Aid by Sector
Sustaining Power: Women's struggles against contemporary backlash in South Asia
DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, ENERGY & INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY
Women in South Asia have struggled for many decades to improve their lives within their families, in their communities, for securing their livelihoods, and in getting their voices heard as citizens by the state, with women's movements being critical in advancing their rights. However, contemporary social, economic and political changes have created new and multiple forms of backlash and contestations. How do women defend their rights, and secure their gains against these regressive forces and backlash? This question leads our research on the strategies and mechanisms that women use to retain power and sustain gains in women's rights. This research is particularly interested in how different groups of women understanding power and struggle, and how these change over time. We aim to assess what works to defend women's rights, and explain why some struggles are more successful than others in sustaining gains. We think that success of women's struggles depends on a) the types of strategies they use to counter different types of backlash; b) the ways in which struggles include voices and perspectives of different groups of women; and c) the ways in which struggles connect to other movements and groups across local, regional and national levels. The central research question therefore is: When, how, and why do women's power struggles succeed in retaining power and sustaining their gains against backlash? South Asia provides a valuable opportunity to investigate women's struggles. The region has witnessed rapid and large changes over the last decade, including urbanization, rising employment precarity, new electoral laws and regime changes, shifts in social norms, and the spread of digital technology. We aim to examine how these changes create new and multiple forms of backlash; and how women's struggles for power are variously challenged, opened up or are closed down by these changes. We are interested in unraveling the similarities and differences in processes and strategies used by different women's movements to retain power in the face of backlash; and in women's own experiences and interpretations of their struggles as these evolve and adapt over time. We will select 16 cases of women's struggles in four countries that represent the largest populations of South Asia: Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan. Within each country, we will select on-going and contentious cases of struggle in one of four arenas within which gains in women's rights are being sought: family, community, market and the state. This research will use a variety of methods including: a) identifying and analyzing the types of backlash created by processes of contemporary change; b) mapping critical players and what shapes their motivations for action; c) tracing the struggles, nature and trajectory of each movement to counter backlash - through oral history methods, reflective and participatory techniques, qualitative interviews and archival research; d) undertaking comparative analysis to compare how different movements may have triggered, galvanized or been strengthened by power struggles across different arenas; and e) identifying and systematizing which combinations of mechanisms and strategies work to defend women's rights in South Asia and beyond. This is a collaborative research project that draws together a multi-disciplinary research team with deep in-country and conceptual expertise on women's rights and contemporary power struggles in South Asia. This project includes strong capacity building initiatives and opportunities for learning through reflective processes with women's movements and research partners. This research is ambitious in its scope and we hope that our findings that will be grounded in real life experiences of women, will be relevant and useful for feminist scholars, activists and policy actors to set their future course of action to defend women's rights across the world.
Tristan da Cunha Provision of Technical Assistance and Essential Infrastructure 2023 to 2025
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To enable the Administration of Tristan da Cunha to provide appropriate public services to meet the basic health, education, safeguarding and governance needs of the island community, through the provision of professional expertise and training.
LGBT+ Rights Programme – supporting LGBT+ rights organisations
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This programme will transform the lives of millions of LGBT+ people around the world by reducing violence and discrimination against the LGBT+ community and by improving access to services and legislative reform. This will be achieved through the provision of technical and legal support , learning, evidence and advice and support for grassroots LGBT+ organisations
Peace and Stability in Mozambique Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To promote peace and stability through initiatives to prevent the spread of violent extremism and foster peacebuilding in Cabo Delgado and Northern Mozambique, and to consolidate the peace process in Central Mozambique. In the North a) strengthen community resilience against violent extremist influence and narratives; b) promote provincial and local dialogue between public authorities, the private sector and citizens to increase trust and reduce tensions; c) work with security and justice actors on community-centered and human rights compliant approaches; d) support government-led mechanisms for conflict management and improved coordination with international partners. Pilot initiatives with strong monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks – successful efforts will be scaled up through influencing programmes and public policies. In Central Mozambique, we will contribute to the implementation of the Maputo Peace Accords, particularly the the ongoing DDR of former Renamo combatants
Western Balkans – Freedom and Resilience Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This programme will address long-term, structural issues across the region, including ethno-nationalist division, and support transparency and accountability in government, as well as underlying society challenges such as discrimination and violence against women and girls. The Programme will comprise a portfolio of interventions in three areas: reconciliation and peacebuilding in conflict-affected communities; empowering women and girls and tackling Conflict Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) and gender-based violence; and strengthening government capacity, transparency and accountability. Programming will be country-led, with Posts able to bid for funds in support of projects in line with their priorities.
Supporting the Africa-led Movement to End Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): Phase II
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This second phase will continue to work with others to support a movement within countries and globally to raise awareness and understanding of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and build support for efforts to end the practice. Phase I of the programme was called “Towards Ending Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Africa and Beyond” and ran from 2013-2018.
