UN Women Funds Campaign to Combat Online Violence Against Women in Western Balkans

UN Women has announced a significant funding opportunity for civil society organizations (CSOs) dedicated to fighting online violence against women and girls. This initiative, part of the EU-funded “EU4 Gender Equality” program, aims to support a large-scale behavioral change and awareness campaign across the Western Balkans. The call for proposals seeks to empower organizations to address the growing issue of technology-facilitated abuse and gender-based violence in digital spaces.

About UN Women and the EU4 Gender Equality Programme

UN Women is the United Nations entity focused on advancing gender equality and empowering women globally. The organization works to end violence against women and girls, promote economic empowerment, and strengthen women’s leadership. They collaborate with various partners, including governments and civil society, to tackle structural inequalities.

The “EU4 Gender Equality – Women’s Economic Empowerment and Ending Violence Against Women in the Western Balkans” program is a joint effort funded by the European Union and implemented with UN Women. This program specifically targets critical gender equality issues in the Western Balkans, such as violence against women, online harassment, economic disparities, and harmful social norms. It aims to foster regional cooperation and improve institutional responses to gender-based violence.

Purpose of the Call for Proposals

The primary goal of this call for proposals is to select a qualified Civil Society Organization to act as a Responsible Party. This organization will be tasked with developing and implementing a comprehensive regional campaign. The campaign will focus on raising awareness and promoting behavioral change concerning online violence and technology-facilitated abuse against women and girls. Key areas of focus include cyber harassment, digital stalking, online hate speech, and the non-consensual sharing of images.

The initiative seeks to increase public understanding of these issues, challenge harmful attitudes and stereotypes, and ensure that women and girls are aware of their rights and the support services available to them. Additionally, the selected CSO will contribute to the communication strategies for the Regional Forum on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls in 2026 and 2027, offering a platform for high-level advocacy.

Key Objectives of the Campaign

The campaign funded by this initiative will pursue several critical objectives:

Raising Awareness on Violence Against Women and Girls

A core aim is to educate the public about the various forms of violence women and girls face, both online and offline. This includes making people aware of issues like cyber harassment, digital stalking, online hate speech, and gender-based online abuse. By increasing visibility, the program hopes to foster a greater understanding of the scope and impact of these issues.

Promoting Behavioural Change

Beyond awareness, the campaign will actively work to shift harmful attitudes, stereotypes, and behaviors that contribute to violence against women and girls. It will encourage respectful online interactions, promote gender equality, and foster positive social norms. The initiative also aims to highlight the importance of digital safety and accountability within communities.

Increasing Knowledge of Rights and Support Services

The campaign will ensure that women and girls are well-informed about their legal rights and the available support systems. This includes providing information on protection mechanisms, reporting channels, and access to essential services and assistance. This objective is particularly important for vulnerable populations who may be disproportionately affected by online violence and discrimination.

Supporting Regional Advocacy Efforts

The selected organization will play a role in shaping the communication strategies for major regional events. This includes contributing to the creative concepts for the 2026 and 2027 editions of the Regional Forum on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls. This involvement offers a chance to influence high-level policy discussions and regional advocacy efforts.

Funding Amount and Eligibility

The funding available for this initiative ranges from USD 180,000 to USD 200,000. Proposals that exceed the maximum amount will not be considered. Applicants must ensure their proposed budgets are realistic and align with the expected deliverables of the program. This substantial funding is intended to support large-scale regional communication and advocacy activities.

UN Women is specifically inviting Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to apply. Organizations with proven experience in gender equality, women’s rights, digital safety, behavioral change communication, advocacy, and regional program implementation are strongly encouraged to submit proposals. Experience working within the Western Balkans region may also be considered an advantage.

Geographic Focus and Expertise

The program’s geographic focus is the Western Balkans. Campaign activities and outreach efforts are expected to reach populations across this region. The selected organization will need to demonstrate strong expertise in several key areas. These include gender equality programming, ending violence against women, behavioral change communication, public awareness campaigns, advocacy, digital communication, and regional program management. A solid understanding of human rights and online safety is also essential.

Information Session and Application Process

UN Women will host an online information session on June 1, 2026, at 12:00 CET via Zoom. This session is designed to help interested organizations understand the proposal requirements and the application process in detail. Applicants must register in advance through the official UN Women platform to receive confirmation and joining instructions.

The deadline for proposal submission is June 12, 2026, at 12:00 CET. UN Women emphasizes that late submissions will not be considered. Organizations must also be prepared to accept all legal terms outlined in the Partner Agreement and undergo verification on the UN Partner Portal (UNPP) if not already registered.

Why This Opportunity Matters

Technology-facilitated violence against women and girls is a rapidly growing global concern. This UN Women initiative acknowledges the urgent need for increased public education, digital safety awareness, and behavioral transformation. It also highlights the importance of survivor-centered support and regional cooperation in prevention strategies. This program offers a significant opportunity for civil society organizations to make a tangible impact on regional conversations and strengthen protections for women and girls in the digital sphere.

Frequently Asked Questions