Dalan Fund

Regressive legislation like Foreign Agents Laws is an alarming trend across Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central and North Asia. The impact is severely felt by local HIV key populations and harm reduction networks. Dalan Fund′s community members spoke to The Lancet about the severity of the limitations of the laws ad they limit civil society in their lifesaving service provision efforts: ′In many countries, civil society groups are at the heart of a wide variety of healthcare services, from disease prevention and treatment to humanitarian aid, food security, reproductive health, and keeping hospitals and clinics stocked with medicine and equipment. Putting restrictions on their operations can be disastrous for local health care in some cases, experts say, especially among vulnerable populations which often rely on community groups entirely for some health care. Against this backdrop—and aware of the potential public health threats that could result—some affected organizations are calling on donors to find alternative ways to ensure funding to keep their operations running. “We need to have new systems of financing NGOs in places where their funding is being legally restricted, otherwise their crucial work could be lost”, says Anya (Ganna) Dovbakh from Eurasian Harm Reduction Association and Dalan Fund′s Founding Advisory Group member. Read more here https://lnkd.in/eHbAzfF9

In the face of increased backlash against civil society, and repressions of the LGBTQ+ community, we stand in solidarity with #Belarus LGBTQIA community′s struggle for freedom and justice. At this difficult time, supporting the unwavering resilience of grassroots organizers, initiatives, and organizations and their fight for justice and equality in Belarus is as timely as ever. Learn about what is happening in Belarus and read the full Call for Solidarity on our website https://lnkd.in/ec_42Ha4?

We're thrilled to introduce you to our Resource Distribution Coordinator and Kyrgyz climate justice activist Nurzhan Estebes. Nurjan has played a central role in managing collaborative and participatory processes of co-designing our resource distribution strategy and practice. She connects the dots between CEECCNA organizers and the Dalan Fund, supporting every member of our community along this journey of co-shaping what the Dalan Fund is as we grow. Dive into Nurjan’s perspective on the impact of her work, what brings her the most joy, and her vision for a future across CEECCNA regions, and see why we’re so lucky to have Nurjan as part of our team: ¨The most heartwarming and inspiring part of my role at Dalan is co-creating resource distribution strategies and processes together with regional activists. While our mission is to resource social justice movements, the significance lies not only in what we do but also in how we do it. The way we engage with communities and activists is shaping a future that will resonate in the long term, as we are slowly reclaiming practices and values that oppressive systems sought to erase—like ownership, agency, and collective care. Together, we are recovering systems of support and strengthening people’s power in these regions. I envision a future for the CEECCNA regions where the focus shifts from constantly battling oppressive systems to building transformative alternatives that make those systems irrelevant. Instead of reacting to crises, we would create models of collective strength and justice—such as grassroots economic structures, community-driven leadership, and intersectional coalitions—that reclaim what was taken by colonial, capitalist, and patriarchal systems. This shift would create space for those historically excluded to thrive, providing the resources and support necessary for people to shape their own futures built on care and lasting solidarity.¨ Learn more about Nurjan here https://lnkd.in/d_dZckkX

We are thrilled to resource the strategic coverage of upcoming Parliamentary Elections in Georgia led by?OC Media. This week, they have launched a new weekly, limited-edition newsletter covering the election processes across the country, ensuring the thorough documentation and reporting of the developments in the context of rapid democratic backsliding in the country. At Dalan Fund, we stand in solidarity with Georgian and regional independent media that is directly affected by the Russian law on Transparency and Foreign Influence, and we are grateful to resource and lift up the critical frontline to dispel disinformation and de-platform anti-democratic powers. Sign up for OC Media′s Georgia 2024 election newsletter here:?https://lnkd.in/dZ2GEMHC

?? We are excited to host our fall public event themed: "Participatory Grantmaking During Polycrisis" in collaboration with Nino Ugrekhelidze of Dalan Fund Ruby Johnson of The Global Resilience Fund and Yara Dowani from @Rawa Fund. The conversation will be moderated by Coco Gervis, from Mama Cash. As the world navigates polycrisis resulting from climate change, authoritarian regimes, and a disregard for human rights, the philanthropy sector is called to respond. However, we’re also challenged, not only by the complex environment but by the sector’s typical ways of working. We are collaborating with our members to explore how Participatory Grantmaking (PGM) can adapt and respond amidst polycrises, ensuring it protects and uplifts communities in the face of complex challenges while deepening our commitment to participatory practice. We will collectively address the question: How do we continue to deepen PGM practice amidst these crises in a way that protects and uplifts communities? ?? RSVP https://lnkd.in/g3JzVmdV to join us. #ParticipatoryGrantmaking #ShiftingPower #Philanthropy

With the third and final hearing, the Georgian Parliament just adopted a?homophobic legislative package comprising one ‘main’ and 18 other related laws, laying the foundation for several restrictions and changes. It is far-ranging, affecting education, healthcare, media, business, and public gatherings, and demonstratively prohibiting several rights that are unavailable to queer people in Georgia. Read the analysis of the legislative changes offered by our grantee partner OC Media here?https://lnkd.in/dUmFzuQm read a statement put together by our grantee community and Georgian grassroots organizations here?https://lnkd.in/d7sbMSsi

Human Rights Funders Network (HRFN) report “The Trust Gap: The Troubling Lack of Direct, Flexible Funding for Human Rights in the Global South and East” underscores deep funding disparities in human rights philanthropy. The data shows that in 2019, $4.1 billion was distributed to human rights around the world but only $89 million (2%) was allocated to Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Moreover: ?? The proportion of flexible funding reaching recipients in the Global South and East remains low, One in 10 grant dollars for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, is granted directly to groups based in these regions as flexible support; ?? Organizations based in Eastern Europe and Central Asia receive 72% of the grant dollars meant to benefit their region.?The other 28% of the funding goes to organizations based elsewhere to do work that impacts people in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The upshot? Almost every grant dollar for North America and Western Europe reaches North America and Western Europe. ???? Dig into the report to learn more about the #TrustGap in philanthropy: https://bit.ly/3rBEDfi

Read the recent article by Time with reflections on how the ???????????????? ?????????????? ?????????????????? is providing critical resources for frontline social justice movements. ′The impact of feminist philanthropy can be enormous in directing resources to overlooked and underrepresented crises′ - Shake the Table We are thrilled to be named as one of the examples of feminist crisis response in the context of intertwined human rights and humanitarian crises alongside the Black Feminist Fund and Urgent Action Fund for Feminist Activism Read more here: https://lnkd.in/d4bfGbY7

Will you be in New York for #ClimateWeek or the #UNGA79? HRFN members and partners are hosting multiple in-person and online events throughout September. Check them out in the link below, join where you can, and take action! Just Futures Collaborative, HRFN, Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) will host a roundtable discussion for foundations, activist-led intermediary feminist funds, and human rights funds on supporting cross-movement strategies on challenging criminalization on 19 September. View complete list: https://bit.ly/47fsAou The Freedom Fund, Pawanka Fund, WINGS, Alianza Socioambiental Fondos del Sur, The Global Fund for Community Foundations, Dasra, Prisoners of Conscience, CSFund, Black Feminist Fund, Dalan Fund, Purposeful, Rawa Fund #UNGA #Philanthropy #humanrightsfunders

Get to know Lida Minasyan, our Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Manager, and the peacebuilding work she is leading in Armenia with Women's Agenda I ?????? ???????, a grassroots-based organization she co-founded. Women′s Agenda currently consists of around 40 women who act as multipliers in various population groups, for example, through dialogue formats. As peace promoters, they are developing new narratives around conflict, peace, and a feminist peace agenda.