Modern Slavery - Supporting Global Action to End Modern Slavery II
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To develop new approaches to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking across a range of sectors in high prevalence countries. This programme focuses on thematic priorities of eradicating forced labour in supply chains, tackling the worst forms of child labour, and ending the exploitation of women and girls, and it will support and empower survivors of modern slavery across all these priorities. The programme supports bilateral programmes in high prevalence countries and contributes to multilateral organisations on global policy and advocacy work. The programme will also develop research and evidence on different forms of modern slavery to inform future interventions. This programme contributes toward SDG 8.7 to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour.
Serious Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To counter serious and organised crime, build the investigative capacity of select partners and close the loopholes in the justice system that hinders the prosecution of cases.
Human Rights Thematic Programming
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To improve human rights and provide better access across the world through strengthening institutions and grassroots organisations.
Ethiopia – Human Rights and Peacebuilding Programme (HARP)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Human Rights and Peacebuilding (HARP) programme will support the UK’s strategic response to conflict in Ethiopia. The programme will support peacebuilding initiatives in areas where the UK has a comparative advantage. This will build the capacity of local peace actors (particularly women and youth), provide safe spaces for dialogue and engage with government to respond to community needs. The UK has proven success in investing in these areas in Ethiopia – particularly through the CSSF Funded work of Conciliation Resources in Somali Regional State. HARP will look to continue this activity, as well as supporting further peacebuilding activity in other conflict areas.
Strengthening public financial management and revenue collection in Rwanda.
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To improve Local Government Public Financial Management, audit and domestic revenue generation in Rwanda. Stronger public financial management will directly support poverty reduction by increasing economy, efficiency and effectiveness of the use of public resources. Increased domestic revenue collection will reduce Rwanda's dependence on aid and will support sustainable growth.
Transparency and Accountability to improve economic development and service delivery(TRACTION)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To improve accountability responsiveness in the delivery of public goods (including business environment) and services at local and national levels. This will be achieved through changes in the way government does business such as improvements in oversight in use of public finances, improvements in how budgets are allocated to reflect needs and more politicians seeking to legitimise themselves based on the delivery of public goods - both at election time and between elections.
Global Land Governance programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The goal of the Land Facility is to improve stability, inclusive growth and responsible investment by promoting more effective, efficient and equitable rural and urban land governance. The programme will help build basic capacity and systems and mobilise the necessary political support, so governments can implement and resource sustained land governance reform, leading to improved tenure security for all. Improved tenure security will contribute to a number of climate benefits; transformational change, reduced deforestation, increased resilience and sustainable land management practices. It will run for 7 years and will initially work in up to 10 countries in Africa and South East Asia depending on size and needs.
Bangladesh-Collaborative, Accountable and Peaceful Politics (B-CAPP) Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To protect civic space, foster political collaboration, reduce corruption, and mitigate conflict and violence in Bangladesh, the Bangladesh- Collaborative, Accountable and Peaceful Politics programme will mobilise civil society and media coalitions, provide citizens groups with tools to monitor public services, improve decision making within political parties and promote women and youth leadership.
Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
SPRiNG is to support a more stable and peaceful Nigeria in which citizens benefit from reduced violence, and increased resilience to the pressures of climate change (Impact). It will do this by supporting, and shifting incentives of, Nigerian stakeholders so they are more willing and able to respond to conflict, security, justice and natural resource management challenges in target areas (Outcome). SPRiNG is 15-20% International Climate Finance (ICF) eligible.
Aawaz II - Inclusion, Accountability and Preventing Modern Slavery Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To support a Pakistani society and government institutions that support increased voice, choice and control for marginalised groups, protect them from exploitation and prevent discrimination and intolerance at all levels. The programme has a focus on child labour, gender-based violence, child and force marriages, and intolerance against minorities and other socially excluded groups.
International Programme support for development in Lesotho
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
Support for development objectives in Lesotho to address issues of climate change and greater use of renewable energy, tackling violence against women and girls, supporting an evidence base for governance reform, assisting health system strengthening, and promoting inclusion of people with disabilities.
Subscription: Human Rights OHCHR Subscription
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
UK Contribution to Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) funding OHCHR activities across a range of UK priority countries.
UK Embassy Fund (Small Projects) - Philippines
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
ODA fund to support Post's small projects (former International Programme projects) and work on Open Societies, Human Rights, and Democracy in the Philippines.
Modern Slavery - Supporting Global Action to End Modern Slavery
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To develop new approaches to tackle modern slavery and human trafficking across a range of sectors in high prevalence countries. This programme focuses on thematic priorities of eradicating forced labour in supply chains, tackling the worst forms of child labour, and ending the exploitation of women and girls, and it will support and empower survivors of modern slavery across all these priorities. The programme supports bilateral programmes in high prevalence countries and contributes to multilateral organisations on global policy and advocacy work. The programme will also develop research and evidence on different forms of modern slavery to inform future interventions. This programme contributes toward SDG 8.7 to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour.
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