Grantee partners taking the lead on supporting rightsholders:
duty-bearers, and promote collaboration within civil society to defend rights in an ever-shifting civic space. It aims to visualise the transitions of anticipated changes as they incrementally build up to the long-term change of an inclusive world where “”empowered rightsholders are able to express their views and demand their rights for responsive and inclusive societies It also describes anticipated pitfalls and how they can be scaled. As such, the Toe helps us to monitor and evaluate the chosen approach of Voice based on visualising the progress, achievements, and failures of the programme. Reflecting on the Toe has allowed us to reflect on Voice as an intervention, strengthening both the flow of its implementation as well as the strategic decision-making connected to it.
“Earlier on (chapter I, section 2), it was explained how Voice came to prioritise the work with organisations for people with disabilities, women facing exploitation, abuse and/or violence, indigenous people and ethnic minorities, vulnerable elderly and youth, and LGBTI people. 6 In the different Voice focus countries, these groups are among those who have fewer opportunities, are less valued, and are living the effects of discrimination and marginalisation in their families, surroundings, or society at large. Moreover, they are among those most affected by poverty and are currently ignored or not reached by development actors.” “The Voice Theory of Change seeks to strengthen the capacity of (informal) groups, organisations, and networks to influence, find strategic allies among powerholders and
Voice offers grantee partners and rightsholders opportunities to strengthen their capacity by granting projects and facilitating linking and learning with other groups and organisations. Listening to the many rightsholders’ journeys it becomes clear that both programme components worked together in framing and guiding their journeys in a supportive manner. Many of the stories of how rightsholders make their voices heard, respected, and included, reflect on the work of the grantee partners based on the different types of grants that were awarded by Voice. Although the projects of the grantee partners are built around many different goals and approaches, they nevertheless share a common orientation towards using capacity strengthening to support rightsholders in terms of empowering themselves, amplifying their voices, and influencing others. Most grantee partners actively engaged with Linking & Learning activities supported by the Linking & Learning Facilitators and Voice teams, giving rightsholders opportunities to exchange with their peers and others. Rightsholders actively used these opportunities to inspire others and/ or get inspired by their dreams as well as their ideas and actions to achieve them. As the stories show, many of the rightsholders participating in Linking & Learning took the lead and spoke up about the changes they want to make in society.
Voice facilitating the sharing of experiences and approaches across rightsholder groups and social contexts as well as across the ten countries has in many cases proven itself as a successful approach. The commonalities regarding rightsholders’ shared experience of discrimination and marginalisation have been an important factor in them recognising and emphatising with eahc other. This has been crucial not only during capacity strengthening activities as well as Linking and Learning, but also for joint action movement building
Voice dreams of an inclusive world where “empowered rightsholders are Where it all started
able to express their views and
demand their rights for responsive and inclusive societies.”
6 This is the original abbreviation used in the programme document. Some partners or countries use LGBTIQ+ people or LBQ {Lesbian Bisexual or Queer) women.
35
34
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease