DefendDefenders is pleased to announce a new year of our DOC-IT program. We invite applications from Ugandan human rights organisations that are seeking to boost their impact through data analysis, visualisation skills, and web-driven campaigning. Apply by February 8th, 2019!

Through DOC-IT, we aim to help human rights organisations trying to innovate in their monitoring, research, and campaigning programs. The DOC-IT program offers full engagement with the inner workings of data collection, analysis & visualisation as well as the mechanics of planning, messaging and turning advocacy goals into fully fledged web-based campaigns.

The organisations chosen will undergo training that exposes them to various facts of the data processes from collection, manipulation, presentation and distribution. Participants will get to meet peers and industry experts​ ​in the disciplines of data analysis, social and web marketing, content design and development, and data security.

Once you are accepted to the program, you will be supported through training, strategic planning, and technical assistance to maximise your advocacy reach on the web. We will go through basic data and spreadsheet skills as well as data collection and management databases such as Kobo Toolbox. Next, we will look at data analysis, visualisation, and infographic tools such as Canva, Infogram, Piktochart, and Raw Graphs. Finally, we will dive into social media and web platforms as we seek to engage our audience and launch viral advocacy campaigns.

Who is it for?

DOC-IT is open on a competitive basis for Ugandan human rights organisations that are seeking to promote or implement high-impact campaigns based on their own data collection. Organisations must have the capacity and commitment to maximise their benefit from the program.

What is the selection criteria?

We will assess applications on several criteria, including:

• The organisation is based in Uganda and is engaged in defending human rights;
• Existing online campaigns or well-developed plans and capacity to implement new campaigns;
• Existing data collection projects (ie. monitoring and documentation, surveying, case handling, research, etc.) or well-developed plans and capacity to implement new projects;
• Internal technical capacity and relevant personnel committed to the project;
• Capacity to conduct advocacy and communications actions;
• Top-level (organisational leadership) buy-in to project participation; and
• Our ability to offer meaningful support to the project.

What is the application timeline? 

Phase one: Call for applications

Applications may be made through the online ​application form​ up to ​February 10th, 2019​. Competition is tight so make your best effort in the application! If your organisation proceeds to the next phase, we will arrange a suitable time for an interview.

Phase two: Interviews

Phone or in-person interviews will let us learn more about your organisation and ongoing or proposed projects. Interviews will take place between ​February 15-22nd, 2019.​

Phase three: DOC-it preparations 

If you are selected to attend DOC-IT, you must complete two online assignments that will be assigned by us, and send us their respective certificates of completion. Completion of online assignments and participation in workshops are mandatory for project participation.

Phase four: DOC-it workshops

The DOC-it workshops will take place March 6-7th, April 1-5th and June 10-13th. Make sure that you are available to attend the three workshops.

To apply, click ​here, and to download the call, click here.

For any inquiries, please contact ​[email protected].

This cohort of DOC-IT is generously supported by the Embassy to Uganda of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.