Grants and Contributions

The ILGA World Conference is the largest global gathering of LGBTI activists, LGBTI organizations, government representatives, human rights mechanism agents, & other allies, with the 2024 conference taking place in Cape Town under the theme “Kwa Umoja We Rise!” which calls for unity in these polarized & contentious times.

Welcome international students from a wide range of countries and territories on a short-term study and research exchanges as part of the Emerging Leaders in the Americas and/or Study in Canada Scholarships Programs.

For a few years now, Benin has been dealing with insecurity and peace challenges. This is having a devastating impact on people’s lives and livelihoods, especially young people, women and children. Some of the immediate causes of the violent extremism include the fact that extremist narratives have become commonplace; absent or weak complaint mechanisms at the local level; and a heightened tendency toward despair and vulnerability among young people. This is why this project proposes to start ongoing public dialogues, build the capacity of young people, women and religious leaders, and develop a participation model to promote social cohesion and peaceful behaviours among young people and women.

Planned activities
1. Organize a 3-day consultation with 35 local and commune stakeholders (2 mayors, 12 commune councillors, 16 village leaders) from Kandi and Parakou to identify collaborative conflict-prevention strategies and early warning mechanisms, and to share knowledge and best practices in territorial communities, with a view to creating a manual.
2. Organize 2 community forums, each 2 days long, with 60 traditional and religious leaders from the communes of Kandi and Parakou on their roles in peacebuilding and peacekeeping.
3. Organize 2 community forums, each 3 days long, with 60 young people (men and women) from the communes of Kandi and Parakou on non-violent communication and their roles in peacebuilding.
4. Produce 100 copies of a prevention and guidance manual on conflict-prevention and conflict-management strategies in Benin. The manual will be created based on the consultations with local stakeholders and the community forums with traditional leaders, young people and women, and it will be distributed to communities in both communes.
5. Organize 6 interactive radio shows on non-violent communication, conflict prevention and the importance of peacebuilding and peacekeeping.

Expected results
1. A 3-day consultation with 35 local and commune stakeholders (2 mayors, 12 commune councillors, 16 village leaders) was organized on collaborative conflict-prevention strategies, early warning mechanisms and the sharing of knowledge and best practices in territorial communities, with a view to developing a manual.
2. Sixty (60) traditional and religious leaders from Kandi and Parakou understand their roles in peacebuilding and peacekeeping, as a result of 2 community forums.
3. Sixty (60) young people (men and women) from Kandi and Parakou understand the importance of non-violence and their roles in peacebuilding and peacekeeping, as a result of 2 community forums.
4. One hundred (100) prevention and guidance manuals on conflict-prevention and conflict-management strategies in Benin were created based on consultations with local stakeholders and distributed to communities in both communes.
5. Six (6) interactive radio shows on non-violent communication, conflict prevention and the importance of peacebuilding and peacekeeping were hosted by the young people (men and women) and resource people who were the project’s beneficiaries.
6. Local stakeholders, religious and traditional leaders, and young men and women have stronger skills relating to conflict-prevention strategies and each stakeholder’s role in peacebuilding, and the populations were educated on the culture of non-violence and peace.

This project explores how the full spectrum of United Nations (UN) peace operations can better protect civilians. Also, it seeks to understand how mis and disinformation affect UN peace operations' ability to protect civilians in 5 UN peace operations contexts. These contexts include Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, South Sudan and Sudan. Project activities include: (1) researching the full spectrum of UN peace operations and the impacts of disinformation on the protection of civilians; (2) developing issue briefs; (3) organizing round tables to share research findings; and (4) holding a dialogue series to encourage discussion.

Promoting women’s involvement in peacebuilding initiatives and intercultural dialogue in the Ouaké and Bassila communes in northern Benin through training programs in conflict resolution, mediation, intercultural communication and community-awareness campaigns.

Helping to promote peace and social cohesion in Benin by building the capacities of young women committed to peace and security, creating a site called “voices of young people for peace and security,” promoting digital networking and raising awareness online about peace and social cohesion.

Contributing to a peaceful election period in Benin in 2026 through awareness raising by amplifying the voices of women leaders, artists, and religious and traditional chiefs, and building the peace and social cohesion capacities of journalists and young people involved in politics.

Strengthening young leaders to act as auditors of Guatemala's Open Governance initiative.

Lift Her Up Campaign: Creating safe, inclusive and empowered communities for women and girls in Marondera.

Enhancing access to menstrual hygiene products and information among women and adolescent girls in Nairobi, Kajiado and Nakuru counties.