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The deadline to apply has now passed.
If you can answer YES to the above three questions, please apply for our capacity development intervention programme using the online form at the bottom of this page. The deadline to apply is 23:59 BST, 10 April 2024.
We have secured funding from our institutional donors to deliver thematic Capacity Development Interventions (CDIs) to address the pressing learning and development needs of LGBTI+ and intersectional CSOs based in the Commonwealth Global South and East through two different programmes: the Respect, Mainstreaming and Realisation of LGBT+ Rights in the Commonwealth (RMR) Programme supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Supporting LGBTI+ Rights and Growth Efforts (S.U.R.G.E.) Programme supported by the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The thematic CDIs of these two programmes will be provided by experts in the following subject areas:
These thematic areas have been informed by the findings of our most recent Learning and Development Needs Assessment (LDNA), undertaken in November 2023 with the input of almost 100 different organisations from 39 countries, making it the largest structured analysis of Commonwealth LGBTI+ organisations of its type.
The design and delivery of the CDIs we are offering as part of this call are guided by learnings and feedback from participants and experts of previous thematic CDIs. One such learning is that the most impactful format of capacity development intervention is tailored one-on-one sessions between the expert(s) and participating organisations, as participating organisations are better able to shape the content of the CDI, connecting the learnings to their specific needs and putting them into practice almost immediately. This also means that all sessions between the expert(s) and the participating organisation will be with that organisation’s staff ONLY.
All CDI sessions will be highly interactive and participatory and conducted online. This also means that participating organisations will be expected to take part in all pre- and post-intervention evaluation surveys (to be undertaken by the expert or Kaleidoscope Trust) to gain a better understanding of their expectations and specific needs, but also to receive feedback from organisations about the quality of the delivered intervention.
The demand for this type of intervention is very high and we will prioritise participating organisations that can commit to the process in full. If a participating organisation is not able to fully commit to the CDI in the agreed conditions (other than for causes of force majeure) or does not attend scheduled sessions with the expert(s), We reserve the right to award the CDI to another organisation that is able to. The specific terms governing the delivery of the intervention will be clarified before the engagement begins. We understand that some organisations may have logistical issues with participating in the online sessions. Access is important to us, so we will work with partners to help address such barriers. Therefore, participating organisations that do not have regular data/internet services at their premises or do not have regular office space will be offered small one-off data reimbursements to attend the interventions.
We are expecting all interventions to be completed between April 2024 and December 2025. It should, however, be noted that some of the interventions have specific timelines or different geographical focuses, as not all CDI can be implemented everywhere and at the same time. When this is the case, a note is made under the CDI outline below.
Following completing the CDI, there will be an opportunity for funding for organisations interested in applying the learnings to their existing work. This funding will be competitively awarded based on an open call for proposals that will be announced at a later date.
Each organisation can apply for a maximum of two (2) different thematic interventions relevant to their context and needs. We therefore encourage applicants to prioritise interventions that would add critical value to their work, operations, and/or structure. We expect that approximately 35 organisations will be able to benefit from the interventions.
When applying, please indicate:
In addition, for those applying for CDIs with a focus on Asia and the Pacific, please indicate:
In order to ensure maximum impact, we will look to prioritise organisations that:
The deadline to apply has now passed.
About this training: This intervention aims to equip LGBTI+ organisations with expertise in how to better influence political decision-makers to bring positive changes to laws and policies relating to LGBTI+ people. The intervention will cover topics such as stakeholder analysis and effective engagement with decision-makers at the national parliamentary level and international and regional levels, and what role media can play in influencing decision-makers. Dependent on the region that participating organisations are a part of, this intervention will equip them with an understanding of how engaging with regional bodies, such as the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) can be leveraged to influence policy-makers at the national level. In addition, participating organisations, especially from Asia and the Pacific regions, will gain an understanding of how intersectional movement building can be facilitated through participation in international and regional civil society gatherings. Participating organisations will be supported to develop clear and measurable advocacy goals and provided with technical resources, including materials for effective advocacy and campaigning, and complete the intervention with a fully developed advocacy strategy, that will help them bring about positive changes to laws and policies relating to the rights of LGBTI+ people.
Suitable for: This intervention is suitable for organisations involved in legal advocacy for LGBTI+ people who want to better understand the impact of laws and how they can influence the legislative process. This intervention is for organisations from Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. Organisations from the latter two regions must be prepared to complete the intervention by the end of July 2024.
