innovation 01 CHAPTER 1
VOICE is working with groups in ten focus countries in Asia and Africa 2 through the provision of resources and developing a global Linking and Learning infrastructure. Voice works to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 10, which envisions “social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or another status”. It also works to address SDGs 3, 4, 5 and 8.
voice, A Grant facility exploring inclusion and
“LEAVE no ONE BEHINd”- WHY VOICE EXISTS
The possibilities are endless
The commitment to creating a less unequal world motivated UN members states to take steps toward giving meaning to the phrase “leave no one behind.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (MFA) sought to deliver on this commitment within the Dialogue and Dissent (2016- 2021) policy framework with the creation of “Voice: nothing about us without us”, a fund for Innovation and Inclusion. The fund is aimed at groups most marginalised and discriminated in their society or region. Currently, Voice is part of the newly published policy framework, Poser of Voices, spanning the years 2021-2025.
A considerable number of low-and midlle- income countries (LMIC) have experienced substatial growth and social development during recent years. However, these changes are not leading to fair distribution and access to development resources for all. Worldwide, the gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen. As Oxfam’s 2021 Inequality Report chillingly documents, the world’s 10 richest men have doubled their fortunes during the COVID-19 pandemic, while over 160 million people worldwide are projected to have been pushed into poverty. 1 In 2015, the ambition of reducing systemic inequality received a global clarion call in the form of the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the UN General Assembly.
Voice is born out of the dream and effort of a team in the Civil Society division of the MFA (DSO/MO). This division “focuses on the role and importance of civil society organisations in relation to development. It works from the premise that a diverse and pluriform civil society is crucial for achieving sustainable and inclusive development. It is essential for a vibrant and resilient society and a precondition for a well- functioning democracy and rule of law.” 3 The team saw in Voice a possibility to reach different groups and to strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations (both formal, informal and network organisations) and representatives of these groups in the field of lobby and advocacy. Since the most marginalised and discriminated groups are often hard to reach via regular programming, Voice promotes the use of innovative ideas and strategies, conducive to empower these groups and to have their voices heard and respected. In line with this vision, the MFA awarded a public service tender to a consortium of Oxfam Novib and Hivos to implement Voice. After a five-month inception phase, the programme was publicly launched on 5th September 2016 by Lilianne Ploumen, the then
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation for the Netherlands. During this event Voice launched the first Global Call for Proposals: an Innovate & Learn Grant, designed to help Voice and its potential grantee partners learn from innovation. It was based on the understanding that there exist many new, interesting, and effective methods for supporting the Voice rightsholder groups to participate in their own governance and improving their access to resources and services. And that innovation doesn’t mean creating something new or based on technology but can just be a different use of an existing tool or a different group applying learning from fellow grantee partners. Through this, Voice hoped to capture and stimulate learning of methods to develop an evidence-base for future programming. After the global launch of Voice, the complete operationalisation of the programme in all 10 Voice focus countries- Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia and Philippines, followed with national launches of Voice and release of national calls for proposals. Overall, the launches were creative and included some form of art, music and/or debates.
1 Ahmed, Nabil Dabi, Nafkote, Lawson, Max, Lowthers, Megan, Marriott, Anna, MLigehera, Leah, 2022 Inequality Kills: The unparalleled action needed to combat unprecedented inequality in the wake of COVID-19, Oxfam. Available at: https://poIicy-practi ce.oxfam.org/reso LIrces/ineqLIaIity- kiIls-the- LInparaIleled-acti on-needed-to-combat- LInprecedented-ineqLIal-621341/
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