Report on Funding Initiative to Combat Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: The Challenge of TFGBV and its Relation to the SDGs

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a pervasive human rights violation that presents a significant obstacle to achieving global development targets. The proliferation of digital technologies has given rise to Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV), which includes acts of violence occurring online or enabled by technology in the physical world. Addressing TFGBV is critical for the advancement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

• SDG 5: Gender Equality: The elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls (Target 5.2) is a core component of this goal. TFGBV directly undermines progress toward creating safe environments for women and achieving gender parity.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: Combating TFGBV contributes to reducing all forms of violence (Target 16.1) and ensuring public access to information and fundamental freedoms (Target 16.10), which are often curtailed by online abuse and harassment.

€4 Million Grant to Advance SDG 5 through Innovative Solutions

The French Development Agency (AFD), as part of its commitment to French feminist diplomacy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, has announced a call for proposals to address TFGBV. This initiative directly supports the implementation of the SDGs by funding projects that protect human rights in the digital age.

Initiative Overview and Objectives

The program will allocate €4 million to support feminist organizations in their efforts to combat technology-facilitated violence. The core objectives align with a multi-faceted approach to sustainable development:

• To fund innovative solutions that reduce the prevalence and impact of TFGBV.
• To strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) working on the front lines of digital rights and gender equality, fostering progress on SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
• To contribute directly to the achievement of SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by creating safer digital and physical spaces for women and girls.

Scope and Eligibility

The funding is designated for a consortium of organizations with a demonstrated commitment to feminist principles and human rights.

1. Eligible Applicants: The call is open to consortia of feminist CSOs, which can be French, international, or national organizations from partner countries.
2. Geographic Focus: Projects must be implemented in Africa, the Near East, and the Middle East.
3. Funding Amount: A total of €4 million will be managed by the selected consortium to fund relevant projects.

Application and Procedural Details

Call to Action for Eligible Organizations

Feminist CSOs meeting the criteria are encouraged to submit proposals to manage this significant funding opportunity. This initiative represents a direct investment in the infrastructure required to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

• Issuing Body: The French Development Agency (AFD)
• Application Deadline: August 31, 2025

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  This is the primary goal addressed in the article. The text is centered on combating “Gender-based violence (GBV)” and “technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV).” It explicitly states that eliminating this violence “is essential to move toward gender equality” and that this objective “is one of the 17 goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” The initiative described is a call for funding for “feminist organisations” to “support their fight against gender-based and technology-facilitated violence.”

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article highlights the importance of collaboration and financial support to achieve development goals. The “French Development Agency (AFD)” is providing “€4 million in funding” to a “consortium of French and/or international and/or national feminist CSOs.” This represents a multi-stakeholder partnership (public agency and civil society) mobilizing financial resources to address a specific sustainable development challenge, which is central to SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.

   The article’s main purpose is to announce a funding opportunity for projects that fight “gender-based violence” and its online form, “technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV).” The entire initiative is aimed at selecting solutions for “reducing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence,” which directly aligns with this target.

2. Target 5.b: Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women.

   While the article discusses the negative use of technology for perpetrating violence, the call to action is for “Innovative Solutions.” This implies using technology constructively to create tools, platforms, or systems that protect women and counter TFGBV. The goal is to leverage technology to solve a problem that technology itself has exacerbated, thus enhancing its use for empowerment and safety.

3. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

   The mechanism described in the article is a perfect example of this target in action. The French Development Agency (a public entity) is launching a “Call for Proposals” to select and fund a “consortium of… feminist CSOs” (civil society organizations). This is a public-civil society partnership designed to pool resources and expertise to fight TFGBV in “Africa, the Near East and the Middle East.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Reduction in the scale of technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

   This is an implied outcome indicator for Target 5.2. The article states that the goal of the funded projects is to contribute to “reducing its scale,” referring to TFGBV. Progress would be measured by a decrease in the prevalence and incidence of online and technology-facilitated violence against women and girls.

2. Amount of financial resources mobilized for gender equality initiatives.

   This is an explicit financial indicator relevant to SDG 17. The article clearly states the amount of funding available through the call for proposals: “€4 million in funding.” This figure serves as a direct measure of the financial resources being dedicated to the cause.

3. Number of innovative solutions and partnerships created.

   This is an implied output indicator for Targets 5.b and 17.17. The article calls for “Innovative Solutions” and the formation of a “consortium.” The success of the initiative can be measured by the number of effective solutions developed and the number of civil society consortia formed and funded to combat TFGBV.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ictworks.org