Cyber Allies Initiative

As digital access expands across Ethiopia, online spaces are becoming increasingly central to how people learn, work, connect, organise, and express themselves. But these same spaces can also become environments of intimidation, harassment, silencing, and harm. Women, young people, activists, journalists, public figures, and everyday internet users are all affected.

In response to this growing challenge, we’ve developed the ‘Cyber Allies’ initiative in partnership with Media Smart Youth Ethiopia.

About

The Cyber Allies initiative is designed to equip individuals – especially young people – with the knowledge, confidence, and practical tools to understand, prevent, document, and combat TFGBV. The project recognises that anyone can unintentionally contribute to online harm, but everyone also has the power to become part of the solution.

Through education, research, digital self-defence, and community action, Cyber Allies encourages people across Ethiopia to become “cyber allies”: informed digital citizens who can help create safer, more inclusive digital spaces for all.

Core pillars

The project is built around four core pillars:

Understand:

Learn what TFGBV is, how it manifests online, and how to recognise harmful behaviour and digital abuse.

Defend:

Develop practical digital safety skills through digital self-defence techniques that help protect privacy, security, and wellbeing online.

Expose:

Build evidence and understanding through simple research methods, digital investigations, and open-source research techniques.

Counter:

Take action by supporting survivors, challenging harmful behaviour, raising awareness, and contributing to safer online communities.

Our goal

Combating TFGBV requires awareness, prevention, and collective action at every level of society; from individuals and schools to institutions and policymakers. The project aims to localise knowledge and strengthen community-led responses by supporting a new generation of responsible technology users, digital defenders, researchers, educators, and advocates. Cyber Allies is not intended to be the final answer, but a starting point for wider conversations, stronger collaboration, and long-term change.

Together, we can help shape a digital future where technology protects dignity, strengthens participation, and creates safer spaces for everyone.

Attend the upcoming launch event

Launch webinar runs from 14:30 to 15:30 East Africa Time (12:30-13:30 BST) and is open to all.

Registration is required via the link below.

Sign up here

From Bystander to Ally: Six steps for safer online spaces

Read