Deadline: open until filled
The African Queer Youth Initiative is a collaborative network of motivated and dedicated young people from
different parts of Africa. AQYI focuses on empowering young African LGBTQ+ people through advocacy,
research, networking and capacity building to give them a voice and enable them to initiate change.
You can also visit www.aqyi.org for more information about our work and other similar projects we’re working on that can provide you with the information you need to complete your application.
About the Program
The HIV/AIDS epidemic has opened up funding avenues exclusively for gay people in West Africa, but lesbian, bisexual, trans and queer (LBTQ) women with needs beyond HIV often face funding challenges. Their specific issues tend to be overlooked by larger LGBTQ+ organisations, leaving these women with fewer opportunities to lead and organise. To fill this gap, the African Queer Youth Initiative (AQYI) has created the MawuLisa Fellowship Program. This program supports emerging LBTQ women activists to lead projects that improve the lives of young LBTQ women in their communities byproviding financial support of up to $4,000 and technical assistance for six months while they work within established host organisations.
The Goal of the Fellowship Program?
The main objective of the MawuLisa Fellowship Program is to enhance the capacity of emerging LBTQ women activists to carry out impactful projects that address the challenges and rights of young LBTQ women. It is based on the belief that those who live the problems can solve them best, and that LGBTQ+ rights in
Africa will advancethrough the initiative and creativity of new leaders. AQYI is dedicated to empowering often unheard-of communities within the broader LGBTQ+ population, with the program being a collective effort between beneficiaries, their host organisations and AQYI itself.
How long is the Fellowship Program?
The fellowship program lasts six months. Selected fellows will spend a few days working closely with AQYI and their host organisation to develop their work plan before the implementation phase of the project begins.
Financial Support
Each recipient will receive a grant of up to $4,000, depending on the project submitted. The grant will be disbursed to the beneficiary through their host organisation to cover the project costs, a reasonable allowance for the beneficiary, and any other incidental expenses directly related to the project.
Who can benefit from the Fellowship Program?
The MawuLisa Fellowship supports emerging LBTQ women leaders and feminists advocating for LBTQ women’s rights, especially those with human rights, HIV/AIDS, youth leadership, advocacy, or communication experience. It’s geared toward young LBTQ women from Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Mali, Togo, the Republic of Benin, Senegal, Mauritania and Guinea, aged 18–35, who are fluent in French or English, with encouragement for bilingual applicants.
Who is not eligible to be a fellow?
The MawuLisa Fellowship is not available to founders or leaders of host organisations, students seeking to support academic work, people outside the target countries, or individuals who do not identify as LBTQ women.
What kinds of projects are eligible?
Projects that create meaningful change for LBTQ women, address clear community needs, and help fellows grow in leadership.
What project scopes will be prioritised this year?
Since its creation, the MawuLisa Fellowship has supported a variety of innovative projects. We understand that the fellowship fund is modest, and this year, given the current landscape of activism, we would like to prioritise issues that are most relevant today. For example, but not limited to:
- Economic empowerment: Projects that help LBTQ women and their communities learn how to earn money, start small businesses, or manage resources in sustainable ways.
- Digital safety and cybersecurity: Projects that teach people how to protect themselves online, secure their accounts, and use digital tools safely.
- Mental Health and Well-being: Projects that provide practical knowledge on Mental Health and well-being. For example, how to access support, how to cope with stress, or how to create safe spaces for conversations. This does not mean only fun activities like dance or relaxation sessions, although we also recognise how important those can be.
- Knowledge sharing: Projects that collect and share community stories, lessons, or experiences in ways that can help others grow, learn, and strengthen our movement.
You are free to propose other ideas too, but these are the areas we are putting our main focus on this year. Please explain your idea in simple words. Don’t worry about writing like a “professional proposal.” We just want to understand your vision.
What kinds of projects are NOT eligible?
- No clear goals
- Purely academic
- Political campaigns
- Awareness only
- Cannot be finished in 6 months
- Require government approval
For more details on program requirements and FAQs, please read our information packet available here: https://tinyurl.com/MawuLisaInfoPacket
How to apply
After having carefully read the information on the fellowship program, complete all sections of the application form and submit the completed application form with the relevant accompanying documents. For more information about the Fellowship Program, please email us at admin@aqyi.org.