About the expert: Maya Linstrum-Newman is a trained lawyer who specialises in legal advocacy for small civil society organisations and grassroots activists. Throughout her legal and advocacy career, Maya supported various local civil society organisations to foster legal and policy changes at national, regional and international levels. Maya currently works for the Global Alliance against Traffic in Women where her role has involved leading the advocacy, media and policy work of the International Secretariat of an alliance of migrant rights organisations based in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Prior to this, Maya worked as their International Advocacy Officer where they delivered regional advocacy training in South Asia and Southeast Asia. Maya has also worked as an advocacy consultant at Reprieve where she provided online mentoring and support to death penalty abolition activists in sub-Saharan Africa, supporting relevant stakeholders to build an effective campaign for the abolition.
About this training: Post Legislative Scrutiny (PLS) is a process of evaluating the impact of a piece of legislation and whether its implementation meets its intended objectives. This intervention is intended as an introduction to the PLS process for CSOs with a dive into some of the PLS tools, including law mapping and analysis, law impact assessment, and stakeholder mapping and engagement. Participating organisations will be guided through the process of selecting relevant laws for scrutiny that meet the CSO’s priorities, and how to use the process to explore the impact of the law on their community. By the end of the intervention, participating organisations should have the necessary skills and understanding to continue their PLS work independently – on the same piece of legislation as well as any others that are relevant to the advocacy work of the organisation.
Suitable for: This intervention is suitable for organisations involved in legal advocacy for LGBTI+ people who want to better understand the impact of laws and how they can influence the legislative process. This intervention is for organisations from Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. Organisations from the latter two regions must be prepared to complete the intervention by the end of July 2024.
About the expert: Alicia Wallace has been the Director of Equality Bahamas, a feminist grassroots organisation that promotes women’s and LGBTI+ rights, for ten years, but her educational and advocacy work stretches far beyond the Caribbean region. Alicia holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Gender and Development from the University of the West Indies. She is experienced in movement building, programme and strategy development, research, and community engagement, and has worked as a consultant for a variety of international organisations, including FRIDA Youth Feminist Fund, International Women’s Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific, the Royal Commonwealth Society, the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, where she co-authored the Post-Legislative Scrutiny: From a Model for Parliamentarians to a CSO Strategic Operational Tool, and consulted under the Equality and Justice Alliance project to co-author theToolkit on Youth Engagement in Legal Reform for Commonwealth Parliamentarians.
About this training: This intervention aims to enhance the advocacy and campaigning skills of participating organisations through enhancing their understanding of the foundations of advocacy, legal frameworks, and communications and campaigning techniques. A component of this intervention has a specific focus on legal and policy advocacy, which focuses on themes such as: techniques for effectively documenting human rights violations, using legal systems to advance human rights, conducting policy analysis, and how to evaluate and influence legal reform post-implementation. The intervention will also assist the participating organisation in crafting messages, choosing mediums, and combating anti-gender narratives for media campaigns with the objective of developing a mini-campaign to address an area identified in their advocacy strategy.
Suitable for: This intervention is suitable for organisations with various levels of experience with legal and policy advocacy, however, it is most suitable for those seeking to develop their current advocacy and sensitisation efforts for LGBTI+ communities. This intervention is for organisations from Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. Organisations from the latter two regions must be prepared to complete the intervention by the end of July 2024.
About the experts: Anthony Oluoch is a programme manager and policy specialist with a background in law and psychology. Anthony has worked with organisations such as UNDP and Pan Africa ILGA, focusing on strengthening LGBTI+ societies in Africa through advocacy and capacity building. As the former Executive Director of Gay Kenya Trust, he led initiatives promoting equity and nondiscrimination. His expertise lies in human rights, social justice, policy development, strategic planning, and project management. Anthony has also contributed to publications addressing LGBTI+ rights and visibility in Africa, including a section in the Kaleidoscope Trust publication “Speaking Out: The rights of LGBTI citizens from across the Commonwealth”.
Eric Gitari, a Doctor of Juridical Science candidate at Harvard Law School, brings extensive expertise in international law and human rights advocacy. He has served as Executive Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission in Nairobi, leading strategic litigation and advocacy efforts. Eric’s experience includes lecturing at the Boston University School of Law and contributing to reports on hate crimes and LGBTI+ rights violations. Eric holds a strong academic background, with degrees from Harvard Law School and the University of Nairobi, specialising in international law, human rights, and comparative constitutional law.
About this training: The intervention aims to enhance participating organisations’ capacity in understanding and implementing effective persuasion campaigns and strategic communication, including learning new campaigning techniques and approaches to tackle basic factors of attitude change, design narrative and mobilisation strategies, and counter disinformation. The methodology involves 1-1 mentoring, emphasising flexibility and responsiveness to participating organisations’ needs. By employing a clinic-like approach, the intervention seeks to provide tailored support, address organisational capacities, and ensure strategic discussions align with contextual challenges of participating organisations, ultimately enhancing their ability to design and execute impactful public campaigns.
