France has announced a $4.3 million grant to tackle technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) against women across Africa and the Middle East, targeting rising threats such as cyberstalking, image-based abuse, and online harassment.
The funds, channelled through the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), will support feminist civil society organisations (CSOs) working to combat digital abuse through capacity-building, advocacy, and innovation. The initiative is part of the Support Fund for Feminist Organisations and will span three to four years.
“TFGBV is a digital pandemic affecting millions of women and girls. We need urgent, cross-border solutions that put power back in the hands of women-led organisations,” said the French global aid agency.
To qualify, CSOs must operate in at least four countries, with three considered among the most vulnerable, such as Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Lebanon. The selected consortium will also be tasked with managing fund disbursement, fostering cross-country learning, and integrating survivors’ voices into the broader response to TFGBV.
The United Nations estimates that 90% of African women who use the internet have experienced some form of online violence, often discouraging their participation in public life.
“Women’s rights cannot be fully realised if digital spaces remain dangerous and hostile,” added the AFD.
Applications for the funding are open until August 31, 2025, with a strong emphasis on local leadership. The initiative is aligned with France’s feminist foreign policy goal to direct 75% of its bilateral aid toward gender equality by the end of 2025. Interested CSOs can access the call for proposals on AFD’s website.
