Due Date: March 28, 2023, 5pm EST, to DigitalFrontiers@dai.com
BACKGROUND
Within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the United States has led the development of the APEC CrossBorder Privacy Rules System (CBPRs), a voluntary, accountability based-system that facilitates privacy-respecting data flows among participating economies. Companies from participating economies can become CBPR certified to demonstrate compliance with these internationally recognized and government-backed data privacy protections.
The CBPRs have now reached a critical turning point, moving outside of APEC to become a global forum with the recent announcement of the Global CBPR Forum in April 2022 — a critical step towards expanding worldwide data protection rules that would allow personal information to flow safely across more borders. Following the announcement, participating
CBPRs economies, including the U.S., Singapore, Japan, Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Republic of Korea, Mexico, and the Philippines, and other representatives from both APEC and non-APEC jurisdictions, gathered at a workshop in Hawaii in late April 2022 to discuss the path forward for CBPRs and the global forum.
DAI’s USAID-funded Digital Frontiers project is working with the U.S. Department of Commerce and USAID to socialize, increase knowledge of, and build capacity and improved environments for the CBPRs within APEC and non-APEC economies. Digital Frontiers is a $74.4 million buy-in mechanism available to USAID Bureaus and Missions from 2017-2023. DAI implements the Digital Frontiers project, which works closely with USAID’s Innovation, Technology, and Research Hub, USAID Missions and Bureaus, the private sector, and international and local development organizations to identify successful and sustainable digital development approaches and scale their impact globally.
As part of these efforts, the Digital Frontiers intends to create an effective public relations (PR) and campaign messaging strategy to disseminate information on the merits of CBPRs as a data privacy certification, ultimately leading more economies to apply to participate in the system and more companies to apply to become CBPR certified.
OBJECTIVE
Digital Frontiers seeks qualified PR firms with experience working on campaigns related to technology and data privacy issues to enhance and disseminate CBPR messaging that effectively communicates the merits of CBPRs. Digital Frontiers is looking for a strategic partner with experience working on promoting government initiatives among government and private sector stakeholders, including businesses, consumers and public interest advocates.
TASKS
Digital Frontiers envisions that the selected firm will implement a variety of measures that raise the profile and promote the merits of the CBPR system as part of their awareness-raising campaign. It can include many of the following activities:
1. Public Relations
Facilitate drafting & distribution of all press releases, media announcements, etc.
Coordinate media attendance and management at potential CBPR events in coordination with the US Department of Commerce and other government stakeholders.
Monitor all media coverage mentions of CBPR.
Identify pitching/media placement opportunities for CBPR materials.
2. Messaging Campaign Strategy
Engage businesses, accountability agents, government partners, consumers, and other stakeholders in economies where CBPR is active for stakeholders to understand what CBPR is and why it is so critical for businesses.
Pitch – personally contact editors & reporters for coverage based on their editorial calendars on interest in CBPR. Pitching also includes thought-leadership on why CBPR is an important mechanism to help support safe and continued growth in the global economy.
Develop thought-leadership written material and assist the CBPR team in drafting op-ed opportunities and content, including updating news for the Global CBPR Forum website.
Facilitate meetings with relevant orgs or publishing editorial features who are interested in learning/implementing CBPR certifications.
Ad Space – coordinate with the DAI team and utilize social media platforms to implement social media targeted advertising, identifying most useful platforms for CBPR goals.
Press Release(s) – include selected messaging using CBPR’s branded materials.
Tracking – coordinate tracking mentions, engagement, sentiment, and reach of DAI CBPR materials.
Offer consistent communication to the DAI and Commerce teams on the impact of CBPR messaging, with the ability to focus on impact in particular regions.
Be the media liaison for any questions on CBPR in coordination with the Department of Commerce and other relevant government stakeholders and keep all relevant information organized. Flag potential speaking opportunities to CBPR team members.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
The firm will report to the Digital Frontiers Digital Connectivity & Cybersecurity Partnership Project Director, Komal Bazaz
Smith on client management and technical matters and will report to Jonathan Kourgialis, on matters related to operations and budget. Komal Bazaz Smith and Jonathan Kourgialis will work in close collaboration with the DF Communications
Specialist, Alexander Riabov, on communications-related expertise and guidance. The firm will need to work in close collaboration with representatives from the U.S. Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration.