Human Rights Grant Inception Meeting

The Social Justice Foundation (SJF) team, including the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, CEO, and Director of Programs and Advocacy, participated in the inception meeting of the Human Rights Grant at the Linde Hotel in Mponela, Dowa District. This meeting, which took place from March 13 to 19, 2024, was Malawi’s first comprehensive initiative to unite organizations championing human rights, with a focus on LGBTIQ+ issues.

Implemented by CEDEP alongside nine LGBTIQ+-led organizations, including SJF, the grant aimed to improve safety and well-being, build capacity for local LGBTIQ+ organizations and human rights defenders, enhance legal protections, and foster international collaboration. The project also supported policy review efforts to ensure better access to justice for LGBTIQ+ individuals, including revisiting laws that criminalize their existence.

SJF was tasked with implementing activities in Mangochi district aligned with the grant’s four objectives: strengthening coordination on human rights violation reporting and redress, reducing violence and discrimination, building capacity among state and non-state actors, and enhancing referral systems and redress mechanisms for LGBTIQ+ rights violations.

During the grant period, SJF provided emergency support to survivors of violence, held consultative meetings with district officials, developed educational materials, trained legal professionals, and built capacity on safety and security. The organization prioritized data privacy and confidentiality to protect vulnerable individuals throughout the implementation.

This collaboration marked a significant step in advancing the rights and protection of Malawi’s marginalized communities through coordinated, multi-sectoral efforts and targeted programming.