Suitable for: This intervention targets campaign managers, campaign officers, communication officers and all people involved in designing and carrying out public campaigning and strategic communication. This intervention is for organisations from Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. However, organisations from the latter two regions must be prepared to complete the intervention by the end of July 2024.
About the experts: Joel Bedos is the driving force behind the Sogicampaigns project, a training and resource centre on creative public campaigning. Joel specialises in communications, narrative building, framing and values-based approaches.
Otieno Peter Odongo is a strategic communications practitioner, leading Sogicampaign’s Africa Project, fostering strategic communications capacities in eight African countries. With consulting experience for the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, Otieno specialises in institutional systems strengthening, participatory action research, and gender and rights research.
Mariano Ruiz is the founder and director of Derechos Humanos y Diversidad, an Argentina-based initiative stemming from the Sogicampaigns project. Mariano developed a fellowship program for human rights defenders, equipping them with tools to combat anti-LGBTI+ narratives.
About this training: This intervention aims to enable effective outreach and sensitisation of key stakeholders, particularly decision-makers, focusing raising issues around LGBTI+ rights and inclusion. The objectives include development of stakeholder maps, effective stakeholder engagement strategies, and sensitisation methods for service providers. Participating organisations will co-create a programme focussing on their specific organisational needs and goals. The outcomes include that participant organisations will create outreach materials, develop a timeline with milestones related to each of the identified stakeholders, and acquire skills in evaluating the effectiveness of their outreach and sensitisation efforts. The program emphasises participant involvement, ownership, and sustainability in promoting LGBTI+ rights and combating discrimination.
Suitable for: This intervention is suitable for organisations from LGBTI+ organisations providing sensitisation to key stakeholders including decision makers on LGBTI+ rights. This intervention is suitable for organisations from Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. However, organisations from the latter two regions must be prepared to complete the intervention by the end of July 2024.
About the expert: Brindaalakshmi K is a queer-feminist research and advocacy professional specialising in gender, sexuality, human rights and technology. They have extensive experience in advocacy, training and community work, primarily in South Asia and they have conducted capacity building for marginalised communities including the LGBTI+ community. They recently designed and led a capacity strengthening programme for the South Asia edition of Astraea Lesbian Foundation For Justice’s CommsLab programme, delivering workshops on digital security and LGBTI+ legal and policy developments for over 150 LGBTI+ activists from 50+ CSOs in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh over 2 project cycles. Brindaalakshmi has also facilitated sessions for Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) as part of its Diversity Academy (modules include ‘How to be an ally for Trans People’, and ‘Diversity, Discrimination, Bias: A Beginner’s Guide to Social Justice’) as well as sessions for members of Society of Gender Professionals (topics include ‘Inclusive Data Collection’, and ‘Digital Technology and Data Concerns of LGBTIQA+ persons’). In addition, they have been involved in advocacy efforts related to the rights of gender and sexual minorities contributing to the draft of the Tamil Nadu LGBTQI policy – India’s first LGBTQI policy, having been the only representative from the LBQ+ spectrum to contribute to the state consultation on the policy.
About this training: This intervention will help participating organisations learn about and develop facilitation techniques and tools that foster empathy and solidarity-based attitudes and support for their causes. Some of these facilitation techniques are instrumental in breaking down barriers, building connections, and mobilising support in ways that honour the agency and dignity of LGBTI+ individuals and communities. Beyond the purely practical, a key aspect of the intervention will be to look at problematic heteronormative structures and systems – areas such as changes in gender roles, binary assumptions, how to talk about effects of discrimination and exclusion through storytelling techniques, and the exploration and breaking down of stereotypes. The intervention will work towards helping participating organisations develop a stakeholder sensitisation workshop or training that they will be able to use after the intervention.
Suitable for: This intervention is for organisations seeking to improve their sensitisation efforts through improved facilitation skills and techniques to positively influence various stakeholders. This intervention is for organisations from Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. Organisations from the latter two regions must be prepared to complete the intervention by the end of July 2024.
About the expert: Lisa Katharina Oelschlegel has over six years of experience working in the field of international development and in the academic sector, including through her collaborations with LGBTI+ and women’s rights organisations in Central America. She has extensive experience in the design and facilitation of capacity-building sessions and workshops on topics including gender and sexual diversity and mental health, and working with survivors of violence and discrimination. She is about to complete her M.Sc. in Psychology of Global Mobility, Inclusion and Diversity in Society and has an MA in Peace and Conflict Studies.
About the training: This intervention aims to promote effective inclusion and outreach to LGBTI+ communities with intersecting identities, with a focus on including older people and persons with disabilities. The intervention introduces key principles and concepts, including intersectionality, issues older people and persons with disabilities face, and opportunities to apply intersectionality to address the unique needs and challenges of LGBTI+ people from these and other communities. Organisations will also be assisted in applying the principles learnt to real-life situations through developing a draft project, research, or organisational plan aimed at strengthening outreach to older people and people with disabilities.
