CFAS: Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence Initiative (Thailand)

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is inviting Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from qualified organizations to support the Asia and Pacific Regional Programme 2026–2029 on preventing and responding to Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV). The programme seeks partners with expertise in digital safety, survivor-centred services, policy advocacy, research, and technology to strengthen regional capacity, improve digital governance, and protect women and girls from online violence.

UNFPA Call for Expressions of Interest: Asia and Pacific Regional Programme on Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (2026–2029)

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has launched a Call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) to identify qualified organizations that can contribute to the implementation of its Asia and Pacific Regional Programme 2026–2029.

The programme focuses on preventing and responding to Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) by strengthening survivor-centred services, promoting digital safety, supporting evidence-based policymaking, and improving legal, institutional, and technological responses across the Asia-Pacific region.

Program Overview

The Regional Programme aims to build safer digital environments while improving the capacity of governments, civil society organizations, researchers, and technology partners to prevent and address online gender-based violence.

Key priorities include:

Strengthening survivor-centred support services.
Promoting digital safety and online protection.
Enhancing legal and policy frameworks.
Improving digital governance.
Building institutional capacity.
Supporting evidence generation and research.
Strengthening data systems for TFGBV.
Encouraging sustainable investment in prevention and response.

The programme supports UNFPA’s broader commitment to gender equality, human rights, and the elimination of violence against women and girls.

What is Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV)?

Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) refers to acts of gender-based violence committed, assisted, or amplified through digital technologies.

Examples include:

Online harassment.
Cyberstalking.
Non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
Online threats and intimidation.
Doxxing.
Digital surveillance and stalking.
Image-based abuse.
Technology-enabled sexual harassment.
Coordinated online abuse targeting women and girls.

TFGBV can have serious social, psychological, economic, and physical consequences, making effective prevention and response increasingly important.

Program Objectives

The programme aims to:

Prevent technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
Improve survivor-centred support services.
Strengthen digital safety for vulnerable groups.
Build institutional and technical capacity.
Promote ethical digital governance.
Improve digital evidence and forensic capabilities.
Support rights-based legal reforms.
Generate high-quality research and data.
Improve monitoring and evaluation systems.
Encourage sustainable financing for TFGBV initiatives.

Focus Areas

The programme supports activities in several technical areas, including:

Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV)
Digital safety
Survivor-centred services
Capacity development
Digital forensics
Ethical digital governance
Safety-by-design principles
Human rights
Gender equality
Policy advocacy
Legal reform
Research and evidence generation
Monitoring and evaluation
Administrative data systems
Statistical standards
Information management systems
Sustainable financing
Digital resilience

Prevention Pillar

The prevention component focuses on reducing online risks before harm occurs.

Priority activities include:

Strengthening digital security for frontline responders.
Supporting women’s rights organizations.
Supporting youth-led organizations.
Protecting high-risk civic actors.
Improving digital literacy.
Preventing online abuse.
Diverting young people from harmful online subcultures.
Building resilience against digital threats.

Enabling Environment Pillar

The enabling environment component focuses on strengthening systems, institutions, and policies.

Activities include:

Legal and policy advisory services.
Government capacity building.
Civil society capacity strengthening.
Promoting safety-by-design principles.
Supporting gender-responsive digital governance.
Strengthening institutional responses.
Encouraging public investment in TFGBV programming.
Improving evidence-based policymaking.

Expected Outcomes

The programme aims to achieve:

Stronger survivor support systems.
Safer digital environments.
Improved digital governance.
Better legal protection against online violence.
Increased government investment.
Enhanced regional cooperation.
Stronger evidence for policymaking.
Improved monitoring and administrative data.
Greater institutional capacity to address TFGBV.

Who Can Apply?

UNFPA invites Expressions of Interest from a wide range of qualified organizations, including:

Academic institutions.
Research organizations.
Civil society organizations (CSOs).
Women’s rights organizations.
Youth-led organizations.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Professional associations.
Regional technical organizations.
Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs).
Private sector organizations with relevant expertise.

Applicants should have demonstrated experience in one or more programme priority areas.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

Be legally registered organizations.
Operate as not-for-profit or eligible for-profit entities where appropriate.
Demonstrate expertise in relevant programme workstreams.
Have strong technical capacity.
Demonstrate sound institutional governance.
Maintain effective financial management systems.
Have monitoring and evaluation systems in place.
Provide recent unqualified audit reports.
Demonstrate experience implementing programmes in Asia and the Pacific.
Commit to UNFPA’s zero-tolerance policy on Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (PSEA).

Required Application Documents

Interested organizations should submit:

A cover letter explaining their interest and alignment with the programme.
Evidence of technical expertise.
Examples of similar projects or experience.
Information about partnerships and regional networks.
A description of proposed engagement approaches.

Applicants may propose contributions through:

Technical assistance.
Research.
Policy advocacy.
Innovation.
Capacity development.
Service delivery.

How the Programme Works

The partnership process generally includes:

Organizations submit an Expression of Interest.
UNFPA reviews eligibility and technical capacity.
Suitable partners are identified for relevant programme workstreams.
Selected organizations collaborate with UNFPA throughout the 2026–2029 Regional Programme.
Partners provide technical, research, advocacy, or implementation support based on their expertise.

Why This Programme Matters

Technology has transformed communication and access to information, but it has also created new forms of violence and abuse.

Women, girls, activists, journalists, human rights defenders, and marginalized groups are increasingly exposed to digital threats that undermine safety, participation, and human rights.

This programme helps address these challenges by:

Strengthening survivor protection.
Improving digital security.
Supporting rights-based legislation.
Building institutional capacity.
Promoting ethical technology governance.
Generating reliable evidence.
Encouraging coordinated regional action.
Strengthening digital resilience across Asia and the Pacific.

Tips for a Strong Expression of Interest

Organizations can strengthen their application by:

Demonstrating expertise in TFGBV or digital safety.
Highlighting successful regional projects.
Showing strong governance and financial systems.
Presenting experience with research or policy development.
Demonstrating partnerships across Asia and the Pacific.
Explaining innovative technical approaches.
Showing commitment to gender equality and human rights.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common application errors:

Submitting incomplete documentation.
Providing limited evidence of technical expertise.
Failing to demonstrate regional experience.
Not explaining organizational capacity.
Omitting information on monitoring and evaluation systems.
Ignoring PSEA commitments.
Providing weak examples of previous programme implementation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the purpose of this UNFPA Call for Expressions of Interest?

The initiative seeks qualified organizations to support the implementation of UNFPA’s Asia and Pacific Regional Programme 2026–2029 focused on preventing and responding to Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence.

What is Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV)?

TFGBV refers to gender-based violence committed or amplified through digital technologies, including online harassment, cyberstalking, image-based abuse, digital surveillance, and other forms of online violence.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include academic institutions, research organizations, civil society organizations, women’s and youth-led organizations, NGOs, professional associations, regional technical bodies, OPDs, and qualified private sector organizations.

What areas does the programme support?

The programme supports survivor-centred services, digital safety, policy advocacy, legal reform, digital governance, research, monitoring and evaluation, digital forensics, and evidence generation.

What documents are required?

Applicants should submit a cover letter, evidence of technical expertise, information about relevant experience, regional partnerships, and their proposed engagement approach.

What organizational requirements must applicants meet?

Organizations must be legally registered, demonstrate technical and financial capacity, maintain sound governance systems, provide recent unqualified audit reports, and commit to UNFPA’s PSEA standards.

Why is this programme important?

The programme helps strengthen regional efforts to prevent online gender-based violence, improve survivor protection, enhance digital governance, and build safer, more inclusive digital environments across Asia and the Pacific.

Conclusion

The UNFPA Call for Expressions of Interest for the Asia and Pacific Regional Programme 2026–2029 offers an important opportunity for organizations working in digital safety, gender equality, human rights, research, and policy to contribute to the prevention of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence. By supporting survivor-centred services, strengthening digital governance, advancing evidence-based policymaking, and building institutional capacity, the programme aims to create safer digital spaces and strengthen protection for women, girls, and vulnerable communities throughout the Asia-Pacific region.