The Digital Gendered Disinformation Ecosystems Scan is a multi-year research initiative led by Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice, focused on understanding how gendered disinformation, online misogyny, and technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) spread across digital spaces.
Funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, the project runs from June 2026 to December 2028 and targets two regions: Eastern Europe (non-EU) and sub-Saharan Africa. The initiative aims to generate evidence that will guide strategic grantmaking, policy engagement, and program design.
Background and Project Rationale
Equimundo’s initiative is grounded in the understanding that online harm is deeply linked to gender norms and masculinities. The project recognizes that:
- Gendered disinformation is rapidly expanding in digital ecosystems
- Online misogyny is often normalized through networks of influencers and platforms
- Men and boys play complex roles as both perpetrators and targets of online harm
- Digital spaces are evolving faster than legal and social protections
The project responds to the urgent need to map and understand these ecosystems in order to design more effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Ecosystem Scan
The ecosystem scan is designed to serve two core objectives:
- Mapping digital environments where gendered disinformation spreads
- Informing Equimundo’s grantmaking and program design strategies
The research will examine:
- How gendered disinformation operates across platforms
- Which actors amplify or sustain harmful narratives
- How users are exposed, recruited, or influenced
- What policy and platform conditions enable or constrain these harms
Importantly, the study is not a general organizational mapping but a focused analysis of digital ecosystems and narrative flows.
Geographic Scope of the Research
The assignment covers two distinct regional studies:
Eastern Europe (non-EU):
- Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan
- Western Balkans (e.g., Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo)
- Final country selection refined during inception phase
Sub-Saharan Africa:
- Broad regional scan across East, West, and Southern Africa
- Country selection based on relevance, risk levels, and digital ecosystem dynamics
Each region will be studied separately but through a shared methodological framework to allow comparison.
Core Areas of Analysis
The ecosystem scan is structured around several analytical dimensions.
Digital Ecosystem Mapping
- Identification of platforms where gendered disinformation circulates
- Analysis of mainstream and fringe digital spaces
- Examination of encrypted apps, forums, and creator ecosystems
- Assessment of cross-platform user migration patterns
Key platforms include:
- Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube
- Telegram, Discord, WhatsApp
- VKontakte and region-specific forums
Narratives and Content Analysis
The research will explore:
- Misogynistic and anti-feminist narratives
- Online masculinity discourses and “manosphere” trends
- Gendered hate speech targeting women, LGBTQI+ groups, and activists
- Localized cultural and political framing of gender content
- Emerging coded language and slang used in digital communities
Actor and Network Mapping
The scan will identify:
- Influencers and content creators driving narratives
- Online communities and coordinated networks
- Political and media amplifiers
- Cross-border and transnational disinformation linkages
- Monetization structures behind harmful content ecosystems
Risk and Harm Assessment
The research will assess:
- Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV)
- Online harassment, doxing, and intimidation
- AI-generated abuse and coordinated attacks
- Psychological and civic participation impacts
- Risks to journalists, activists, and marginalized groups
- Harmful masculinities affecting boys and men themselves
Opportunities and Strategic Entry Points
Beyond risks, the scan will identify opportunities for intervention, including:
- Online spaces where men engage in discussions about masculinity
- Messages that encourage positive behavioral change
- Influencers who promote constructive gender narratives
- Entry points for campaigns that reduce resistance
- Cultural or social issues that resonate across male audiences
- Effective language and communication styles used in digital communities
This analysis will directly inform future funding and program design.
Country Prioritization Framework
The study will help identify priority countries based on:
- Strength and visibility of gendered disinformation ecosystems
- Existing digital engagement among male audiences
- Policy and institutional readiness for intervention
- Feasibility and safety of programmatic engagement
- Strategic relevance for regional impact
This ensures resources are directed toward the most impactful contexts.
Deliverables and Outputs
The consultancy will produce structured knowledge products to guide Equimundo’s strategy.
Key deliverables include:
- Inception note outlining methodology and workplan
- Draft regional ecosystem scan report
- Final revised ecosystem scan report
- Presentation of findings to Equimundo
- Executive summary and policy recommendations
- Annexes with methodology, typologies, and key informant insights
The final report will not exceed 40 pages (excluding annexes).
Methodology and Approach
The assignment will use a mixed-method research approach, including:
- Desk research and literature review
- Key informant interviews
- Digital ethnography and platform observation
- Narrative and discourse analysis
- Cross-platform ecosystem mapping
The methodology will be refined during the inception phase in collaboration with Equimundo.
Required Expertise and Qualifications
The consultant or team should bring strong expertise in digital research and gender-focused analysis.
Key requirements include:
- Minimum 4 years of experience in digital research or online harms analysis
- Experience with gendered disinformation, TFGBV, or online misogyny
- Strong qualitative research and reporting skills
- Ability to analyze digital ecosystems across platforms
- Regional language proficiency (e.g., Russian, Ukrainian, French, Kiswahili) preferred
- Experience working with civil society or research institutions
Preferred experience includes:
- Ecosystem scans or digital landscape analysis
- Work with grantmakers or international NGOs
- Knowledge of extremist or anti-rights digital ecosystems
- Rapid-turnaround research assignments
Governance and Reporting Structure
The consultant will work under Equimundo’s research leadership and follow strict oversight procedures:
- Weekly or bi-weekly check-ins
- Approval of all research tools and drafts
- Compliance with safeguarding and data protection standards
- Confidentiality of all research outputs
- Conflict-of-interest disclosure requirements
The work is governed by a do-no-harm and conflict-sensitive research framework.
Strategic Importance of the Initiative
This ecosystem scan is designed to directly shape how resources are allocated to combat online gender-based harms. Its impact includes:
- Improving understanding of digital gendered disinformation systems
- Informing global grantmaking strategies
- Strengthening interventions targeting harmful masculinities
- Supporting safer and more inclusive digital environments
- Enhancing policy and corporate accountability approaches
By combining research, digital analysis, and gender expertise, the initiative aims to reshape how online harm is understood and addressed.
Conclusion
The Digital Gendered Disinformation Ecosystems Scan is a high-level research initiative that sits at the intersection of gender justice, digital rights, and online safety. It provides critical evidence to support interventions that challenge harmful masculinities and reduce gender-based harm in digital spaces.
Through detailed ecosystem mapping and narrative analysis, the project aims to support more effective, context-specific responses to one of the fastest-growing challenges in the digital age.
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