France, the Netherlands, Norway and four NGOs (IDAHO, ILGA, Amnesty International and FIDH) joined forces in 2010 to set up an International "Human Rights, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity" Support Fund. The aim of this unique fund, operated by Expertise France on behalf of the French government, is to bring together the many agencies involved in combating homophobia and transphobia (both public and private) and to support local initiatives in countries where the issue of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity is considered too sensitive for open public debate, and thus where the scope of action for civil society is severely curtailed.
Subsidies are allocated following international call for proposals open to all civil society organisations, with no geographic restriction.
An initial international call for projects to decriminalise homosexuality and defend freedom of expression resulted in the selection in 2011 of three cooperation projects, in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. An second international call for projects was launched in 2013, and 4 civil society organisations in Togo, Vietnam, Philippines and Georgia received a grant.
The Fund focuses its support on projects conducted in countries where the issue of sexual orientation and gender identity is a sensitive one.
The mainly targeted actions are:
• Identification of violence, protection and defence actions
• Advocacy for the decriminalization of homosexuality and for the adoption, improvement and better application of legislation
• Capacity-building of structures working to defend and promote the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people (LGBTI)
• Information and awareness raising to further non-discrimination and understanding towards LGBTI populations.
The LGBTI Fund is designed to be a flexible financing tool that meets procedures suited to the difficulties often encountered by the organizations concerned (legal non-recognition, difficulty in receiving financing, limited management capacities, and so on). Whether in selecting projects through calls for projects or in monitoring them, proximity to recipients of subsidies is preferred with a view to setting up partnerships and promoting capacity-building.
The Fund’s Steering Committee is made up of donors and of representatives of civil society (NGOs specializing in LGBTI and NGOs working to promote and protect human rights). These parties decide with an equality of voices between them the Fund’s major policy directions and strategies for action, as well as the selection of actions through calls for international projects.
The operational and financial management of the Fund has been entrusted to Expertise France, a cooperation agency with proven experience in monitoring projects for good governance and support to civil society.
