Background
UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.
In alignment with this mandate, UN Women recognizes the growing threat posed by Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV), which refers to any act that is committed, assisted, aggravated, or amplified by the use of information communication technologies or other digital tools, that results in or is likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological, social, political, or economic harm, or other infringements of rights and freedoms. Examples include a range of abusive behaviors enabled or amplified by digital technologies, including online harassment, cyberstalking, doxing, non-consensual sharing of intimate images, AI-generated content & deepfake pornography, voyeurism, gendered disinformation. These acts disproportionately target women and marginalized groups, undermining their safety, dignity, and participation in public and digital spaces.
The Economist Intelligence Unit reports that 38% of women worldwide reported personal experiences with online violence and 85% have witnessed digital violence against other women.1 Further, a study by Plan International in 32 countries found 58% of adolescent girls had experienced harassment on social media platforms. 2 UN Women is scaling up its work on TFGBV by anchoring action in key global normative frameworks, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Platform for Action, and the Global Digital Compact, which collectively call for safe, inclusive, and rights-based digital transformation. By contributing to the strengthening of global standards and generating evidence on effective prevention and response strategies, UN Women is working to ensure that online spaces reflect the same protections, dignity, and equality that international human rights frameworks envision for the offline world. This includes supporting Member States and partners to adopt and implement policies and practices that eliminate TFGBV across the online-offline continuum.
According to a study by UN Women, there is little comparable, reliable data on the prevalence, forms, impact, and drivers of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) across different global regions and social intersections. There is limited data on the links between online and offline violence, although we know from many women’s experiences that such links exist. We do not know enough about who the perpetrators of TFGBV are, or about how much is perpetrated by intimate partners and known entities as opposed to organized and networked forms of attack. We do not know what works to deter or change abusive behavior online, and there is little knowledge of the role and impact of legislation (and its implementation), regulation, or big tech in addressing this issue. Further, survivors, perpetrators, authorities, and wider society often have limited understanding about TFGBV’s impacts, prevalence, range, and legal status – unsurprisingly so, given its newness and rapid flux. These challenges are often compounded by low levels of digital literacy, which disproportionately affects women and girls, and limited educational outreach or awareness campaigns around ‘digital hygiene’ practices such as avoiding posting personal information online.
While Kenya has made significant strides in establishing legal and policy frameworks to promote gender equality and protect against violence—including the Constitution of Kenya (2010), the Sexual Offences Act (2006), the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act (2018), the National Gender and Equality Commission Act (2011), and the National Policy on the Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence (2014) under review— TFGBV remains a persistent and deeply concerning issue. Women in Kenya continue to be the primary targets of TFGBV tactics, particularly those in leadership, public life, and digital spaces. A 2023 study by UNFPA targeting students at three tertiary institutions in Nairobi found that nearly 90% of survey respondents had witnessed online abuse, and 39% had experienced it personally. Of those who had experienced abuse personally, 64.4% were female and 35.6% were male. Another study by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) focused on male and female candidates in Kenya’s 2022 general elections came to similar conclusions: for example, on Facebook, 56% of female candidates whose accounts were monitored by the study experienced TFGBV. A 2024 report by the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) revealed that over 60% of women working in the public sphere, including journalists and political figures, had experienced online harassment. These violations often took the form of sexual harassment, cyberstalking, hate speech, body shaming, and the unauthorized distribution of intimate content. Among stakeholders interviewed, the majority highlighted that woman in Kenya, particularly women leaders and those in public roles such as journalists, social media influencers, and content creators, are disproportionately affected.
In light of these persistent challenges and growing threats, this consultancy is urgently needed to support UN Women Kenya’s efforts—under the DigiKen initiative—to develop a more comprehensive, evidence-based, and contextually relevant approach to addressing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV). DigiKen, which seeks to promote a safe, inclusive, and gender-responsive digital platform economy, prioritizes key areas such as digital literacy, platform accountability, and meaningful youth engagement—each of which is critical to tackling the root causes and impacts of TFGBV. The consultant will contribute to deepening understanding of the nature, scope, and consequences of TFGBV in Kenya; identify gaps in legal frameworks, institutional responses, and survivor support; and propose actionable, multi-sectoral strategies aligned with global and national normative frameworks. This includes generating localized evidence on what works, supporting strengthened collaboration with state institutions, civil society, and technology actors, and enhancing survivor-centered, rights-based approaches. The consultancy will also support the development of practical knowledge products and tools that can be used to inform policy, advocacy, and community engagement. Ultimately, this assignment will play a critical role in advancing digital justice under the DigiKen framework and ensuring that women and girls in Kenya—especially young women—can safely and fully exercise their rights and agency in an increasingly digital world.
