Expert – Finalisation of Zambia’s National Strategy on Ending Technology-facilitated Violence at Cowater International

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn More We have started building our professional LinkedIn page. Follow Job Title: Technology–facilitated violence against women and girls Expert Duration/Level of Effort: Short-Term Assignment Period: November 2026-February 2027 The Facilitating Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Trade (FIRST) Project is funded by the Government of Canada and implemented by Cowater International. Working with the Governments of Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Mozambique, FIRST helps turn inclusive-trade commitments into practical reforms, stronger institutions and expanded economic opportunities for women-, youth- and disability-led MSMEs and small-scale cross-border traders.Job board subscription Digitalisation is creating new opportunities for women and young people to participate in entrepreneurship, e-commerce, social commerce, digital financial services and trade. At the same time, increased use of digital technologies and online platforms can expose women and girls to technology-facilitated gender-based violence, affecting their safety, rights and ability to participate fully in digital economic activities. The Government of Zambia has developed a Draft National Strategy on Ending Technology–facilitated violence against women and girls. Building on this work, FIRST will provide targeted technical assistance to support the technical review and finalisation of the Draft National Strategy, including through national stakeholder consultations and the incorporation of agreed recommendations to strengthen the strategy’s aspect to address gender-based online violence as a barrier to digital economy and trade. This assignment contributes to the outcome of technical assistance to Ministries of Trade and/or other relevant ministries for the implementation of the Gender-Responsive and Inclusive elements of the AfCFTA and regional trade agreements, through the specific activity to support the review and finalisation of Zambia’s National Strategy on Ending Online Gender-Based Violence.Browse Careers The objective of the assignment is to provide technical support to the Government of Zambia to review, consult on and finalise the Draft National Strategy on Ending Technology–facilitated Violence, ensuring that it provides a practical basis for coordinated action on prevention, protection and response, institutional coordination, implementation, accountability and monitoring. The assignment will consider online GBV as a barrier to women’s safe and inclusive participation in the digital economy and trade, including entrepreneurship, e-commerce, social commerce, and digital financial services. The Expert will undertake the following activities: 3.1 Analysis of the Existing Draft National StrategyZambia travel guide Undertake a targeted technical review of the existing Draft National Strategy and relevant supporting documents, taking into account applicable Zambian policies, legislation and institutional arrangements, as well as relevant regional and international frameworks and good practice. The review will identify priority areas requiring clarification, refinement, or further development to support effective implementation of the Strategy. 3.2 Undertake National Stakeholder Consultations Lead the facilitation of the technical consultations workshop in December 2026 with relevant Government institutions, women’s rights organisations, civil society, private-sector actors and other relevant stakeholders. The consultations will provide an opportunity to review the Draft National Strategy, identify priority issues, align with cyber laws and implementation considerations, and obtain recommendations for its finalisation. The Expert will prepare a concise National Consultation Report documenting the stakeholders consulted, key issues and priorities identified, recommendations arising from the consultations, and proposed revisions to the Draft National Strategy. 3.3 Update the Draft National Strategy with Emerging Inputs Based on the technical analysis and national consultations, support the Gender Division in collaboration with the FIRST Team to revise the Draft National Strategy with emerging issues and recommendations from the consultations and technical review.Employment opportunities newsletter The revised Strategy should be concise and implementation-oriented and address, as appropriate: reporting, protection and response; relevant policy, legal and institutional measures; institutional coordination and accountability; women’s safe participation in the digital economy and trade; and The Expert will also review and refine the Strategy’s implementation and monitoring arrangements, including priority actions, responsible institutions, indicative sequencing and key indicators. 3.4 Support Finalisation and validation of the strategy. Present the revised Draft National Strategy for final Government and stakeholder review and support the incorporation of agreed comments and recommendations. The Expert will finalise the National Strategy on Ending Technology–facilitated Violence, including its implementation and monitoring arrangements, incorporating agreed inputs from the review process. Inception Report – methodology, workplan and approach to the technical review and national consultations Indicative Timeline: November 2026 Technical Review of the Draft National Strategy – concise assessment identifying priority issues and proposed areas for refinement Indicative Timeline: November-December 2026 Lead Stakeholder Technical Consultations and Consultation Report – develop pre-technical consultation materials, facilitate the consultation workshop and a concise report documenting key findings, priorities, recommendations and proposed revisions Indicative Timeline: December 2026 Revised Draft National Strategy and Implementation and Monitoring Arrangements – incorporating findings from the technical review and national consultations Indicative Timeline: December 2026-January 2027 Final Review and Documentation of Agreed Revisions – support final Government and stakeholder review and incorporate agreed recommendations Indicative Timeline: January-February 2027 Final National Strategy on Ending Technology-facilitated Violence and Implementation and Monitoring Arrangements Indicative Timeline: 28 February 2027 Approach, Reporting and Coordination The assignment will be participatory, evidence-based and implementation-focused and will build on the existing Government-led National Strategy, relevant Zambian policies, institutions and mechanisms, and work already undertaken in its development. The Expert will apply a GEDSI-responsive, rights-based, survivor-centred and do-no-harm principles throughout the assignment. The Expert will report to the FIRST Team Leader and work in close coordination with the FIRST GEDSI Specialist and Coordinator for Zambia, and designated Government counterpart(s). Deliverables will be reviewed by FIRST and relevant Government partners.Zambia travel guide The consultant shall support the FIRST Project’s MEL objectives by systematically collecting sex-, age-, and disability-disaggregated participation data across all consultation and validation activities, documenting key stakeholder feedback, and providing input to support project indicator tracking and reporting. an advanced university degree in gender, law, public policy, ICT/digital policy, human rights, development studies or a related field; at least 10 years of relevant professional experience; demonstrated expertise in gender equality and gender-based violence; Advanced knowledge of online or technology-facilitated GBV, digital safety and/or digital policy; demonstrated experience in the review, development or finalisation of national strategies, policies or implementation frameworks; experience in policy, legal and institutional analysis; demonstrated experience working with Government and other stakeholders in Zambia; strong stakeholder consultation, facilitation, analytical and drafting skills; knowledge of digital inclusion, women’s economic empowerment and/or digital trade would be an asset; and excellent written and spoken English. The assignment will take place between November 2026 and 28 March 2027.