Catalyst Public Policy Champions Programme

The Catalyst Public Policy Champions Programme is a fully-funded, intensive, international executive-style training aimed at enhancing policy-making on Technologically facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV). The Christchurch Call Foundation, under its Catalyst consortium, is funding this blended learning programme in partnership with the Hertie School and the VOX-Pol Institute.

Thematics 

Misogynistic online ecosystems, narratives of grievance, and gendered hate have been linked to radicalisation processes and extremist violence globally. Yet many governments and institutions lack the policy capacity needed to address this. This programme equips policymakers and practitioners with the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to design and implement effective responses to hybrid online harms intersecting with TFGBV. It aims to:

• Build sustained policy capacity to address the nexus between technology-facilitated gender-based violence and violent extremism.
• Strengthen evidence-informed policymaking to translate academic research into practical, context-specific policy solutions
• Develop advanced policy skills relevant to digital governance, online safety, and counter-extremism.
• Foster international cross-sector collaboration among government, civil society, tech platforms, and research communities.
• Prevent pathways to violent extremism through early prevention and disruption of escalation

Eligibility

Applicants should currently work in:

• The Government or public sector: Particularly in roles related to Digital policy, platform governance, or online safety, gender equality and prevention gender-based violence, counter terrorism and violent extremism prevention.
• International organisations engaged in policy development, norm-setting, or coordination.
• Technology sector, especially professionals working in Trust & Safety, policy development.
• Civil society organisations: Including practitioners/researchers working on online harms and digital safety, prevention and psychosocial support, feminist, survivor-centred, and marginalised social group advocacy.
• They should have a minimum, 3-4 years of relevant professional experience in a highly relevant field.

What the programme offers

• Blended learning: A combination of structured online learning, live seminars, and in-person executive training. An 8-week period between April and June 2026 with one 90-minute session a week, plus an five-day in-person traning in Berlin in August.
• Research-to-policy focus: Continuous engagement with cutting-edge research on TFGBV, digital subcultures, platform governance, and violent extremism.
• Applied, skills-based approach: Case studies, simulations, OSINT-informed analysis, and practical policy exercises.
• Peer learning and mentorship: Small-group work, expert clinics, and dual mentorship from academic and policy practitioners.
• Capstone projects: Participants develop concrete policy briefs or institutional roadmaps tailored to their professional context.

How to apply

Applicants must prepare their CV and a 90-second video explaining their motivation for applying to this programme. They should upload the files and submit the application using this form.

Applications should be sent no later than 20 February 2026, 23:59 CET. 

For more information, please visit this page.