Call For Proposals for Civil Society Organizations to foster collaboration between the women's entrepreneurship ecosystem, tech companies and VAWG service providers for responding to EU4 Gender Equality – Women’s Economic Empowerment and Ending Violence Against Women in the Western Balkans

UN Women plans to engage a Responsible Party as defined in accordance with these documents. UN Women now invites sealed proposals from qualified proponents to provide the requirements as defined in the UN Women Terms of Reference. 

TF VAWG is a pervasive issue that manifests in various forms, including cyberstalking, online harassment, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, and hate speech. These acts of violence not only harm the direct victims but also have far-reaching consequences for the broader community. The anonymity and reach of digital platforms can amplify the impact of such violence, making it difficult for victims to escape and recover. CSOs that are providing services to women victims of violence must expand their services to address the diverse dimensions and forms of TF VAWG. Strengthening cooperation and coordination among CSOs is essential to effectively counter this issue, ensuring a cohesive and comprehensive response that supports survivors and promotes safer online environments.

Fostering collaboration between the VAWG service providers, tech companies and women entrepreneurs across the Western Balkans region is crucial for developing innovative tools to prevent and respond to TF VAWG. The technology sector plays a vital role in monitoring and removing harmful content, such as hate speech and misogynistic material, and improving response mechanisms on digital platforms. By working together, these stakeholders can leverage their collective expertise to create effective solutions that address the root causes and manifestations of TF VAWG. This collaborative approach not only empowers women and girls but also fosters a safer and more inclusive digital space for everyone.

Following a call for proposals, UN Women will provide financial support (PA) to a consortium consisting of a women’s CSO (lead applicant) and a tech company to, inter alia innovate, co-develop and test effective strategies for preventing and combating TF VAW. The consortium must be led by a women’s CSO, which will serve as the primary applicant and coordinator. The tech company will act as a strategic partner, providing technical expertise and supporting the CSO in the development and implementation of digital tools and innovation activities.

The lead women’s CSO will leverage its extensive knowledge and experience to inform the development of strategies and solutions, raise awareness of the general public about TF VAW through advocacy and outreach, and engage in capacity-building activities to enhance ability of other CSOs service providers to support survivors and advocate for systemic change. By fostering collaboration and sharing their expertise, the CSO will contribute significantly to creating a safer and more inclusive digital environment for women and girls.

The tech company should support the women’s CSO in organizing subregional hackathons/ideathons focused on developing innovative digital solutions to prevent and combat technology-facilitated violence against women (TF VAW). Specifically, the tech company will:

• Provide technical expertise and mentorship during hackathons to help participants shape viable and impactful ideas.
• Support the development and testing of the best solution emerging from the hackathons, ensuring it is user-friendly, secure, and effective.
• Collaborate with the CSO to align the digital solution with survivor-centred approaches and advocacy goals.
• Ensure technical quality and scalability of the final product and provide feedback for further refinement.

Interested proponents may obtain further information by contacting this email address: [ Click to reveal ]. Please note that there will be an informative session which will be held in on November 12, 2025 at 14 CET. You can register in advance for this meeting HERE. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Following the information session, the captured minutes and Q&A document will be shared in the website as an attachment.

Selected programme partner will accept the Terms and Conditions set out in the Partner Agreement template and will commit on the registration on the UN Partner Portal which is a platform for facilitating engagement between CSOs and UN Agencies.

The budget range for this proposal should be Min. 205,000.00 USD – Max. 215,000.00 USD

Proposals must be received by UN Women at the address specified not later than 17.00 CET on December 1, 2025