Equality Fund - $300 million announced

To: People involved in the consultations for the Global Alliance

Hi and best wishes. I wanted to quickly step back into this space given the announcement of the Equality Fund this weekend.

In the consultations related to the formation of what became the Alliance one of the major issues tabled by organisations whose roots were in the South, and who operated in their local, national and regional contexts, was the increasing difficulty of raising funds. The major donors are going for fewer, larger grants/awards that were not commensurate with their needs. And the admin burdens were getting heavier. This disadvantages  the large number of organisations who grew out of their local and national contexts and led to a proposal to work towards creating a Fund that would act as a common basket for funding Southern action by Southern agencies. See for example Problem Option 5: Funding levels

Due to a close connection with one of the key movers and shakers in this process I have been following the development and now announcement of the Equality Fund - $300 million initially with others expected to buy-in and create a larger fund. From the gender equity perspective this fund responds to the same dynamic as was described and presented in the Alliance consultations. And it comes up with a very similar focus and solution; for example:

" ... to create a long-term and self-sustaining source of funding for women’s organizations and movements in developing countries ..."

“ ... to ensure that funding flows to those organizations on the ground who are doing great work on shoestring budgets ... ”

1. Given that this was a priority identified in the Alliance consultations, if you are are a Southern initiated and operating organisation working on gender equity issues thought that you may appreciate the info - there are further details here.  This fund is still in its very initial phases but hope that it is relevant to and can possibly help your funding needs and requirements in the future. Could be worth following. 

2. I am of course fully aware that the creation of such a Fund for our field of work is not a working priority for the Alliance at present. But if it does become a priority in the future, or others wish to engage in the creation of such a fund, then perhaps the Equality Fund provides a model and precedent - the "Local Voices Fund"; the "Informed and Engaged Societies Fund"; the "Local Action Fund"?

Thanks  - Warren