[cooperation-wg] Open Technology Fund (OTF) fellowship and funds

Dear all,

I trust this email finds you well. I am a long-time lurker and
occasional participant in the cooperation wg.

I wanted to reach out in my new role as the Vice President of Research for
the Open Technology Fund (OTF) <http://www.opentech.fund/>. We are an
independent non-profit organization dedicated to advancing internet freedom
in the world’s most repressive environments.

I am reaching out to highlight our Internet Controls Fellowship Program
(ICFP)
<https://www.opentech.fund/funds/icfp/#:~:text=The%20Information%20Controls%20Fellowship%20Program%20(ICFP)%20supports%20examination%20into%20how,the%20ability%20of%20global%20citizens>
which might be of interest to your networks.

OTF funds the applied research, development, implementation, and
maintenance of technologies that provide secure and uncensored internet
access to enable citizens worldwide to exercise their fundamental human
rights online.

The ICFP fellowship program supports individuals doing research to examine
restrictions on the free flow of information by repressive governments. In
particular, ICFP fellows track Internet interference practices and
investigate emerging means of overcoming censorship in repressive
environments - the countries, regions, or areas worldwide where Internet
freedom is most threatened. (see fellowship call below, deadline for
application is March 13th).

I would really appreciate it if you would be able to share it with the
community.

Kind regards,

--

Dr. Corinne Cath

Vice President of Research

Open Technology Fund | w: opentech.fund | t: @OpenTechFund

Signal: +1 202 209 6820


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Open Technology Fund Information Controls Fellowship Program (ICFP) Call

The Open Technology Fund (OTF) <http://www.opentech.fund/> is an
independent non-profit organization dedicated to advancing internet freedom
in the world’s most repressive environments. OTF supports the applied
research, development, implementation, and maintenance of technologies that
provide secure and uncensored internet access to enable citizens worldwide
to exercise their fundamental human rights online.

OTF’s Information Controls Fellowship Program (ICFP) is open for
applications for its ninth fellowship cohort, with a final deadline of March
13, 2022. The application and additional information can be found here
<https://www.opentech.fund/funds/icfp/>.

About the Program

The ICFP fellowship program supports individuals doing research to examine
restrictions on the free flow of information by repressive governments. In
particular, ICFP fellows track Internet interference practices and
investigate emerging means of overcoming censorship in repressive
environments - the countries, regions, or areas worldwide where Internet
freedom is most threatened. Efforts that focus on investigating the
security and privacy of tools used in these contexts are also supported.

The ICFP program offers flexibility for candidates with fellowships
available for three, six, nine, or twelve months in duration. This allows
for the support of a wider range of proposed efforts, from those that are
relatively short-term to projects that are larger in scope. The fellowship
offers a monthly stipend of $5,000 along with stipends for travel and
equipment.

Independent Study with Organizational Support

All ICFP fellows are based with a host organization, these can also be
academic departments, for the duration of their fellowship term. Host
organizations should demonstrate the ability to assist the applicant in
carrying out the proposed scope of work. Applicants can propose any host
organization on their application as long as sufficient justification for
the selection is provided. For example, if you’re proposing to work on a
project studying how misinformation spreads online, then your proposed host
organization should be equipped to provide expert guidance on this topic.
OTF welcomes host organizations from non-academic organizations as well as
those that are based outside of the United States.

Or vice versa, if you are affiliated with an organization and want to host
an ICFP fellow at your organization, please email icfphost at opentech.fund
for more information.

Supported Topical Areas of Study

Past fellows have explored a range of topics and technological focuses,
including country and region-specific information controls studies; the
development of research-focused software tools used to investigate Internet
censorship as well as those that can circumvent online censorship; studies
around targeted digital attacks aimed at at-risk users; and research into
security vulnerabilities in technologies used by at-risk communities.

To get a better sense of the types of efforts supported through the ICFP
program, you can read about the current (eighth) cohort of fellows here
<https://www.opentech.fund/news/announcing-otfs-newest-8th-class-of-information-controls-fellows/>,
and past classes here (rounds one
<https://www.opentech.fund/news/information-controls-fellowship-first-round-wrap-up/>
, two
<https://www.opentech.fund/news/icfp-second-round-wrap-up-results-and-outcomes/>
, three
<https://www.opentech.fund/news/icfp-third-round-wrap-up-results-and-outcomes/>
, four
<https://www.opentech.fund/news/fourth-cohort-information-controls-fellows-review/>
, five <https://www.opentech.fund/news/2018-ICFP-wrap-up/>, six
<https://www.opentech.fund/news/announcing-otfs-newest-class-of-information-controls-fellows/>,
and seven
<https://www.opentech.fund/news/announcing-otfs-latest-class-of-information-controls-fellows/>
).

Questions?

If you have any questions, please post them in this public spreadsheet
<https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RNxswHBoOxWEqq4Yo_ozaqOUziN3BI4pr8Lyf8GCfCo/edit#gid=0>
and they will be answered in a prompt fashion. If your question is not
appropriate for a public forum, please email icfp at opentech.fund.

If the fellowship is not a good fit for you, please check out the
additional avenues for funding that OTF offers through our other funds,
including the Internet Freedom Fund (IFF).
<https://www.opentech.fund/funds/internet-freedom-fund/>


-- 
Dr. Corinne Cath

Vice President of Research
Open Technology Fund | w: opentech.fund | t: @OpenTechFund
Signal: +1 202 209 6820
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