lessons documented in the Voice@5 learning document, the global knowledge exchange brought to- gether over 100 participants drawn from Voice grantee partners and key stakeholders and asked if and how Linking and Learning contributes to enhancing inclusion. Towards the end of the year, we had opportunities to fulfil one of our planned aspirations for 2022— more regional and cross-regional knowledge exchanges that respond to specific thematic priorities. The Linking and Learning teams in the Africa region came together to build on a dialogue that started virtually in 2021, on the power of youth political participation in Africa. With elections concluded in Niger and Kenya and an upcoming one in Nigeria, the
knowledge exchange sought to anal- yse what have been the challenges, opportunities and the positive and negative impacts of the youth rising as a political force. Some of the key issues surfaced include the impor- tance of applying an intersectional lens in defining young people as a demographic and the immense power of digital activism in collec- tivising and unifying young peoples’ political demands. Similarly in the Asia region, the Linking and Learning teams came together with grantee partners at the ILGA Asia Conference to present a panel enti- tled ‘Rainbows and colours in faith and culture: Celebrating grassroots voices in Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, and the Philippines’. The partici- pants delved into their narratives, reflecting whether faith, culture, and
religions are facilitators or blockages of a harmonised and robust move- ment towards inclusive spaces. It was an enriching experience and at the same time a space that encour- aged mutual empowerment—from preparations until the session’s conclusion. 2022 was also a milestone as the Voice multi-country grantee partners embarked on a stand-alone Linking and Learning trajectory, with a multi-country Linking and Learning facilitator, the Constellation at the start of the year. Working through an extensive team of facilitators, the Constellation is bringing together Voice grantee partners in cross-re- gional and regional configurations to map out their learning dreams and thereafter, undertake collective learning on topics of interest. Complementing the work of the Constellation, the Coady Institute is supporting a learning trajectory for 17 grantee partners part of the ‘Open to Inclusive Governance’ collaboration with the Transparency & Accountability Initiative and the Hewlett Foundation called the Citizen Led Accountability Deep Dive.
Talented designer from the Tepsyort Art Fashion team showing their skills during IDAHOBIT celebrations at an event dubbed Rainbow Fashion Show in Cambodia
Linking and Learning
Seven years after the launch of the Voice programme and almost half- way through the extension phase, linking, learning and amplification is now well-established in all countries and at a multi-country level. Linking, learning and amplifier officers, a full-time position since April 2021, together with the country’s Linking and Learning Facilitator have adapt- ed strategies and ways of working suitable for the context and culture they are operating in. At the same time, online workshops and E-Meets created spaces to refresh on agreed ways of working, learn together and further develop the Linking and Learning component.
While mentioned in relation to Voice’s grant-making work, the impact of COVID-19 on Voice’s Linking and Learning work also requires consideraion. The COVID- 19 pandemic forced most Linking and Learning events and processes to move online or become hybrid, although in some countries face-to- face work continued. Voice had to rethink its “usual” ways of working and become more flexible. In line with these deep changes to our ways of working, the very first global Linking and Learning event for 2022 took place fully virtually in February. Seeking to further the
Grantee partners share their learning in a past Linking and Learning event in Kenya.
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