Opportunity: Become a Knowledge Fellow
DiploFoundation is pleased to launch a new call for applications for Digital Watch Knowledge Fellows (2026).
What is the Digital Watch Observatory?
The Digital Watch Observatory (DW) is a comprehensive observatory and one-stop shop source of information on digital governance. It tracks latest developments, provides policy overviews and analysis, and curates information on key topics, technologies, processes, policy players, events, and resources.
DW is designed for diplomats, policymakers, researchers, civil society actors, business representatives, and other stakeholders who need reliable, structured, impartial, and up-to-date information on digital governance issues.
Its content is organised around:
- Topics, from cybercrime and freedom of expression, to data governance and critical infrastructure.
- Technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and semiconductors.
- Processes including the UN Global Mechanism on ICT Security, the Internet Governance Forum, the Global Digital Compact process, and more.
- Policy players such as countries, technical entities, business associations, UN entities, and other international and regional organisations.
- Resources, including conventions, resolutions, laws and regulations, reports, and more.
- Events, such as meetings, negotiations, conferences, and consultations.
This structure is complemented by:
Daily updates, regular analyses, and weekly and monthly newsletters that track and explain the most relevant developments across the digital governance landscape.
What is the role of a Knowledge Fellow?
Knowledge Fellows (KF) are central to the observatory’s ability to provide comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date coverage of specific areas of digital governance.
Each KF is expected to cover one or more areas of expertise and help ensure that DW remains accurate, relevant, and complete, and impartial. This means:
- Monitoring and analysing developments related to the assigned area(s) of expertise and ensuring these are reflected in daily updates and regular analyses.
- Keeping assigned DW pages accurate, up-to-date, and substantively strong.
- Tracking events relevant to their area(s) of expertise and helping ensure that important meetings, negotiations and discussions are reflected in DW.
- Identifying key resources relevant to their area(s) of expertise such as UN resolutions and other intergovernmentally agreed documents, laws, regulations, reports, and policy papers.
- Supporting stronger coverage of organisations, countries, and other key actors in digital governance.
- Contributing, when relevant, to newsletters, policy and research papers, and other knowledge products.
Knowledge Fellows may also have opportunities to contribute to Diplo’s wider knowledge ecology, including courses, discussions, and thematic initiatives.
Who should apply?
At a time when the public space is abundant with AI-generated content, we are looking for more than just someone who can use AI to summarise news or rewrite online resources.
KF will have access to custom-made AI tools to support them in their work, but the role requires subject expertise, critical judgement, and the ability to identify what is important, what is missing, and what deserves deeper analysis.
Specifically, we are looking for applicants who:
- Have a strong expertise in digital governance, grounded in professional experience, academic research, policy engagement, or a combination of these.
- Are interested in continuing to develop this expertise.
- Know where to look and what to look for in order to ensure a comprehensive coverage of assigned topics, technologies, processes, etc.
- Can identify major developments, policy controversies, key debates, and emerging trends in the digital governance landscape, and cover them accurately and impartially.
This means combining subject expertise with editorial judgement, policy awareness, and a strong sense of knowledge curation.
Applicants must also have:
- Availability to contribute on a regular basis. The fellowship is conducted online, with an expected commitment of at least 8 hours per week.
- Strong analytical and writing skills in English.
- Basic skills in using web and social media, as well as familiarity with generative AI tools.
What we offer
Digital Watch Knowledge Fellows will benefit from:
- Onboarding and guidance on Digital Watch’s editorial and curation approach.
- Training on observatory workflows and digital/AI tools.
- Remuneration.
- Visibility for their work among DW users (diplomatic communities in Geneva and other diplomatic centres, professionals from across all stakeholder groups dealing with digital topics, etc.)
- Opportunities to promote their digital governance-related research through DW and Diplo networks.
- Membership in a global community of experts and professionals working on digital governance.
Fellows are engaged on a consultancy/fee basis; The role does not constitute employment with DiploFoundation.
How to apply
Interested applicants are invited to complete the application form below.
Application deadline: 31 May 2026
Questions: dwapplications@diplomacy.edu