Lead Researcher- Security Knowledge Products

Organization: Urgent Action Fund-Africa Closing date: 9 Nov 2026 Who we are Urgent Action Fund-Africa (UAF-Africa)is a feminist, pan-African Rapid Response Fund committed to transforming power relations through resourcing African feminists and women’s human rights defenders and their formations as an act of solidarity. Recognising the need to move resources rapidly on a continent where opportunities and threats arise and decline quickly, UAF-Africa uses a Rapid Response Grant making mechanism to support unanticipated, time-sensitive, innovative, and unique initiatives that promote women’s agency in peace and political participation, social and economic power building, as well as natural resources governance and stewardship. The Fund works to support African Women’s Human Rights Defenders (AWHRDs), particularly in the feminist and women’s rights movements, in their actions, which enable them to support and sustain themselves, each other, and their work before, during, and after urgent situations. UAF-Africa is registered in Kenya and Zimbabwe. The Fund boasts of strategic physical presence in East Africa: North Africa; Cairo, Egypt; Nairobi (Kenya), Kampala (Uganda); Central Africa: Douala & Yaoundé (Cameroon); Southern Africa: Harare (Zimbabwe), Lilongwe (Malawi), Antananarivo (Madagascar); Johannesburg, Pretoria & Cape Town (South Africa), Gaborone (Botswana), and West Africa: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Background Through the Feminist Republik, UAF-Africa's Feminist Knowledge Leadership (FKL) portfolio produces knowledge that strengthens the protection of women human rights defenders (WHRDs) across Africa. Alongside an ongoing organisational security assignment, UAF-Africa is extending its protection thinking to AI-enabled and technology-facilitated risks. Digital threats against WHRDs rarely stay online. Artificial intelligence is changing the risks defenders face, from deepfakes and coordinated disinformation to automated surveillance, while the rules governing AI are still being written. At the same time, technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) increasingly escalates into legal, physical and psychological harm. UAF-Africa is therefore seeking an experienced individual consultant to lead the research for two security knowledge products. The first, Coded Against Us? What AI Governance Must Learn from Women Human Rights Defenders in Africa, examines how AI is reshaping the risks facing WHRDs and what feminist AI governance must address. It combines a desk review, a mapping of continental, national and platform governance frameworks . The second, Every Click Counts: How Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence Becomes Real-World Harm for Women Human Rights Defenders, is a desk-based learning product. Drawing on a desk review and a legal and regulatory review, it traces how TFGBV escalates into real-world harm and identifies the warning signs and protective factors that allow partners and UAF-Africa to act earlier. The consultant will be responsible for research design, analysis, and drafting of the outputs, applying a do-no-harm, safety-first approach throughout. Copy-editing, graphic design, translation, publication and launch are held by UAF-Africa. All public outputs will be reviewed against UAF-Africa's Publication Safety Protocol before release. Reporting The lead researcher will report to the Feminist Knowledge Leadership (FKL) Coordinator, with day-to-day coordination involving the FKL team. Final sign-off on deliverables rests with UAF-Africa's approval chain. Duration and Timelines of the Assignment The assignment is expected to begin in mid-November 2026, at approximately 25 working days across both products, with exact timelines to be agreed at inception. All work is remote. Qualifications • An advanced degree in gender studies, human rights, law, social sciences, technology policy, or a related field. • Substantial experience in research and policy analysis on gender, human rights, or digital rights. • Demonstrated expertise in TFGBV, digital security, and/or AI governance, including familiarity with continental, national, and platform governance frameworks, ideally in African contexts. • Experience in qualitative research and policy analysis. • Sound understanding of do-no-harm, informed consent, confidentiality, and the secure handling of sensitive information in research. • The ability to produce clear, accessible outputs for different audiences, from donors and policymakers to defenders and partners, within tight timelines. • Fluency in English; working knowledge of French, Portuguese, Arabic, or Kiswahili is an asset. • Commitment to feminist principles and to UAF-Africa's values. How to apply How to Apply If interested in this assignment, please send your proposal including technical and financial proposals to procurement@uaf-africa.org with the Subject line: EOI: Lead Researcher – Security Knowledge Products Interested candidates should submit the following, with sensitive content redacted as needed: • A brief note (maximum 4 pages) setting out your understanding of the assignment and your proposed approach, including how you will ensure safety and confidentiality. • A financial proposal indicating daily rate and estimated level of effort per deliverable. • A CV highlighting relevant experience. • One or two samples of relevant published work, such as policy papers or research reports. No phone calls, please. We thank all those who apply, but only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. To learn more about UAF-Africa and our programs, please visit our website at http://www.uaf-africa.org/ UAF-Africa is committed to feminist hiring practices and encourages applications from African feminist researchers.