Suitable for: This intervention is suitable for all organisations who would like to learn how to engage with, or improve their current level of engagement with older age communities and disabled people. This intervention is suitable for organisations from Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific. However, organisations from the latter two regions must be prepared to complete the intervention by the end of July 2024.
About the experts: Sion Jones brings 15 years of experience in collaborating with civil society and community-based organisations on inclusion and social justice, with specific expertise in capacity building, partnership development, and advocacy strategies. Sion’s work particularly focuses on intersectionality, including age, disability, poverty, and gender and has engaged with UN agencies like UN-Habitat and the World Health Organisation, and has also engaged with civil society organisations working on LGBTI+ issues in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Sion has an extensive portfolio of work with people of older ages, including through their consultancy project for HelpAge International titled ‘Voice of Older People’ in which they highlighted the voice and rights of older people in relation to inclusion in community spaces, policies, and public transportation. Another project they have worked on includes a consultancy for Amnesty International where they developed an advocacy strategy that highlighted the human rights violations older people face globally. Passionate about global LGBTI+ issues, he actively supports grassroots organisations in the Global South, aiming to empower them to enact positive change for LGBTI+ individuals and communities.
Angel Perez brings extensive experience in engaging with civil society organisations in the Global South, specialising in needs analysis and capacity-building activities. With expertise in disability inclusion, gender, and queer studies, Angel serves as an accessibility and inclusion consultant under Asamper Inclusion. He is supporting Humanity and Inclusion (HI) promoting inclusive practices across diverse organisations and programs. Angel is also a member of the International Association of Accessibility Practitioners and his background in sociology, disability, and queer studies informs projects aimed at improving access to education and employment services for disabled individuals. He is also a member of ATscale Technical Advisory Group Technical Advisory supporting them in their strategic approach to disabled users engagement. Angel has also collaborated with various prominent organisations, including the International Disability Alliance, Humanity and Inclusion, Leonard Cheshire Disability, UCL, and The World Bank.
This intervention is only open to participants from Asia and the Pacific regions.
About the training: This intervention aims to develop organisational capacity to effectively engage with marginalised groups. By embracing an intersectional approach, it aims to address the diverse needs and experiences of disadvantaged populations, people living with HIV, migrants, and climate-affected communities. Participating organisations will gain theoretical knowledge and practical strategies to address intersectional stigma and discrimination effectively. The objectives include equipping participating organisations with a theoretical understanding of stigma and discrimination, showcasing diverse realities through case studies, exploring community engagement techniques, and discussing ways to integrate the unique needs of marginalised groups into organisational strategies. Outcomes sought after include enhanced awareness of intersectional issues, improved outreach strategies tailored to diverse identities, and the development of culturally-sensitive approaches to support marginalised communities effectively. Ultimately, the intervention aims to ensure that organisations recognise and address the multiple oppressions experienced by marginalised populations, leading to more inclusive and impactful advocacy and support efforts.
Suitable for: This intervention is suitable for organisations with various levels of experience with outreach of communities affected by intersectional discrimination, however, it is most suitable for those who are seeking to expand on their current understanding of who the disadvantaged groups are and how they can be supported effectively in their specific contexts. This intervention is for organisations based in Asia and the Pacific and must be completed by the end of July 2024.
About the expert: Diego Garcia Rodriguez is a Spanish queer scholar specialising in gender and sexuality studies. Diego has expertise in qualitative and mixed-methods research methodologies, focusing on marginalised communities such as LGBTI+ individuals, people living with HIV, and homeless populations. Currently a Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham, Diego collaborates with marginalised groups and organisations on advocacy and outreach projects. Diego also lectures at the University of Sussex, UK and has extensive experience spanning CSO, academic, and public sectors, including international organisations and consultancy work. Diego was consulted by Kaleidoscope Trust in 2023 to conduct a Learning and Development Needs Assessment (LDNA) and this assessment identified emerging challenges and needs of CSOs in the Commonwealth.
About this training: Realistic and effective setting up and operationalisation of monitoring, learning, and evaluation frameworks and tools that go well with participating organisations’ unique needs and levels of development will be the key focus of this intervention. Apart from improving their current MEL capacities, participating organisations will be offered an opportunity to build on new approaches and practices that would help them evaluate and plan their advocacy work more effectively including by feeding into their strategies the most relevant observations and lessons learnt. The intervention will cover topics such as i) impact evaluation methods, results frameworks and programme strategies that improve legitimacy, ii) effectiveness and impact of civil society work, iii) effective outcome reporting for donors, trustees, and the LGBTI+ community, and iv) bespoken MEL tools to support data collection, evaluation and learning.
