Applications open for Marang Southern Africa LGBTIQ Fund

Deadline: 30-Jun-25

The Gender Links is delighted to seek applications for the Marang Southern Africa LGBTIQ Fund to strengthen LGBTIQ organisations and their work in Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Namibia, with advocacy initiatives stretching across Southern Africa.

The Marang Fund was born out of the need to resource hope, resistance, and change. Through small grants, capacity building, and storytelling, the fund supports bold advocacy, safe spaces, and legal reforms that advance equality and justice.

They believe in the power of local organisations, lived experiences, and intersectional feminist organising to transform their societies.

Thematic Areas

Projects must align with at least one of the following:
- Legal aid, psychosocial support, safe spaces
- Public education/media
- Human rights documentation
- Advocacy/policy engagement
- Movement building/mobilisation

Funding Information

The fund provides grants of up to EUR 50,000 over two years to help organisations build safe, inclusive environments; strengthen the LGBTIQ movement; challenge harmful social norms; and advocate for legal and policy reform.

Expected Outcomes

Projects should contribute to:
- Stronger LGBTIQ organisations
- Legal and policy progress
- Behaviour and attitude change

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for funding, organisations must:
- Be legally registered, or apply through a legally registered fiscal host, as a non-profit, non-governmental organisation (NGO) or community-based organisation (CBO) in Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia, or Madagascar.
- Be LGBTIQ-led and/or have a clearly defined LGBTIQ rights mandate.
- Be able to demonstrate a track record of serving LGBTIQ persons as its core target population.
- Operate primarily at the national or community level, with strong connections to LGBTIQ communities.
- Demonstrate experience in at least one of the following:
  - Policy advocacy or strategic litigation
  - Movement building or community mobilisation
  - Legal aid, psychosocial support, or safe space creation
  - Public education or awareness campaigns
- Have or be willing to develop basic governance, financial, and administrative systems.
- Have or be willing to put in place (within 6 months of award) a formally constituted Governance structure (Board or Trustees).
- Have a current audited financial statement or a financial report signed by a certified accountant for the most recent fiscal year.
- Have a bank account in the applying organisation’s name with at least two signatories.
- Commit to principles of non-discrimination, inclusion, transparency, and accountability.
- Demonstrate the capacity to effectively design, implement and report on Monitoring and Evaluation of its programmes.
- Commit to an organisational capacity assessment as part of the capacity strengthening process.