The consultancy will also leverage ongoing work by UN Women Kenya, including the Social Analysis of Femicide Study and its coordination role in the Technical Working Group on Femicide. These efforts provide valuable insights and platforms for addressing intersecting forms of violence and can help ensure that responses to TFGBV are anchored in broader evidence-based and survivor-informed strategies to end gender-based violence in all its forms.
Objectives of the Assignment
The overall objective of this consultancy is to support UN Women Kenya, under the DigiKen initiative, in advancing a comprehensive, evidence-informed, and rights-based approach to addressing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) in Kenya. The consultants will contribute to a deeper understanding of TFGBV’s impact, identify policy and institutional gaps, and develop strategic and innovative pathways for response and prevention, with a strong focus on youth engagement and the protection of women in leadership. Specific objectives include:
1. Analyze the Impact of TFGBV on the Digital Platform Economy
Examine the extent to which TFGBV inhibits women’s and girls’ participation in Kenya’s digital platform economy—including content creation, e-commerce, online work, and innovation. Assess the socio-economic consequences of TFGBV on individuals and on the broader digital economy, including its effects on trust, access, and growth in digital livelihoods.2. Identify Institutional Gaps and Entry Points for Policy and Law Enforcement Engagement
Map existing legislative and policy frameworks addressing TFGBV and identify implementation gaps at national and county levels. Recommend concrete entry points for engagement with key state actors such as legislators, the police, judiciary, National Gender and Equality Commission, and other duty-bearers to improve prevention, enforcement, survivor support, and access to justice.3. Generate Evidence-Based Insights to Inform Policy and Programming
Produce a comprehensive analysis on the nature, prevalence, drivers, and impacts of TFGBV in Kenya, disaggregated by age, geography, and social context. Develop user-friendly knowledge products (e.g., briefs, infographics, survivor-centered narratives) to inform policy advocacy, capacity-building, and public engagement.4. Enhance Engagement with Technology Companies and Strengthen Platform Governance
Analyze the role and responsibilities of major tech platforms (e.g., Meta, X, TikTok, Google) in detecting, mitigating, and responding to TFGBV affecting Kenyan users. Recommend approaches to strengthen collaboration with digital platforms, including co-creating user safety protocols, localized reporting tools, and accountability frameworks that align with national legislation and international human rights standards.5. Advance Protections for Women in Leadership and Public Life including economics
Investigate how TFGBV affects women in politics, economics media, civil society, and other public-facing roles in Kenya. Provide forward-looking recommendations for policy and programmatic interventions and protective strategies to safeguard women’s participation in public and political life online, particularly in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.6. Assess and Improve Platform Governance Mechanisms
Examine the effectiveness of existing content moderation, redress mechanisms, and digital safety standards across platforms, and their compliance with Kenyan laws. Propose a national coordination framework that brings together civil society, survivors, digital rights actors, and platform representatives to ensure gender-responsive governance of online spaces.7. Map Innovative, Youth-Led Approaches to Prevent and Respond to TFGBV
Identify and document promising youth-led digital campaigns, movements, or technologies addressing TFGBV.The consultant will be reporting to the EVAW Team Lead with a matrix support from Youth Focal Point.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Consultant will be responsible for overall technical leadership, research coordination, stakeholder engagement, and strategic analysis to support UN Women Kenya’s efforts under the DigiKen initiative. The Consultant will guide the assignment to ensure relevance, quality, and alignment with UN Women’s mandate and international norms.
Key responsibilities include:
1. Overall Project Management and Technical Direction
2. Review and Synthesis of Existing Research
3. Analysis of TFGBV and the Digital Platform Economy
Lead research on how TFGBV affects women's economic participation in Kenya’s digital ecosystem. Develop case studies illustrating impacts on women including content creators, entrepreneurs, and platform workers.4. Policy and Legal Framework Review
Map and analyze existing laws, policies, and institutional mechanisms related to TFGBV. Identify gaps and propose high-level engagement strategies with legislators, police, judiciary, and relevant commissions.5. Engagement with Technology Companies and Governance Structures
Conduct in-depth stakeholder interviews with local representatives of global tech firms (e.g., Meta, X, TikTok). Recommend pathways to co-develop or influence platform governance policies, user safety protocols, and accountability mechanisms.6. TFGBV Targeting Women Leaders and Public Figures
Analyze trends of TFGBV affecting women in leadership (e.g., politicians, journalists, activists). Propose evidence-based recommendations and protective strategies for the pre-2027 electoral context.7. Policy Briefs and Knowledge Products
Synthesize findings into targeted, high-quality outputs such as policy briefs, issue papers, and advocacy toolkits. Integrate survivor-centered narratives and gender-responsive recommendations.8. Strategic Engagement and Presentation
Present findings and recommendations to UN Women, stakeholders, and partners at validation and dissemination forums. Support advocacy messaging for UN Women’s positioning on TFGBV and digital inclusion.Deliverables
Deliverable
Specific Roles
Description
Payment schedule
1
Inception Report
Develop methodology and work plan; map stakeholders; define roles; identify risks
Includes detailed methodology, work plan, stakeholder mapping, roles and responsibilities, and risk mitigation
plan.
