National Consultant - Advancing the Digital Safety of Women Journalists in Pakistan

Organisation: UNESCO
Location: Islamabad, Pakistan
Deadline: 11 November 2026

JOB DETAILS

Type of contract : Consultant Contract

Level : Level 2 - Middle

Hiring Unit : Communication and Information Sector (CI)

Duty Station : Islamabad

Work location : On site

Duration of contract : 6 months

Hiring open to : External candidates

Application deadline (Midnight UTC+5 Time) : 11/11/2026

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

OVERVIEW

Under the overall authority of the Country Representative to Pakistan / Head of UNESCO Office in Islamabad and the direct supervision of the National Professional Officer (Communication and Information), the National Consultant will provide technical expertise to support UNESCO's efforts to strengthen the protection ecosystem for women journalists experiencing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) in Pakistan. The consultant will undertake evidence-based research, policy analysis and develop practical technical resources to strengthen institutional responses to TFGBV against women journalists, including mapping existing protection mechanisms, identifying legal and institutional gaps, and recommending measures to enhance coordination, reporting, referral pathways and support services. The consultant will also support UNESCO in facilitating technical consultations with relevant stakeholders to validate findings and ensure that the proposed recommendations and resources are contextually relevant, gender-responsive and aligned with international standards. Working closely with the Communication and Information Sector, the consultant will contribute to identifying opportunities for expanding UNESCO's programme interventions on the safety of women journalists in Pakistan. The research findings, stakeholder consultations and technical outputs will inform the development of future initiatives and foster sustained collaboration among relevant institutions and stakeholders.

The assignment will contribute to UNESCO's broader work on the safety of journalists, freedom of expression and gender equality, while providing an evidence-based foundation for future programming, partnerships and policy engagement in Pakistan.

Long Description

BACKGROUND: Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) has emerged as a significant threat to the safety, wellbeing and professional participation of women journalists worldwide. Online harassment, cyberstalking, image-based abuse, coordinated disinformation campaigns and AI-enabled manipulation increasingly undermine freedom of expression, restrict women's participation in public discourse and contribute to self-censorship.

In Pakistan, women journalists continue to experience various forms of online violence that often extend beyond digital spaces into professional, psychological and physical harm. While legal and institutional mechanisms exist to address cybercrime and online harms, challenges remain in strengthening institutional coordination, improving awareness of reporting mechanisms, enhancing access to support services and ensuring effective implementation of relevant laws and policies.

Pakistan has made efforts in addressing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence and strengthening responses to cybercrime and online harms through the efforts of government institutions, civil society organizations, and media support organizations. These initiatives have contributed to more legal and policy frameworks and institutional responses with efforts towards awareness of digital safety and online protection. Building on these efforts, there remains a need to identify opportunities for strengthening collaboration and enhancing support for women journalists experiencing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence.

As the United Nations agency mandated to promote freedom of expression and the safety of journalists, UNESCO supports Member States through evidence generation, normative guidance, policy advice and institutional capacity development. Building on its global leadership in implementing the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, UNESCO has developed a range of normative instruments and practical guidance to strengthen the safety of journalists and freedom of expression, providing an important foundation for supporting national stakeholders in addressing emerging challenges, including Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence. [1] Through this consultancy, UNESCO seeks to strengthen Pakistan's response to TFGBV by generating evidence, developing practical technical resources and fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration to improve the protection ecosystem for women journalists based on UNESCO’s recently developed relevant frameworks.

This initiative will build on existing national efforts by producing evidence-based research, practical technical resources and policy recommendations tailored to the needs of women journalists. By strengthening institutional responses, enhancing coordination among relevant stakeholders and promoting informed policy dialogue, the assignment will contribute to a safer, more inclusive and resilient media ecosystem, while advancing the safety of journalists and gender equality in Pakistan.

[1] Guidelines for prosecutors on digital evidence collection in compliance with international standards on freedom of expression and privacy, https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000395060 . & Guidelines for Forensic Professionals on Cases of Crimes Against Journalists, https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000398213

ASSIGNMENTS

OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The overall objective of this consultancy is to strengthen Pakistan's protection ecosystem for women journalists experiencing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) through evidence generation, the development of practical technical resources, and informed policy dialogue.

To achieve the above objective, the scope of the consultancy comprises the following components:

Component 1: Evidence Generation and Policy Analysis

The consultant will undertake analytical research to strengthen understanding of the nature, prevalence and institutional response to TFGBV affecting women journalists in Pakistan. This will include:

• Undertake a national mapping of the protection ecosystem for women journalists experiencing TFGBV, including documenting existing prevention, protection, reporting, referral and support mechanisms implemented by government institutions, media organizations, journalist associations, civil society organizations and other relevant stakeholders, as well as existing women journalists’ networks, peer-support and mentorship initiatives;

• Review relevant legal, policy and institutional frameworks governing cybercrime, online violence, media regulation and freedom of expression;

• Identifying opportunities to strengthen institutional coordination, operational responses and policy implementation related to the protection of women journalists experiencing TFGBV; and

• Analyse international good practices and develop evidence-based recommendations to strengthen the national protection ecosystem.

Component 2: Development of Technical Resources

Building on the findings of Component 1, the consultant will develop practical technical resources to support institutional capacity development and strengthen the protection ecosystem for women journalists experiencing TFGBV. The resources shall build upon relevant UNESCO normative instruments, guidance materials and international good practices, adapting them to the Pakistani context and the needs of relevant national stakeholders. This will include:

• Developing a Training Toolkit comprising a training curriculum, facilitator guidance note, presentation materials, participant handouts and practical case studies, drawing upon relevant UNESCO guidance and international standards on the safety of journalists;

• Developing a Resource Guide outlining reporting procedures, referral pathways, available support services and institutional responsibilities for women journalists experiencing TFGBV in Pakistan; and

• Preparing a Technical Guidance Note providing practical recommendations for adapting relevant UNESCO guidance and international standards to strengthen institutional responses, policy implementation and future capacity development initiatives in Pakistan.

Long Description

Component 3: Stakeholder Consultation and Knowledge Sharing

The consultant will support UNESCO in promoting evidence-informed dialogue and collaboration among relevant stakeholders to validate findings and strengthen national responses. This will include:

• Identifying and engaging relevant stakeholders and conducting structured consultations, including bilateral meetings, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions and/or online interviews and discussions, as appropriate, to gather perspectives, validate findings and identify existing initiatives, gaps and opportunities for strengthening responses to TFGBV against women journalists.

• Preparing appropriate consultation tools, interview guides and other materials to support stakeholder engagement;

• Documenting stakeholder feedback and incorporating recommendations into the final technical outputs; and

• Preparing a consolidated implementation roadmap outlining priority actions for strengthening institutional responses to TFGBV against women journalists, including potential follow-up programme interventions, partnerships, women journalists’ networks, peer learning and mentorship opportunities, in close coordination with the National Professional Officer (Communication and Information).

Throughout the assignment, the consultant shall ensure that all outputs are evidence-based, gender-responsive, aligned with international human rights standards and UNESCO's mandate on freedom of expression, the safety of journalists and gender equality

Long Description

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMNET