Backgrounder: Canada announces funding for 3 LGBTQ2I-related projects in developing countries 

Canada has announced $9 million in funding to support marginalized LGBTQ2I communities in developing countries around the world. This funding is distributed as follows.

Connecting Voices for LGBTQI Socio-Economic Inclusion and Human Rights in Asia: $2.4 million (fiscal years 2021/22 to 2024/25) – APCOM Foundation

This project aims to help connect local LGBTQI organizations with marginalized groups in Cambodia, Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the Philippines and Thailand by improving their effectiveness and organizational capabilities. This project helps improve the skills and knowledge of regional, national, and sub-national LGBTQI organizations through tailor-fit training workshops, organizational development diagnoses, and technical organizational advisory support funded by sub-grants. At least 5 sub-grant recipients are women-led LGBTQI organizations and lesbian, bisexual and transgender women organizations. Targeted skills training and knowledge building provided through this project helps local LGBTQI organizations become more established so that they can sustainably deliver appropriate services and support to LGBTQI persons.

Talents Pluriels: $5 million (fiscal years 2021/2022 to 2025/26) – Cuso International

This project seeks to improve safe, inclusive and gender-responsive economic growth for marginalized youth between the ages of 18 and 34, particularly young women and LGBTQ2I youth in three cities of the Democratic Republic of Congo: Bukavu, Kinshasa, Lubumbashi. Three local feminist/LGBTQ2I organizations are implementing project activities that aim to:

• increase access to safe, inclusive and gender-responsive income generating opportunities for marginalized youth;
• reduce discrimination and prejudice by working to increase employers’ understanding of different gender identities and sexual orientations; and,
• help increase open dialogue among family and community members on topics such as gender identity, sexual orientation and the human rights of marginalized youth.

Canada’s support to this project is also helping address historical funding inequities by increasing and prioritizing support for LGBTQ2I communities in a francophone developing country.

Expanding the Evidence Base and Supporting Policy Change:  $1.6 million (fiscal years 2021/22 to 2023/24) – World Bank Group

This projects aims to enhance the achievements of the World Bank’s programming around the world on sexual orientation and gender identity inclusion. Project activities include expanding the World Bank’s Equality of Opportunity for Sexual and Gender Minorities research; conducting country-level consultations with civil society organizations on sexual orientation, gender identity/expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC); and providing technical assistance to World Bank clients and staff on SOGIESC inclusion.