Thematic Specialist

ABOUT THE ROLE

The TI Secretariat in Berlin, together with five TI National Chapters, led by the Kosova Democratic Institute, is currently implementing the project _Integrity Watch in the _We_stern Balkans and Turkey - Civil Society Combating Corruption with Political Integrity Data (IW WB&T)_. The project will expand the Integrity Watch (IW) approach - monitoring integrity in political decision-making across EU countries since 2014 - to four countries in the Western Balkans (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia) and Turkey, and develop detection tools for conflicts of interest, undue influence and flows of criminal money.

As part of this project, Transparency International is looking for a full-time **Thematic **Specialist -** Open Data for Political Integrity (M/F/d)** to conduct and coordinate research and provide thematic expertise in support of this project and TI’s global work on political integrity. Within this framework, the Thematic Specialist will support the Kosova Democratic Institute and other IW Western Balkans and Turkey chapters with dataset scoping, training of staff on data analysis methods and support on Integrity Watch platform design and development.

**OVERVIEW OF KEY DIMENSIONS**

**Role Purpose**: Conduct and coordinate research to support TI’s global work on political integrity and provide thematic expertise on political integrity regulations, practices and risks

**Team**:Research and Knowledge

**Reporting Line**:Head of Research and Knowledge

**Band**: Band PF2, salary starting at €42,000 p.a.

**Starting Date**: as soon as possible

**Contract Duration**:Currently we can offer an employment contract limited for a duration of two years, with the possibility of extension

**Working Hours**: full-time [100%; 40 hours per week]

**Location**: Transparency International Secretariat (TI-S), Berlin

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES OF THE ROLE
Based in the Research & Knowledge Team and reporting to the Head of Research & Knowledge, and working closely with the Global Movement and Projects Teams, the Thematic Specialist will:

- Support the scoping of political integrity data in the Western Balkans and Turkey by facilitating the co-creation of a standardised scoping methodology; prepare training materials and deliver training sessions with researchers from project partners to support its implementation; and provide guidance and feedback on considerations for the final selection of key datasets to be used in the project
- Work in close collaboration and ensure ongoing communication with partner chapters in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey, to support the design and implementation of research, policy and capacity building activities
- In collaboration with software developers, support bilateral and collective consultations with involved chapters to discuss the shape and functionality of their domestic platforms throughout the project, from their planning (adjusting where necessary to ensure compliance with the budget and timeline) through the design, development, testing, target-user feedback integration, piloting, deployment, and updates
- Support the assessment of political integrity regulatory frameworks (laws, bylaws, rules) and their implementation in the Western Balkans and Turkey, to identify best practice, regulatory and practice gaps, and recommend reforms to strengthening political integrity systems in the region
- Support involved chapters in engaging prospective and target users of Integrity Watch platforms through user-driven participatory workshops, investigations or hackathons
- Provide guidance for the setting up of multi-stakeholder Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs) in each country and support their convening and engagement in bilateral regional exchanges
- Together with the regional advisor, collaborate on capacity building, network management, integration with regional and global work on political integrity, and regional advocacy efforts related directly or indirectly to the project
- Support day-to-day work implementation of research activities, including providing support in the preparation of relevant project management tools, coordinating the work planning, budget management, monitoring, and reporting of TI-S deliverables under this project and striving for high-quality, gender-responsive research outputs and the greatest possible impact of project activities together with other TI-S teams including Research & Knowledge, Global Movement, Projects, Policy and Advocacy, and Communications
- Contribute to the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning by documenting relevant developments and challenges and providing regular narrative reporting on the activities conducted
- Stay abreast of developments relating to political integrity and be available to respond to on-demand internal and external stakeholder needs
- Represent the organisation at relevant fora within area of expertise as needed; build relationships and form allia