In West Africa, as in the world over, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people have faced historic discrimination and marginalisation, as well as being the target of social and legal discrimination more recently. While support for local LGBTI rights activists is steadily increasing, West Africa as a region remains far under-resourced when it comes to funding for LGBTI movements. The additional challenge of lack of physical and social safe spaces, lack of support from broader movements for human rights, and discrimination in access to education and employment opportunities are among some challenges currently preventing the sustaining and growth of LGBTI organizing in West Africa. In this context, Voice issues this call for proposals for grants available to activist led NGOs and networks based in West Africa

Does your organisation have any experience resourcing the LGBTI movement in West Africa? Are you committed to nurturing a West African movement for equality and dignity for all? Do you have deep and extensive experience working with civil society groups across West Africa? Do you practice participatory, creative, and transformative approaches to Leave No One Behind? Are you driven by the principle of Nothing About Us Without Us (NOW-Us)? And, most importantly, do you promote inclusive innovation to catalyse transformative change?

If you and your organisation said yes to any of the questions above, Voice is looking for you!

 Who do we wish to fund?

We are accepting proposals from organisations based in West Africa where the Voice rightsholders groups and their organizations are in the driving seat, whether leading on their own, with allies, or exploring and co-creating solutions with others.  The organisations should be dedicated to resourcing and supporting the West African movements on LGBTI rights.

The successful network, consortium or organisation will support Voice to co-create a call for proposal, carry out a participatory grantee selection process, provide technical support in grantee partner management, and implement a needs-based capacity strengthening strategy for Voice and its partners.

Practicing the Values of Voice

Voice believes in the principle of Nothing About Us Without Us. In practice, this means Voice rightsholder groups need to be at the centre of any effort. They must be involved in the conceptualisation, planning, and implementation of any grant. They are equal partners in any consortium, network, or coalition, playing key governance and leadership roles.

Voice also supports initiatives investing in the wellbeing and mental health of people at the frontlines,  especially  the  rightsholders.  We  invite  and  encourage  applicants  to  explore  ways through which the project will allocate resources for fostering a sense of community support and  self-care,  which  can  further  enable  a  safer  and  more  open  environment  to  continue  the work in sensitive and high-risk contexts.

Linking and Learning

Linking and Learning is at the heart and soul of Voice. All grantee partners are expected to participate in facilitated meetings and gatherings enabling the exchange of ideas and learnings from each other’s experiences.  Applicants must demonstrate in their proposals how they will the implement a mindful inclusion capacity strengthening strategy for Oxfam and Voice country teams in Mali, Niger and Nigeria.

Voice values diversity and inclusion. All grantee partners are expected to be able to interact with and learn from a diverse group of people coming from different backgrounds, orientations, and experiences. Interested applicants must be willing to work in a diverse community, which includes representatives from all of the Voice rightsholder groups.