Suitable for: This intervention is suitable for organisations that are new to the MEL process or have a basic understanding and need to strengthen their current MEL practices in order to effectively implement monitoring, evaluation and learning practices and have a desire to effectively track and communicate the impact of their work. This intervention is suitable for organisations from Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. However, organisations from the latter two regions must be prepared to complete the intervention by the end of July 2024.
About the experts: Organisation Development Support (ODS) is a consultancy team made up of an international and diverse team working exclusively with non-profit initiatives on their organisational development, monitoring & evaluation, strategy and research, ensuring that their practice integrates the lenses of decolonisation, anti-racism, feminism, intersectionality and wellbeing. The ODS team has extensive experience working with a variety of vulnerable groups around the world including through clients such as ILGA-Europe, IGLYO, Mama Cash, IPPF, Women4Biodiversity, Oxfam and Plan International.
Lisa-Marie Salley specialises in designing and managing feminist research and evaluation projects. With an educational thematic background in human rights, she has strong expertise in ethical data collection and has built MEL frameworks and supported capacity building in MEL with ILGA Europe, WITNESS, Front Line Defenders, End FGM EU, and the Peace and Security Funders Group. She brings the knowledge and experience to support CSOs to develop effective outcome reporting for donors, trustees, and the LGBTI+ community as well as the right MEL tools to ensure consistent data collection, evaluation and learning.
Andrés Narros Lluch has a Ph.D in Anthropology of Development and has extensive experience supporting local CSOs in the Global South, including South East Asia and South America, specifically in intersectional, participatory, and community-led MEL. He has also conducted extensive impact evaluations unfolding alternative methods to capture what is hidden and challenge power dynamics in the sector. He has used MEL and research findings as the spearhead to identify key issues and provide evidence to shape strategic directions of future programs aiming to improve legitimacy, effectiveness and impact of civil society work.
About this training: Tailored to the organisation’s needs, the intervention is intended for organisations seeking to improve their MEL capabilities. The intervention will include a variety of themes to meet the unique needs of participating organisations, including applying an intersectional lens to the project cycle and MEL, LGBTI+ specific indicators and intersectional context analysis, developing advanced MEL frameworks tailored to LGBTI+ advocacy and support programs, and data collection techniques in an LGBTI+ context. Beyond the effective data analysis and interpretation, the intervention will explore effective outcome reporting and dissemination strategies, and build an organisational culture of learning.
Suitable for: This intervention is intended for organisations looking to improve their MEL capabilities to make better use of data in their advocacy and campaigning while ensuring an intersectional and inclusive approach. This intervention is for organisations from Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. Organisations from the latter two regions must be prepared to complete the intervention by the end of July 2024.
About the expert: Nathalia Riabova is a management consultant and MEL expert with over 20 years of experience in international development and civil society. With an approach focused on inclusivity and empowerment, her work aims to include a diversity of voices in the evaluation process. An experienced provider of capacity development opportunities, including with Kaleidoscope Trust and The Commonwealth Equality Network, she brings with her strong experience in designing and implementing intersectional, participatory, and community-led MEL frameworks. She has a wealth of experience in impact evaluations and needs assessments, using a variety of methods that are particularly well suited for MEL related to lobbying and advocacy. She is currently working for the ‘EU4GenderEquality: Reform Helpdesk’, a programme that provides gender analysis and advises governments and EU delegates in Eastern Partnership countries and also as Monitoring and Evaluation Expert for the Goethe-Institut in Germany and Lithuania. She holds a Master of Business Administration from the Belarusian Institute of Business and Management Technology.
About this training: The intervention’s key objective is to tackle staff burnout by exploring how burnout impacts individuals and the organisation, what personality traits and stress responses can contribute to staff burnout, strategies for effective communication, conflict resolution, staff engagement, burnout mitigation, health workplace policies and wellness programmes. The intervention intends to raise awareness and comprehension of staff burnout, enhance participating organisations’ knowledge and ability to develop relevant and effective burnout mitigation strategies, and wellness plans and policies. It involves monitoring organisational progress in implementing these plans and reporting on the short-term intervention’s impact. The intervention will provide supplementary support materials and specific recommendations on how to manage stress and address burnout as part of their ongoing efforts. Ultimately, the intervention aims to bolster organisational capacity to identify, prevent, and manage burnout, thereby enhancing staff well-being and organisational efficiency.
Suitable for: This intervention is suitable for organisations who are seeking to manage staff burnout and boost general staff wellbeing. This intervention is for organisations from Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. However, organisations from the latter two regions must be prepared to complete the intervention by the end of July 2024.
