What we're looking for
ABOUT ISDAO
ISDAO is an activist-led feminist fund dedicated to building a West African movement for LGBTQI sexual and gender minorities through a flexible approach to grantmaking, capacity support, and the strengthening of a culture of philanthropy committed to promoting human rights and social justice. Currently, ISDAO works in nine West African countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo. We have made grants in eight cycles at the sub-regional level since 2019.
Applications from individual activists in the movement and activists connected to community organisations are welcome. Read the call for applications for further information and guidance.
We are recruiting new LGBTQI activists from across our 9 focal countries to join our Activist Grantmaking Panel (AGMP) for up to two annual funding cycles, with the possibility of a renewal after the first tenure and a maximum of four funding cycles. We wish to recruit new members for this grantmaking panel, as several of its members have recently completed their tenure.
As an activist-led fund, we are keen to ensure greater representation and inclusion of the diversity of our communities within the panel. In particular, we welcome key players who are from the following countries, LGBTQI rights activists who self-identify as follows, and who respond to both the geographic AND community priorities:
- Geographic Areas of Interest: Activists based in Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo.
- Communities: Activists who self-identify as members of one or more of the following: lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, queer, intersex.
WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
Are you an LGBTQI rights activist in West Africa with an excellent background of collaboration on LGBTQI rights? Are you engaged and invested in the struggles of LGBTQI people in West Africa and the movements of sexual and gender minorities as well as in issues of human rights, diversity, and equity? Would you like to participate in decision-making about the allocation of resources to our movements?
This is an opportunity for you to join ISDAO’s Activist Grantmaking Panel and contribute your skills, experience, and thinking to our grantmaking process and decisions.
ISDAO strongly encourages young LGBTQI activists, particularly those under 30 years of age, from its focal countries to consider applying.
Mission and Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the ISDAO team, members of the Activist Grantmaking Panel (AGMP) review eligible proposals received through ISDAO's annual regional open call, in accordance with ISDAO's Vision, Values, and Mission. The AGMP is an autonomous decision-making body with the authority to review proposals and uphold the fairness and transparency of the selection process.
Panel members assess eligible proposals using criteria and processes that are collectively developed at each review cycle. These are shaped by the proposals received, the feminist principles that guide ISDAO's work, collective analysis of LGBTQI movement contexts across countries and the region, feedback from ISDAO on past and current partners, and priorities set collectively by the AGMP. These priorities are informed by emerging issues in the region, the proposals received, and the panel's shared knowledge of the movement at the country level. The final funding decisions are made collectively, based on analysis from principal reviewers and plenary discussions and reviews by the entire AGMP.
No single member of the panel alone can decide on awarding a grant or unilaterally influence funding decisions. It is a joint decision-making process conducted by all the members of the panel. In line with the conflict of interest policy, AGMP members with current or potential conflicts are not involved in the review, discussion, or decision-making for the particular proposal they are connected to.
The main mandate of the members of the panel includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Participate actively in the review and scoring of the proposals, including but not limited to participating in in-person and virtual meetings to discuss and make decisions about funding by ISDAO;
- Share knowledge about current issues, concerns, opportunities, and priorities within the LGBTQI movements within the focal countries and regionally;
- Share knowledge and skills with other panel members and ISDAO staff to ensure effective decision-making on proposals;
- Devote their time to the proposal review process and voluntarily provide assistance and special technical advice;
- Commit to and strictly comply with the provisions of the conflict of interest and confidentiality agreement required with respect to the activities of the panel;
- Follow ISDAO’s principles in all decisions that they make as a member of the AGMP.
More generally, AGMP members are key resource persons in the strategic thinking and implementation of ISDAO’s programmatic activities.
The AGMP role is a voluntary position; however, AGMP members receive an honorarium for participation in the in-person meeting(s). Additionally, all travel and related expenses for participation in the in-person meeting(s) are covered by ISDAO.
Commitment:AGMP members serve a term of two grant cycles and must commit to fully participating in both in-person meetings and virtual proposal review. Annually, this is a maximum of 10 days (including travel) for in-person meeting(s) and a 4-week virtual review period.
IMPORTANT NOTE: During a member’s tenure on the AGMP, any group or organization that they are directly associated with as a staff member or paid volunteer is not eligible to apply for funding from ISDAO’s annual regional call for proposals.
Individual activists who are not directly connected to any group or organization are encouraged to apply if they have the required knowledge about the movement, skills needed for the panel’s work, and are willing to support ISDAO’s grant-making process.
Experience and Skills
A member of ISDAO’s AGMP must:
- Identify as one (or more) of the following: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Non-binary, Queer, Intersex;
- Have a background of collaborating and working with LGBTQI people, groups, and communities on community and social programs;
- Have exposure to diverse fields, approaches, and contexts of LGBTQI activism and organizing;
- Have relevant knowledge and/or experience on LGBTQI rights and issues in West Africa;
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to human rights, diversity, and equality;
- Be easily accessible by email and by telephone;
- Be an activist currently based within the West African region, and residing in one of ISDAO’s focal countries;
- Have and maintain private access to a computer and the internet, and the ability to work in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and use email systems;
- Be able to communicate, read proposals and supporting documents, and write in at least one of the languages used by ISDAO (English or French);
- Be able to work as part of a team and in a multicultural environment;
- Be able to work remotely and face-to-face;
- Be able to adapt to change;
- Adhere to and practice the values of Integrity, transparency, tolerance, and discretion;
- Agree to make decisions that align with and reflect the values and principles of ISDAO.
Submission of Applications
The following documents must be attached to the application before we can consider this as a complete application:
- A completed application form,
- A resume or curriculum vitae (CV),
- Two reference letters from individuals who can speak to your involvement in the LGBTQI movement. Both referees must be from the West African LGBTQI movement, and at least one must be based in your country of residence. Each letter should clearly speak to your character, integrity, and role within the LGBTQI community and movement.
Applications should be addressed to ISDAO's management team and sent to proposals@isdao.org with the subject line:“Application to ISDAO's Activist Grantmaking Panel”.
Click here to download the application form in French
Click here to download the application form in English
The deadline for submission is 12 July 2026, 11:59 pm GMT.
