ISDAO @ PAI 2023

ISDAO will be joining LGBTQI movement actors, donors, and stakeholders from across Africa and beyond at the 6th Pan Africa ILGA conference from the 31st of July to the 4th of August in Mauritius. 

Pan-African Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex International (PAI) is a federation of African organizations working to improve human rights based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIE-SC). It is the African branch of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Association, ILGA. The theme of this edition is "Pride and Resilience". This is the first PAI conference since 2018 to be held in person, following the cancellation of the 2020 conference in Ghana in the wake of denunciation campaigns by the anti-gender movement and COVID travel restrictions. 

In line with the recommendations of the last edition, the 2023 conference will place particular emphasis on youth participation and youth organizations in the African LGBTQI movement. The organizers hope to address issues related to the commitment of young activists, their work, and the role of older and more experienced activists in supporting them.

The conference will create a space for young activists to share their perception of the current context, their contribution to a sustainable pan-African movement, and the leadership they wish to embody. We strongly believe in the renewal of leadership and shared power, the amplification of new voices, and their inclusion for a sustainable West African movement. Thus, we have worked with PAI to strengthen the participation of West African activists in the conference, with an emphasis on young activists and LBQ women, trans and intersex persons.

ISDAO will be participating in this conference at various levels, and looks forward to meeting activists, funders and many others to learn more about the work and organizations they are part of.

Donor Pre-Conference 

We are participating in the donor pre-conference, and we look forward to engaging in conversations about how we can collectively improve, deepen and expand resources for our movements, in ways that are contextual and inclusive. During the pre-conference, we will be hosting a session titled “Funding Communities on the Move” and we will be discussing how donors can rethink emergency funding. Particularly, how we strategize and resource for LGBTQI communities (and persons) who are internally displaced or pushed to migrate to other parts of the region due to insecurity, political crisis, or broader contexts in their country of origin. Within the donor space, we will also be speaking on sessions around the anti-gender movement, improving funding for LGBTQI organizing in Francophone countries, and initiative to improve data and knowledge about LGBTQI organizing and funding.

We are listening!

Young leaders from West Africa are expected in Mauritius. For many of them, this will be their first participation in a gathering of this scale. ISDAO, in collaboration with WATF (West African Trans Forum), AQYI (African Queer Youth Initiative) and CHEVS (Center for Health, Education and Vulnerable Support), intends to facilitate their integration into this space, encourage networking and networking, and provide these young activists with a space dedicated to expression and reflection on the issues that are close to their hearts. To this end, an open-door cocktail party entitled “LISTEN” will be held on August 2, 2023 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Ravenala Attitude Hotel.

We invite you to register for this event if you are attending the conference. We look forward to meeting and talking with you. Please confirm your attendance here.

Our latest publications

Throughout the conference, we'll be taking part in various sessions and sharing what we've learned about community mobilization within the LGBTQI movement in West Africa, as well as our knowledge of different themes related to this movement. We'll have a few copies of the summary of “Doundou” a report that takes stock of LGBTQI community mobilization in West Africa. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like a copy of this report. You can also request an electronic version here.

In various sessions, we'll also be sharing our thoughts on the anti-gender movement, its campaigns, and how this movement is taking shape in our region, and thinking together about the best ways to fight back. Copies of “Who is Afraid of Gender”, a survey report produced in collaboration with QAYN on the anti-gender movement, will be available at the conference. You can also request an electronic copy of the report here.

Chat with us

We will be happy to connect with you during the conference. Several members of the ISDAO team will be there, including Caroline, Olumide, Igor, and Raymond. Please reach out and connect with any of us attending the conference. We are happy to sit down for a conversation, talk with you, and answer questions that you may have about ISDAO. Please look out for us - we will be happy to connect! 

See you soon in Turtle Bay!