Orchid Project are partnering with the Global Resilience Fund; a partnership between social justice funders committed to resourcing girls’ and young women’s activism through the COVID-19 crisis.
We have seen an urgent need to resource grassroots groups, organisations and activists who are continuing to work to end female genital cutting (FGC) throughout the pandemic.
As with many forms of gender-based violence, the risk of girls being cut at this time has increased. COVID-19 response measures have exacerbated many of the drivers of FGC: social isolation, school closures, lack of law enforcement, & food insecurity due to loss of livelihoods. We also know that response measures have created barriers for those working at the grassroots to prevent girls from undergoing FGC, creating an urgent need to support them.
Orchid has been in discussion with the Global Resilience Fund (GRF) on getting resources to activists and groups working to end FGC around the world. We admire the flexible, participatory funding model that GRF has spearheaded, underpinned by youth-led decision-making. We are excited to announce that we will be contributing to the fund alongside partners including UNICEF, The Ford Foundation, the Fund for Global Human Rights, Purposeful, Mama Cash and Global Fund for Women.
We are encouraging applicants from groups who are focused on protecting girls from, and preventing the continuation of female genital cutting, for grants of up to $5,000 USD.
To apply before the deadline of 3rd August 2020, here’s what you need to know:
- The fund is for registered and unregistered community organisations led by girls, young women and/or trans and intersex youth with incomes of below $50,000 per year
- You must have previously received funding from one of the listed partners, or be referred by an organisation with a connection to a partner
- If you have collaborated with Orchid Project as a partner, Knowledge Sharing Workshop participant or through an advocacy/communications initiative, please select us from the list, even if you haven’t directly received funding from us
- Funding is available to groups with leadership under the age of 30 (Please note that organisations with a focus on ending FGC and based in Sub-saharan Africa may ignore the age limit of 19 noted on the application form and select this option even if over the age of 19.)
- Informal collectives led by girls, young women and/or trans and intersex youth with incomes of below $50,000 per year
- Applications from all regions and all countries
- Decisions on grants will be made by youth panellists from your respective regions, not by Orchid Project.
To ask a question about the fund, please contact resiliencefund@wearepurposeful.org.
Apply now, and please pass this on to others in your network who may be eligible for the fund.
Image credit: Maria Ponce
