Global Equality Fund (GEF); Supporting LGBTI rights particularly in Africa (3. phase)

Description What is done in the programme or project and why, what results are pursued, who benefits from the activities and who are involved in the implementation.

LGBTI people and groups are in a vulnurable situation and face discrimination in many parts of the world. Finland has supported the Global Equality Fund (GEF) in 2014-16 and will continue to support the Fund also in 2017-2018 (1MEUR in two years). The fund has been proven to contribute to the strengthening of rights of persons and groups that often are in one of the most vulnerable situations in their countries. The fund is established in 2011 by the United States of America and is governed by the US State Department in cooperation with a NGO Concertium and donor countries. GEF supports programmes that promote LGBTI issues and the rights of LGBTI people globally. GEF supports civil society through the following three areas: capasity building and technical support, support through "Dignity for all" fund and through small grants to local NGO's. The Finnish contribution will be mainly targeted to projects in particular in Africa (among others Kenya, Uganda) that strengthen the principle of non-discriminationas well as the universality of human rights. The beneficiaries will be local LGBTI organisation and other civil society actors in countries in question. The fund will contribute to the strengthening of LGBTI rights, enpowerment of LGBTI people and groups as well as providing education on LGBTI issues to governmental actors.