News
Published on 2023
From August 1 to 3, 2025, the 3rd International Francophone LGBTQI Conference, organized by Égides, will be held in Montreal. More than just an event, this gathering aims to be a genuine space for celebrating inclusion, diversity, and collective action.
As the only global platform exclusively dedicated to the realities of Francophone LGBTQI communities, the conference will bring together activists from different parts of the world to exchange experiences, share challenges, strengthen solidarity, and foster more grounded and impactful policy and philanthropic advocacy.
ISDAO is proud to participate and actively contribute to this space in several ways:
Donor Pre-Conference
On July 31, ISDAO will take part in the donor pre-conference, co-organized by the Global Philanthropy Project (GPP) and Égides. This strategic moment will be an opportunity for us to raise the voice of Francophone LGBTQI communities in West Africa, in the face of an alarming context of funding cuts, rising anti-gender movements, growing radicalization of political discourse, the resurgence of so-called “anti-Western” rhetoric promoted by certain regimes, as well as restrictions on civil liberties and increased criminalization, particularly in the countries of the Sahel.
During this pre-conference, ISDAO will co-facilitate the working group session dedicated to West Africa, in collaboration with other donors. This session will provide a space for strategic reflection on current dynamics in the French-speaking part of the region. It will also be an opportunity to identify concerted and tailored approaches to ensure that resources continue to reach communities effectively, despite growing restrictions on funding and civic space.
Support for the participation of African activists
Through a grant to Égides, ISDAO is facilitating the in-person participation of 15 activists from Francophone West Africa. Their physical presence in Montreal is essential to ensure direct and authentic representation of their realities on the ground. As part of the Komboa initiative, AWDF and ISDAO are facilitating the participation of several Francophone activists from Central Africa, with the support and involvement of the Collectif Mpongo.
Interregional exchange and learning session
Alongside our sister fund, UHAI EASHRI, based in East Africa, ISDAO is co-organizing a learning session that will bring together activists from West, East, and Central Africa.
This moment of collective reflection will focus on community responses to anti-gender and anti-rights attacks, and the impact of budget cuts by international donors (United States, Netherlands, Sweden, etc.). Together, we will identify potential courses of action and alternatives to strengthen the resilience of our movements.
Our strategic presence at the main conference
Around the conference theme “Francophone LGBTQI Horizons: Transmitting, Celebrating, and Preparing for Tomorrow", ISDAO will be fully engaged in spaces for exchange and philanthropic advocacy. This will be an opportunity to listen and learn from activists about different local contexts and strategies currently underway.
It will also be an opportunity to (re)connect with others and explore strategic partnerships with other technical and philanthropic actors who support activists and organizations in Francophone West Africa. Finally, through formal and informal meetings, we will continue to share our knowledge to inform the philanthropic community about the specific realities of Francophone West African countries, with the aim of co-constructing a more just and united future.
Image credit: Illustration from the 3rd Égides Conference