20%
2
Interim TFGBV Diagnostic and Strategic Analysis Report
Lead in-depth research and analysis; oversee drafting of thematic sections; map legaland policy frameworks; analyze platform governance and TFGBV targeting women leaders; document youth-led initiatives
Interim report covering:
In-depth research report on the nature, scope, drivers, and impact of TFGBV in Kenya Thematic sections on digital economy, public life, and platform governance A comprehensive mapping of national and county-level legal, policy, and institutional frameworks addressing
TFGBV, identifying implementation gaps and bottlenecks, and providing recommendations for strategic engagement with duty bearers such as the police, judiciary, NGEC, and legislators.
Analysis of platform responsibilities and moderation practices, withrecommendations for engaging tech companies in co-creating localized safety protocols and reporting tools responsive to TFGBV in Kenya
An analysis of how TFGBV targets women in politics, media, civil society, and online public roles, with protection recommendations ahead of the 2027 elections and proposed policy and programmatic interventions to safeguard their participation. Documentation of at least 10 promising youth-led initiatives addressing TFGBV, with an analysis of digital activism trends and gaps, and recommendations for scaling and supporting youth-driven innovations.40%
3
Validation and Stakeholder Engagement Report
Lead validation workshops; incorporate stakeholder feedback; synthesize input into final revisions
Summary of validation workshop(s) held with CSOs, youth networks, survivors, government, academia and private sector, including feedback and revisions made.40%
4
Short thematic briefs
Draft and review policy briefs; extract key insights from the analysis; ensure user-friendly format
Policy brief on Kenya’s legal, policy, and institutional frameworks on TFGBV and existing access to justice Impact of TFGBV in the Digital Platform Economy Brief Women in Leadership & Public Life: Risk and Protection Brief with recommendations for the 2027 elections cycle Two-page mapping of youth led initiatives addressing TFGBV Policy brief on engagement with in co-creating localized safety protocols and reporting tools responsive to TFGBV in Kenya
5
Lead and Facilitate Thematic Policy Dialogues
Design and moderate dialogues; develop background materials; mobilize stakeholders; align with global frameworks
Design, coordinate, and facilitate four high-level thematic policy dialogues at national, regional, and international levels to disseminate evidence, foster multi-stakeholder engagement, and advocate for strengthened policy and platform accountability on TFGBV. These dialogues will serve to strategically position Kenya as a thought leader and champion in advancing gender-responsive digital governance and online safety, drawing on lessons from the DigiKen initiative. Responsibilities include preparing background materials, engaging key stakeholders—including policymakers, tech platforms, civilsociety, survivors, and youth—and ensuring alignment
with global and regional frameworks on digital rights and gender equality.
6
Final Consolidated Report
Lead the finalization process by guiding strategic direction, ensuring technical quality and coherence, and integrating all feedback and outputs.
Integration of all deliverables, stakeholder feedback, final recommendations, executive summary, and annexes with tools/methods.
Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel
This is a home-based consultancy.
As part of this assignment, there may be a maximum of 4 trips to select counties as part of data collection. Each trip will be for a maximum of three days.
Competencies
Core Values:
Respect for Diversity Integrity Professionalism Core Competencies: Integrity and Professionalism Commitment to Gender Equality and Human Rights Creative Problem Solving Effective Communication Inclusive Collaboration Stakeholder Engagement
Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment/application-process#_Values
Functional Competencies:
Technical Expertise in Gender and Digital Rights Legal and Policy Analysis Research and Analytical Skills Strategic Thinking and Innovation Stakeholder Engagement and Facilitation Ethical and Survivor-Centered ApproachesRequired Skills and Experience
Education:
Master’s degree in Gender Studies, Law, Human Rights, Digital Policy, Public Policy, ICT4D, or other relevant social science or development field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.Experience:
Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in policy research, gender equality, GBV prevention, digital rights, or technology and society. Demonstrated experience leading national or regional studies on gender, online safety, or digital governance. Knowledge of Kenya’s digital ecosystem, governance frameworks, and national gender equality context. Proven track record in engaging policymakers, international actors, and tech companies on policy, legal, or institutional reform. Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder policy dialogues or advocacy processes at national and/or international levels. Strong track record in producing high-quality research and analytical reports, with ability to synthesize complex information into actionable recommendations. Prior experience working with UN agencies or international development actors is an added advantage.Languages:
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Swahili is an asset.Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
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