About the expert: Christaneisha (Christa) Soleyn has been committed to mental health initiatives for a decade. Christa brings extensive experience as a clinical psychologist, project manager, and educator with a speciality in counselling, assessments and organisational capacity development. Christa is currently a lecturer at the Barbados Community College delivering modules on trauma awareness, the impact of trauma, screening and assessment and psychological first aid. She is also a student psychologist at the American University of Barbados. Having previously collaborated with Kaleidoscope Trust, providing Burnout Capacity Development Interventions, Christa is dedicated to supporting marginalised populations, particularly the LGBTI+ community and those living with HIV. community and those living with HIV.
About this training: The intervention will provide participating organisations with practical tools and necessary insights to develop self-awareness and self-care strategies that will empower their staff and volunteers to effectively maintain their own well-being while facing the challenges of advocacy and campaigning. The importance of self-care and various mindfulness practices will be explored to help promote awareness of the body, thoughts, and feelings, leading to improved relaxation and self-awareness. Emotions will be investigated – including the importance of acknowledging them rather than ignoring them. The working situations of participating organisations will be looked at, to identify the challenges of working in their field of activism and to reconnect with what motivates them in their work. The intervention will provide an opportunity for sharing tips for self-understanding, care, and awareness, and the value and benefits of practices such as silence, self-expression, spending meaningful time in nature, and positive social connections will be explored.
Suitable for: This intervention is suitable for organisations that seek to improve their staff and volunteers’ self-awareness, promote self-care, and foster harmonious relationships within their teams – all with the aim of better facing the challenges of activism. This intervention is for organisations from Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. Organisations from the latter two regions must be prepared to complete the intervention by the end of July 2024.
About the expert: Mélanie Vigier de Latour-Bérenger is an experienced social psychologist and dedicated activist with over 25 years of involvement in advocacy and campaigning for the rights of children, women, and LGBTI+ people in the Republic of Mauritius. During this time she has seen first-hand the vital importance of self-care for those involved in advocacy and activism in a patriarchal and prejudiced society – to cope with its challenges, and to remain effective and resilient. This has equipped Mélanie with a wide range of tools to foster well-being and self-care. During this period she has trained thousands of people, including activists, social workers, government officials, law enforcement officials, students, and teachers, in topics ranging from interpersonal communication to domestic and sexual violence, from stress management to conflict management. During her career, Mélanie has been involved in legal reform and human rights advocacy, including with Kolektif Drwa Imin (KDI, a national intersectional human rights collective of CSOs) where she has campaigned for more inclusive laws relating to gender-based violence, gender equality, and children’s rights.
About the training: Financial management is key to any organisation’s success. This intervention will look at core concepts and principles of organisational financial management, including creating and managing a master budget of an organisation – a critical tool for effective financial planning and control, and how to prepare comprehensive annual reports and financial statements. As part of the intervention, participating organisations will be guided in developing and implementing robust financial policies and procedures. Various types of financial analysis tools, including cash flow analysis and ratio analysis will also be explored to support informed decision-making and demonstrate the organisation’s financial health. The intervention will also help participating organisations improve their knowledge of various types of fundraising, including traditional methods and online fundraising, such as crowdfunding. Participating organisations will learn how to analyse their fundraising landscape, through donor mapping and a better understanding of philanthropic behaviour, and will be guided in developing a customised fundraising strategy tailored to their organisation’s mission and needs, exploring ways to convey an organisation’s mission and impact to donors and supporters.
Suitable for: This intervention is suitable for organisations that seek to become better acquainted with tools that can advance their financial management and resource mobilisation efforts to improve their advocacy work and service delivery to their communities. This intervention is for organisations from Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. Organisations from the latter two regions must be prepared to complete the intervention by the end of July 2024.
About the expert: Shatyam Raze Issur is a trained lawyer, consultant, and committed advocate of LGBTI+ rights in the Republic of Mauritius. He possesses a wide range of expertise including human rights advocacy, HIV and HCV activism, youth participation, fundraising, and grant-making. Shatyam has worked as a consultant with organisations in a number of countries, including the African Women’s Development Fund, Y+ Global, and Youth RISE. Their dedication and commitment to LGBTI+ rights advocacy are evidenced by their leadership of Collectif Urgence Toxida, and being a board member of several Mauritius LGBTI+ organisations, including CAEC, and AILES, as well as the International Council of AIDS Service Organizations in Canada. They have put their strong fundraising experience to good use by putting together financial sustainability strategies for various organisations, and by carrying out training and workshops, helping organisations expand their funding base and achieve financial goals.
