2022 Tech Coalition Safe Online Research Fund

The Tech Coalition in partnership with the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children (End Violence Partnership), is investing in projects working to make the Internet safer for children through a research fund. The Tech Coalition Safe Online Research Fund will advance the world’s understanding of online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA). The total funding envelope to be awarded through the 2022 Open Call is ~US$ 800,000. Grant awards will be made in two funding streams, the first between US$50,000-200,000 and the second up to US$50,000.

The research projects will deliver actionable insights that contribute to practitioner understanding of online CSEA, with a priority on technology industry practice across three specific areas of intervention. We are investing in research that increases our understanding and provides actionable insights for online CSEA in (1) Prevention and deterrence, (2) Detection and reporting, and (3) Response and support.

Through this collaboration, End Violence is teaming up with the biggest players in the technology space as part of Tech Coalition’s Project Protect. Project Protect seeks to prevent and eradicate online CSEA through technology innovation, collective action, research, knowledge sharing, and increased accountability. This fund is an essential part of that process, supporting actionable research that will lead to real, lasting change for children’s digital safety.

As the lead research arm of the project, End Violence will manage the Tech Coalition Safe Online Research Fund while building on over five years of work in the Safe Online space. Since our inception in 2016, End Violence has invested $48 million in 60 projects focused on preventing and eliminating online CSEA, with an impact in over 70 countries across the world.


ABOUT

The Tech Coalition Safe Online Research Fund will advance the world’s understanding of online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA). The total funding envelope to be awarded through the 2022 Open Call is ~US$ 800,000.

The research projects will deliver actionable insights that contribute to practitioner understanding of online CSEA, with a priority on technology industry practice across three specific areas of interventions.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS OF THE REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST AND MORE ABOUT OUR FOCUS AREAS IN THIS FUNDING ROUND.

This year's Open Call will be a two-stage application process. We are actively seeking submissions of Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from non-profit organisations. If your research aligns with our focus areas and you meet the Eligibility requirements, we want to hear from you!

The Tech Coalition Safe Online Open Call funding will be made available as grants from End Violence. This year, there are two streams of funding for awards under this Open Call with an opportunity for support to select applicants in Funding Stream B by the Advisory Group in the full Request for Proposals stage if successful in the EOI stage. Read below to find out which funding stream is a better match for your research:

ELIGIBILITY

End Violence Safe Online and the Tech Coalition invite not-for-profit organisations or consortia with not-for-profit organisations as the primary applicant to respond to the 2022 Tech Coalition Safe Online Research Fund Request for Expressions of Interest (EOI). The full eligibility criteria are below.

You may preview the Expressions of Interest Application form to prepare for developing your EOI. You can view and download the form from here but it cannot be directly edited. Please do not request permission to edit. You may save and return to the Application Form online, and you must submit the final application to the online form: APPLY HERE

A reminder that submissions of EOIs does not guarantee an invitation to submit a full Proposal. Successful applicants in the EOI stage will be notified and invited to respond to the Request for Proposals stage.

CRITERIA

Only entities that fulfill these mandatory requirements will be considered eligible:

  • legally registered non-profit (i.e. research institutes and academic institutions, civil society organisations (CSOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and international organisations)
  • the research addresses one or more of the three areas of the 2022 Open Call, addresses a clear need/gap, does not duplicate existing research, and builds upon and/or interacts with existing research/practice
  • all funding will be directed to an institution, not to individuals
  • an individual may submit one proposal as research project lead
  • at minimum, the applicant organisation should have demonstrated relevant prior expertise and/or research experience
  • the organisation complies with all relevant regulatory and ethical frameworks including having a safeguarding policy in place or willingness to develop a policy

Read more about who we will and will not fund here.

Find out more about our call for expressions of interest here.