Deadline: 15-Aug-2025
UN Women is inviting proposals from civil society organizations to create and manage a regional Community of Practice (CoP) aimed at strengthening multisectoral referral pathways that address technology-facilitated violence against women (TF VAW) in the Western Balkans.
The CoP will enable cross-border collaboration and build capacity among stakeholders. It will align protocols, promote survivor-centred tools, and advocate for legal and policy reforms. It will also focus on inclusive service delivery and digital safety through a secure online platform.
The initiative aims to enhance coordination among various sectors and ensure TF VAW is effectively addressed. It will target inconsistent practices, especially in cross-border contexts, to build a more responsive service system. UN Women will financially support a selected CSO to run the CoP and manage the platform. This platform will bring together institutions such as government agencies, law enforcement, cybercrime units, judiciary, health providers, civil society groups, and digital companies to improve services related to TF VAW.
The selected organization will improve existing referral protocols and lead structured knowledge-sharing activities. The CoP will help stakeholders learn from each other, align their protocols, develop inclusive tools, and promote legal reforms. It will ensure changes at the policy level are translated into practical improvements on the ground and sustain long-term collaboration.
Key services to be delivered include establishing a regional platform, organizing quarterly multisectoral meetings, and holding annual workshops. The organization will develop and share tools, protocols, and training resources. They will also create e-learning modules on digital safety, AI abuse detection, and takedown processes.
The CSO will conduct a regional mapping of referral pathways and build an interactive dashboard with data on TF VAW responses. They will also help formalize the role of cybercrime units in referral processes and ensure services are inclusive of women with disabilities, rural women, and displaced populations. Accessibility audits and support for remote users will be included.
Tools and protocols will be developed for data protection, cross-border evidence preservation, and AI deepfake detection. Risk-assessment checklists for survivor protection and standard operating procedures will also be created.
The CoP’s governance model will be defined through research and integrated with regional coordination mechanisms to ensure sustainability. A code of conduct, data policy, and sustainability plan will be adopted for continuity after the project ends.
The budget range for this proposal is between $120,000 and $135,000. The project duration will be from September 2025 to May 2027, lasting 12 to 18 months.
Expected outcomes include a fully functioning CoP with at least four meetings annually and active participation from over 50 stakeholders. A repository of at least ten tailored tools and guidelines will be developed. Five national and regional protocols will be revised. Cybercrime units will be integrated into at least three referral systems. A minimum of 120 stakeholders will be trained, with high satisfaction levels reported.
Applicants must have a strong background in gender equality and ending violence against women, particularly TF VAW. Experience in coordinating multisectoral mechanisms, stakeholder capacity building, and managing collaborative platforms is essential. They should also demonstrate expertise in digital safety and survivor-centred approaches.
Additional advantages include existing partnerships with key actors, experience in the Western Balkans, and access to digital forensics tools and disaggregated data collection methods to support advocacy and programming.
For more information, visit UN Women.
