from a professional contact.


Where do I send my application?

Application is strictly online. Candidates who follow up via email, phone, and homing pigeon with USB would probably be given kudos for their perseverance.


Application process

Application is on a rolling basis. Applicants who apply early will have an advantage. The dates below are cutoff deadlines.

We recommend that fellows apply by March 30th 2017 to increase their chances for selection.


While we will accept applicants on a rolling basis, we will follow the below cut-off deadlines

Submission: By 7 April 2017

Notification to shortlisted candidates: By 14 April 2017

Interview: Between 14 - 28 April 2017

Final selection:  5 May 2017

Start date: To be determined. Where candidates are bound by existing commitments and notice periods, please state these considerations within the cover letter.

FAQ


What are the eligibility criteria for the VI Global Fellowship?

The fellowship is open to applicants worldwide who have preferably 5 years experience, or a postgraduate degree plus 3 years of experience. For more about what makes a great candidate, see the information materials under “are you the right candidate?”

   

What project will I be working on?

Fellows applying in the next round will be working on topics related to Palestine and Digital Rights, and will be a part of a series of high-profile international campaigns and creative efforts on Palestinian civil and human rights.

           

What happens after fellows complete the fellowship period?

2016 is the first year that VI welcomed a Fellow full time for a year. Prior to 2016, Fellows joined VI for shorter term periods. These alumni Fellows have gone on to prestigious academic programs, including MIT and Berkeley, or continued their work in the social sector. VI Fellows remain part of our extended network, and we continue to find ways to connect and collaborate with them.            


Where is the VI Global Fellowship based?

While the VI team is located in Toronto, Beirut, Amman, Ramallah and Dubai, fellows must be hosted in one of three locations where closer onboarding and orientation will be possible. These locations are Toronto, Dubai, and Amman.


What benefits do fellows receive during the Fellowship period?

Fellows receive CAD 40,000 or USD 30,000; a stipend for travel, and a stipend for accommodation up to one month upon relocation.

 

Can fellows bring their spouse, partner, and/or children?

 

Yes, but unfortunately additional funds and stipends are not available for dependents at this time.

Have a question we haven’t addressed here? Contact fellowship@visualizingimpact.org

CANDIDATES++

Of particular interest to VI are exceptional candidates who have the interest and ability to continue a collaboration with VI beyond the fellowship year, as a full time team member in a senior* role.

* That senior role would require a proven level of experience matching a CAD 60,000­-75,000 salary scale.

Apply now

↑ Can be website, article, book, image, infographic etc..
No longer than 2 pages
Responding to the following: How are you inspired by innovation in collective action? How do technology and design relate to social justice?
Responding to the brief above. Note: Napkin sketches, drawings, photography, video, or any other medium is acceptable. We are not looking for technical skill as much as creativity and the ability to tell a story effectively.
(500 words maximum) responding to the following: Tell us about an experience with creative tension within a team.
From a professional or academic contact.
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Display of VP visuals at Prix Ars Electronica, 2013