Feminist Opportunities Now (FON) - Call to amplify Civil Society Organisations fight against GBV

About FON

In 2019 France set up a Fund to Support Feminist Organisations – FSOF in its French acronym – intended to support the activities of feminist movements in the world, in particular those of the local civil society organisations working in favour of gender equality, women’s and girl’s rights and gender challenges.

The FSOF is part of the feminist French diplomacy and of the International Strategy of France for gender equality. It is managed by the French Ministry of Europe and External Affairs (MEAE) and the French Development Agency (AFD). Within this framework, AFD announced during the 2020 summer, a call for expression of interest to financially support feminist civil society organisations (CSO) working in developing countries in Africa, Middle East, Asia or Latin America.

The objective of FON is to build the capacity of feminist movements, via sub-grants and organizational development support, especially for small organizations, often non-registered, to address and respond to gender-based violence.

The Project will be deployed in 10 countries: Africa (6): Burkina Faso, Guinea, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia and Kenya. Latin America (2): Mexico and Colombia. Asia (2): Bangladesh and Sri Lanka

The Call for expression of interest targeted:

This project, called « Feminist Opportunities Now » was signed between the consortium members, AFD and the MEAE on May 31st2022, for 4 years (from 31st of May 2022 to 30th September 2026).

For a world free of Gender-Based violence

At Feminist Opportunities Now (FON), we believe in a world where gender equality isn’t just a dream but a reality. We’re here to break barriers, support resilience, and empower feminist organizations. Join us in our mission to create a more inclusive and equitable world.

Our Vision

Reduce the incidence of gender-based violence (GBV) to accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 5 and achieve gender equality.
Our Mission

Feminist civil society organisations (CSOs) have an essential role to play in tackling the many issues at stake in order to help reduce gender inequality and the violence that stems from it. Most CSOs are nascent or relatively new, many are unregistered, and face challenges that limit their ability to reduce GBV and protect and promote women’s rights.

The FON Project seeks to improve the sustainability of these feminist CSOs at the organisational and technical levels; to support the resilience and diversity of feminist CSOs through access to sustainable funding mechanisms that are flexible and adapted to small and/or informal and/or marginalised CSOs; and to strengthen a networked movement of feminist CSOs in Southern countries, linking these CSOs with national, regional and international networks, in order to make their voices heard on the public stage.

5 partners, 1 mission

Feminists Opportunities Now is a group of organisations determined to eradicate Gender-Based Violence by funding and accompanying grassroot Civil-Society Organizations who champion the cause. The consortium in charge of implementing the Project is composed of 2 NGOs based in France, 2 federations (one based in France, and one based in Africa) and 1 INGO based in India/USA.

IPPFAR is the Africa regional arm of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, a global network created in 1952 in India, and which today brings together 118 associations present in 129 countries. The IPPF is mobilising to ensure that sexual and reproductive health and rights (SSRS) are considered as fundamental human rights. Its mission is to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of women and men by acting for sexual health and rights at the political level and on the ground with the populations. The organisation is the consortium lead.

IPPFAR

Empow’Her Global has been working since 2013 for the empowerment of women around the world through entrepreneurship. At the crossroads of entrepreneurship, empowerment and feminism, Empow’Her aims at deploying innovative coaching and educational solutions adapted to the context and needs of women, for a more sustainable entrepreneurship and a more inclusive ecosystem. EH has a strong expertise in economic and social empowerment with a gender lens, supporting women’s innovation and leadership within their communities.

Empow’Her

FIDH, the International Federation For Human Rights was created in 1922. Established as a federation, FIDH brings together 192 national human rights organisations in 117 countries. FIDH has renowned expertise in the defence of human rights. Encompassing the fight against GBV and support for SSRCs became a strategic priority for the organization in 2004 at its Congress. Its rights-based approach is a real asset to the consortium, for analytical, legal and advocacy purposes.

FIDH

Médecins du Monde France (MdM-FR) is a medical association of international solidarity founded in 1980 and recognized as a public utility. Since 2010, MdM-FR considers GBV as a breaking point in the continuum of care (especially in crisis contexts) and focuses on developing multidisciplinary prevention and response strategies – they aim to enable the identification of GBV survivors and their access to services (medical, psychosocial, socio-economic, etc) according to their needs, founded on a partnership-based, rights-based and survivor-centred approach.

Médecins du Monde France (MdM-FR)

CREA, Creating Resources for Empowerment and Action Inc., was registered in India and the USA in 2000 and has been working to create a more just world, where everyone achieves their autonomy, dignity and equality. CREA strives to empower feminist leaders and movements, secure sexual and reproductive rights, combat gender-based violence, and defend civic space – all while upholding intersectionality, inclusivity, and collaboration in its pursuit of social justice, in Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Myanmar, Kenya and Uganda.

CREA

With support of The Agence Française De Développement

The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) funds, supports and accelerates the transitions to a fairer and more sustainable world. Focusing on climate, biodiversity, peace, education, urban development, health and governance, our teams carry out more than 4,200 projects in France’s overseas departments and territories and another 150 countries. In this way, we contribute to the commitment of France and French people to support the sustainable development goals.