Building Foundations for the Future

As we close out the Respect, Mainstreaming and Realisation of LGBTI+ Rights in the  Commonwealth (RMR) programme which has been supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Australia, I’ve been reflecting on the significance of what has been achieved by the civil society organisations we’ve been proud to work alongside.

The programme was designed to strengthen the foundations required to secure and advance the rights of LGBTI+ people across the Commonwealth. That included investing in the infrastructure of civil society, building the strategic capability of The Commonwealth Equality Network (TCEN), and generating the evidence and relationships needed to shift policy and public discourse. These were ambitious goals, and they played out in a complex and often unpredictable political and economic climate. Yet despite this, the work has delivered meaningful and lasting impact.

Strengthening a Network for Collective Action

When this programme began, TCEN was in a phase of early development. It was already an active and engaged network, but its structures were still taking shape. This programme supported its transition from a developing coalition of member organisations into a more resilient and strategic member-led platform.

A major milestone achieved through this work was the implementation of TCEN’s 2022–2025 Strategy, followed by the co-development of the draft 2025–2028 Strategy. This reflected the diverse contexts and advocacy needs of members. The Secretariat team, recruited at the outset of the programme, played a central role in ensuring the network could deliver on its objectives.

Another key achievement was the successful delivery of the 2024 Global Convening, a well-attended event that enabled members to exchange and co-create knowledge, exercise governance and ownership of the network, and collectively set its future strategic direction. A peer-to-peer capacity development strategy was developed and piloted under the programme, and is ready to be rolled out implemented with members in the coming months. The network is now better placed to advocate collectively at a time where now more than ever our community is under threat.

Investing in Local Capacity

Another core part of the programme focused on strengthening civil society in the Asia-Pacific through targeted financial and technical support. Drawing on KT’s Learning and Development Needs Assessment (LDNA) and working closely with partners, we conducted 12 capacity development initiatives (CDIs) that were directly tailored to organisational needs, priorities and self-identified capacity gaps.

This approach wasn’t just about building technical skills such as in research, monitoring and impact, or intersectional advocacy, but also about supporting organisations to translate this learning into action. In Bangladesh, for instance, Affasa conducted a study on intersex indigenous communities. In Samoa, Brown Girl Woke used storytelling to increase understanding and acceptance of gender diversity. These are just two examples that underline the power of context-responsive capacity development.

Complementing this work, we issued 12 sub-grants to support national and regional advocacy. These enabled CSOs to generate community-led research, strengthen organisational infrastructure, and engage key stakeholders. Across all activities, more than 3,500 people were directly reached. Several organisations used this support to produce new forms of evidence to drive advocacy or shift public discourse, such as Payana’s report on queer people forced into heterosexual marriages in India, or EQUAL GROUND’s research on intersex communities in Sri Lanka. 

Creating Strategic Opportunities for Engagement

Finally, the programme focused on creating the conditions for sustained engagement between LGBTI+ CSOs and civic or political stakeholders. Through TCEN, over 60 high-level engagements were facilitated at forums such as CHOGM 2022 and 2024, leading to the inclusion of LGBTI+-affirming language in key outcome documents and new commitments to resource LGBTI+ organisations. Analytical briefings developed during the project, including on climate change, sport, and online harm, all helped deepen the evidence base for advocacy, and informed future strategies. 

Looking Ahead

The results of this programme represent the culmination of years of effort, but also a stepping stone toward longer-term goals. Our infrastructure is stronger, our network and community is more cohesive, and the partner organisations we support are better equipped to navigate increasingly difficult operating environments.

As we look to the future, the need for sustained investment is clear. The rollback of rights globally and the intensification of anti-rights agendas are ongoing and well-organised. Responding effectively will require continued partnership, flexible funding, and support mechanisms that are rooted in the realities of local organising.

The RMR Programme has helped build the conditions in which this work can continue. Our challenge now is to not just protect those gains, but build something even stronger.