About this training:
Effective organisational leadership, management, and governance are essential to an organisation’s functioning and sustainability, and this intervention will look at best practices and key factors contributing to these. The governance body, such as a board of directors or trustees, its role and responsibilities will be explored, with relevant guidance given on legal requirements, decision-making processes, conflict resolution, and accountability mechanisms. The ongoing running of the organisation sits with the management team and its composition, members’ skills, and teamwork will also be looked at, including how they impact the organisation’s mission, and what policies and procedures need to be in place to ensure the organisation runs as intended and is accountable to its communities. Already existing policies and procedures, such as financial and human resource policies, and administrative and grants manuals, and operational and strategic plans will be reviewed, and recommendations will be given to address any gaps identified. If there are any key documents that are missing, the experts will help develop friendly and easy to use documents, with collaboration and feedback from the participating organisation, leading to not only a stronger and more transparent organisation, but also ensuring they can meet donor due diligence requirements.
Suitable for: Organisations that seek to review and enhance their governance, managerial, and oversight structures, to maximise the organisation’s effectiveness, and improve its sustainability. This intervention is for organisations from Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific regions. Organisations from the latter two regions must be prepared to complete the intervention by the end of July 2024.
About the experts: GrantsHub Services is a majority women-owned and led consulting firm with extensive experience in strategic programming, financial management, and leadership.
Caroline Kariuki has extensive experience and expertise in financial and grant management, strategic and programme management, institutional capacity building, and people management. She has worked as the Director of Finance and Grants at Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa, as the Finance Manager at Oxfam International, and as the Regional Finance and Administrator Manager at HelpAge International. She currently serves as the Country Champion for IFR4NPO Kenya and is also a facilitator with the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya.
Wairu Kinyori-Gugu is a feminist, social justice practitioner, and advocate of the High Court of Kenya. She brings a wide range of experience in human rights, philanthropy, and civil society strengthening, including resource mobilisation, strategy development, policy influencing, and advocacy. She has worked as the Programme Director at Oxfam International in Kenya and currently serves on various boards, including the Center for Rights Education and Awareness.
Mburu Gitu is a human rights lawyer and advocate of the High Court of Kenya with extensive experience in organisational development, strategy and programme design and implementation, MEL and research. He is a former Executive Director of the Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa and was previously Secretary of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights and senior policy officer at the Netherlands Embassy. He serves on several boards, including Protection International Africa.
This intervention is only open to participants from Asia and the Pacific regions.
About the training: This intervention is designed to address the need for enhanced research capabilities within participating organisations, focusing on the implementation of participatory and inclusive research methodologies. The process begins with thorough consultations to assess the existing research capacity and organisational strategies of each participant. Based on these assessments, customised interventions will be developed, covering a range of topics including participatory action research, community-based research design, and mixed methods data collection and analysis. The primary objectives of the intervention include raising organisational awareness of various research methodologies, improving skills related to data collection and analysis, and facilitating the development of organisation-specific research plans.
Suitable for: This intervention is suitable for all organisations seeking to improve their research capabilities. This intervention is suitable for organisations from Asia and the Pacific and must be completed by the end of July 2024.
About the expert: Chae Yeon Kim is a transnational Korean American specialist in monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning for intersectional peace and justice, particularly supporting social movements. Chae has experience working with UN agencies including International Organisation for Migration where they served as a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer. They have also worked as a Research Advisor for the CIVICUS Youth Action Team where they provided services in participatory research, quantitative & qualitative data collection and analysis. Skilled in qualitative and quantitative research, data analysis, and report writing, Chae seeks to advance LGBTI+ rights and well-being in the Asia Pacific region. With a master’s degree in Development Studies, Chae brings a wealth of experience in advancing social inclusion and peacebuilding.
This intervention is only open to participants from Africa and the Americas.
About this training: Research is a key tool for advocacy, and this intervention will explore its role and benefits for LGBTI+ organisations. The intervention will look at the steps involved in research – from design, literature review, ethical considerations, and execution, to analysis, reporting, and dissemination. The intervention will provide participating organisations with the opportunity to explore different research concepts and methodologies, including research for law and policy advocacy, decolonising research methods, and intersectional, feminist, participatory, and community-led research. Participating organisations will learn how to evaluate research findings and communicate them through their advocacy and campaigning with the public and relevant stakeholders.
Suitable for: This intervention is intended for organisations seeking to improve their research efforts, exploring various research concepts and methods and how to better use the data in their advocacy and campaigning. This intervention is for organisations from Africa and the Americas.
About the expert: Nastassia Rambarran is completing a PhD in Sociology from the University of Glasgow; she has a Master’s in Public Health from the University of London and a postgraduate certificate in LGBT Health Policy and Practice from George Washington University. She has worked as a consultant, lecturer, presenter, and facilitator with a wide range of government agencies and civil society organisations, working to promote and improve the rights of LGBTI+ people in the Caribbean region, including ECADE, Equals, the Barbados LGBTQ+ Coalition, SASOD, the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition, and the Barbados Ministry of Health. With over ten years of experience in designing and leading research projects, she has a number of her works published in the Journal of Lesbian Studies, the International Journal of Sexual Studies, and the Journal of Homosexuality. She has designed and conducted capacity development and sensitisation programmes for various government agencies and human rights and social justice organisations on a variety of topics including decolonisation, mental health, trans rights, anti-racism, and HIV.
