Sida´s work on LGBTI in development cooperation

1. Sida´s work on LGBTI in development cooperation Results, experiences and challenges

2. History • Before 2005, few and ad hoc support for LGBT - primarily to Eastern Europe • 2005/06 Study of LGBT in Swedish dev. coop. • 2007-2009 Sida´s Action Plan on Sexual orientation & Gender identity in development cooperation • 2010 Evaluation of the action plan • 2011 New action plan to be adopted

3. Why an Action plan ? • Government´s letter of Appropriation 2005 – Sida to commission a Study on Policy and Administration: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues in Development – 2005 • Government´s letter of Appropriation 2006: Sida to submit an Action plan by 1 September 2006 A combination of political will by the government, committment by some staff members at MoFA and Sida & successful lobbying by the Swedish CS.

4. LGBTI in development cooperation - a human rights issue • Non-discrimination • International conventions on human rights – sexual orientation not mentionedexplicitlybut… - Yogyakarta principles - European Convention on Human Rights - Framework of the European Union

5. … and an issue of • Gender equality • Poverty (lack of power, security, opportunities) • Democracy

6. Sida’s Action plan on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender issues in international development cooperation 2007-2009 • Overall goal: Enable lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons to improve their living conditions in the countries where Sweden is engaged in development cooperation • Intermediate objective 1: Measures in the field have led to improvements for LGBT persons as a result of Sida’s work • Intermediate objective 2: Awareness-raising, competence building and work to establish knowledge about LGBT-issues firmly within Sida

7. Activities in the Action plan • Inventory of what Sida is doing in the field of LGBT (2007) • Integration of LGBT issues in development cooperation strategies • Increase the number of projects and programs related to LGBT-issues globally, regionally and nationally • Advocacy and dialogue • International Training Programme (ITP) • Management, heads of divisions, counsellors introduced to LGBT-issues • Training • Series of seminars • Evaluation of the Action plan (2009)

8. Positive results & activities, as identified in the evaluation • Sida direct funding to LGBT initiatives has increased from 400 000 Euro in 2006 to 2,4 M Euro in 2009. In addition LGBT issues have been mainstreamed in 28 other initiatives, mainly within the areas of human rights and HIV/AIDS. (2010´s numbers to come) • Nine country cooperation (of 40) strategies mention the rights of LGBT persons in the analysis. • Two regional teams support initiatives for LGBT persons.

9. cont. Results • In total, 18 country teams (out of 40) and Sida HQ have raised LGBTI issues as part of their dialogue with civil society partners, governments, co-donors or other stakeholders. • The International Training Programme on Human Rights and LGBTI (capacity development for participants from partner countries) has been very appreciated – so far 180 participants have been through the programme.

10. cont. Results • LGBT organisations commend the moral and practical support provided by some Embassies in European Reform countries in connection with LGBT advocacy activities (like Pride). • Swedish CSOs report that it has become easier to get funding for LGBT initiatives.

11. cont. Results • Visibility externally: articles, media coverage, participation in Pride festivals • and internally: seminars, training, integration into policy and strategy documents (seminars on religion and LGBT, the situation for LGBT persons in Macedonia and Zimbabwe, the Yogyakarta principles, being a muslim LGBT person)

12. Experiences and challenges / in general (just a few…) • Working on human rights is always political • Homosexuality is criminalised in many of Sida’s partner countries. It requires sensitivity, courage and innovative methods to address the issue in each context. • Difficult to talk about sexuality • Many small and sometimes weak LBGT-organisations, but growing movement within civil society. Crucial to identify and support strategic partners.

13. Challenges / organisational • Need for clearer objectives and measurable indicators. • Stable supporting organisational mechanism and adequate human resources for the work. • Great need for training, competence-building and awareness raising • Important to reach Senior management – what are the ”status” of the work

14. cont. Challenges / organisational • Heteronormativity – Discriminating attitudes against LGBTI persons still exist within Sida and within Embassies. • Work closer with the Swedish CSO Community, both those working on LGBT and those that are not (yet) • Find innovative ways of supporting LGBT NGOs at different levels (funds etc)

15. cont. Challenges/ organisational • The Swedish government and the Sida management are communicating the importance of a range of different priority themes, focus areas and high profile issues. • LGBTI rights are seen as narrow issue, affecting only a small group of people.

16. cont. Challenges / organisational • Work together with others! Need for strategic alliances and donor coordination – meeting with bilaterals and donor NGOs in Stockholm in March 2010.

17. Recommendations from donor meeting in Sthlm 2010 • Increase support to national & local NGOs • Mapping of the situation for LGBT persons, LGBT protection mechanisms and where the donors work (countries and sectors) • Establish a calender, an electronic resource library, list serv for information dissemination • Create a working framework in relation to different areas like health, EA2J, Poverty etc

18. cont. Recommendations, 2010 • Include LGBTI issues in internaltraining and explore the possibility of joint training in the field • All bilateral agenciesshould look intoissuingguidelines on workingfor LGBTI rights (butwenowhave the EU tool kit)

19. New developments / initiatives • Locally: more vocal and organised LGBTI communites demanding their rights and working for change • Globally: New UN resolution on LGBT, • UN: SG and OHCHR more outspoken • ILGA has received consultative status at ECOSOC • Brazil, South Africa active from Global South

20. cont. New developments/initiatives • Donor community: Germany, USA joining the group of donors with increased level of ambition? • New donor meeting? • Sida: dialogue brief on the rights of LGBTI persons (as part of a human rights dialogue kit), new action plan 2012-2014 to be adopted later this year.

21. Support for local LGBTI activists SOLIDARITY, MOTIVATION, NETWORKING, SAFETY • “Giving me a chance to share and learn from other activists. It was a platform for sharing knowledge and methods of work, but also a way of showing solidarity.” • “The pride festival was very well organized and allowed us as African activists to experience the feeling of freedom. Knowledge and ideas were shared and a great challenge remains for us who come from countries where LGBT people cannot march. We left motivated and energized and had so much fun as well.” Ugandan LGBT activistparticipating in Stockholm Pride 2011