About this training: Tailored to meet the organisation’s specific needs, the intervention will help participating organisations expand and improve their safety and security awareness and practices. The intervention will be instrumental for participating organisations to understand their working contexts, the capacity of adversaries and their interests, threat models, risk assessment, preventative and emergency planning with additional digital security elements around compartmentalisation and the necessary software to make that compartmentalisation possible. Covering both digital and physical security and where they overlap, the varied nature of both types of threats will also be explored, helping organisations better understand the context in which they operate and the necessary steps to effectively conduct risk assessments and mitigation strategies planning. Once security measures are in place, it is important that these are monitored and evaluated to maintain their effectiveness and make changes when needed, and appropriate methods of doing this will be shared during the session.
Suitable for: This intervention is intended for organisations seeking to improve their understanding, capacity, and management of physical and digital safety and security for their staff and community members and the data they hold, in contexts where all of these may be at risk. This intervention is for organisations from Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific regions.
About the experts: Shaun Martinez and Susana Sanz have over 25 years of experience in the field of human rights and security and have worked as a team of consultants with ILGA Asia, ILGA World, the Coalition of African Lesbians, and Urgent Action Fund Asia, among others.
Shaun Martinez is an experienced trainer and has worked as a consultant with UNDP in Bangkok and the International Commission of Jurists in Geneva designing and advising on LGBTI+-focused educational and movement-building programmes. He was an Asia Representative with Protection International for a number of years during which he researched and co-authored their LGBTI Defenders Protection Manual. Most recently he has been working as the LGBTIQ+ Technical Advisor at Westminster Foundation for Democracy and as the Security and Protection Consultant at Open Briefing. He holds postgraduate degrees in Law, Human Rights and Crisis Management.
Susana Sanz is an accomplished digital security consultant and trainer and has worked in these capacities with Open Briefing, FreePress Unlimited, and Transitional Institute. She is a co-founder of a Spanish whistleblowing and investigative journalism platform, Filtrala, a certified Cyber Security Technician, and has been trained in open source investigation by Bellingcat. One of her strengths is the sharing of technical information in simple terms, helping people understand and retain more.
About this training: The intervention will help participating organisations improve their understanding of effective strategies when it comes to crisis management, including how to communicate in response to anti-LGBTI+ propaganda, such as during a country’s election time. Participating organisations will also learn about various emergency response mechanisms and ways to conduct opposition monitoring, in order to capture the views of various political actors and decision-makers on LGBTI+ issues. Some aspects of digital security will also be explored as part of the intervention, specifically when using Meta platforms that are most popular for community mobilisation and public campaigning among social justice movements but also anti-LGBTI+ rights groups. These topics are seen as highly important and relevant at this crucial point in global LGBTI+ organising to effectively combat the rollback of LGBTI+ rights.
Suitable for: This intervention is intended for organisations seeking to strengthen their internal safety and security planning and prepare for situations requiring an urgent response, and to better understand their political landscapes. This intervention is for organisations from Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.
About the experts: Athena Consulting is a feminist, black women-owned and led company formed by an international team of experts and professionals, with over 20 years of combined experience. They have worked with stakeholders including law enforcement, faith leaders, and law and policy makers. They have designed and conducted capacity development interventions in a variety of queer contexts, and have worked with organisations including the Coalition of African Lesbians, Outright International, HIVOS, and the Global Interfaith Network.
Mino Likwasi (They/Them) is an experienced programme manager, and specialist in business and organisational development. They have been an activist for over 10 years. They are the CEO and founding consultant of Athena Consulting. They are also currently working as a consultant on SOGIE themes with the Global Interfaith Network across Kenya, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Indonesia, and also as a consultant Programmes and Operations Manager with Women’s Alliance for Equality Limited in Zambia.
Abbey J. Hudson is a digital media specialist with experience in content creation, social media management, media for advocacy, and online risks and threats monitoring. In addition to consultancy work, they have worked as an in-house media and content creator for the AIDS Foundation of South Africa and the Global Interfaith Network.
Anish Gawande is a former Rhodes Scholar, with a Masters in Public Policy and in Intellectual History – both from the University of Oxford. Anish is experienced in opposition monitoring through his work as an electoral campaign manager in Mumbai and a founder of Pink List India, an archive of political support for LGBTI+ rights, and which is now a fully-fledged queer community organisation that focuses on political monitoring.
LGBTI+ organisations in the following Commonwealth countries are eligible to apply: Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Cameroon, Dominica, eSwatini, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia.
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