Aid by Sector
Sustaining Power: Women's struggles against contemporary backlash in South Asia
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
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.
Sustaining Power: Women's struggles against contemporary backlash in South Asia
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
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.
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.
Extra Budgetary Resource (EBR) projects with the Commonwealth Secretariat 2025/26
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
Support for designated project activity in line with UK priorities for the Commonwealth, including on trade and investment, democracy, good governance and the rule of law, and climate finance
UK Embassy Fund - Philippines (ODA Small Projects FY 25-26)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
ODA fund to support Post's small projects and work on Governance, Peace and Human Rights in the Philippines.
BHC SUVA - FY25/26 ODA Allocation
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This programme will enable support of one project for the delivery of the BHC Suva Country Business Plan objectives.
Council of Europe Subscription
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The UK's legal obligation to Council of Europe (CoE) to progress FCDO and cross-HMG priorities, working closely with CoE to drive progress on areas including economic growth, security, migration, Europe , climate and nature and development.
Strengthening Human Rights Compliance of the Multinational Security Support Mission to Haiti
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The UN-backed Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to Haiti is supporting the National Police to bring greater security and stabilisation to the country by reducing the control of violent gangs. This Programme, implemented by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), will help the MSS achieve its objectives by i) building the capacity of mission personnel to prevent, identify, investigate, report, and act on human rights violations, gender-based violence, and sexual exploitation and abuse; ii) advancing human rights protection of Haitian local communities and civil society; and iii) strengthening the capacity of Haitian rule of law entities collaborating with the MSS, such as the police, judiciary and prison administration, to conduct operations in accordance with international human rights standards.
Indo-Pacific Regional Governance Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Indo-Pacific Governance Programme will support the foundations on which FCDO can deliver the UK objectives in the Indo-Pacific by establishing partnerships for ‘progressive governance’ that enable broader UK priorities in the region. Support will be based on a combination of a) strategic programming b) deep context analysis and learning, and c) increased capacity to deliver advice and support to governance actors in the region. The programme will build on a base of successful projects and will test a long-term approach for strategic engagement on governance in the region.
SUBS: Human Rights Department Subscriptions
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
International Subscriptions to organisations promoting fundamental human rights and protections for minority and / or vulnerable groups.
Protecting Civil Society and Human Rights Defenders
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The Protecting Civil Society and Human Rights Defenders programme will provide £19.73 million in ODA and £250,000 in non-ODA over five years to enable the FCDO to better support and protect civil society organisations (CSOs) and human rights defenders (HRDs) who are under threat because of their work.
UK Embassy Bilateral Fund (ODA) FY 25-26, Viet Nam
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
UK Embassy Bilateral Fund (ODA) FY 25-26, Viet Nam serves the UK's government priorities in Viet Nam
Supporting Cambodia’s human capital landscape as part of its graduation from LDC status.
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This project supports the foundations of Cambodia’s upcoming graduation from LDC status by reinforcing human capital initiatives: supporting people with disabilities, empowering women economically, building opportunities for STEM careers and improving justice reform with a focus on juvenile rights.
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.
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.
Corridors for Growth
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This programme supports the development of efficient, resilient, and inclusive transport infrastructure in Tanzania, focusing on the central trade corridor. Activities include upgrading the Port of Dar es Salaam, strengthening public-private partnership capacity, and embedding safeguarding standards for vulnerable transport users. The project promotes economic growth, trade, and welfare, aligning with ODA’s core objective of supporting sustainable development in a partner country.
Kenya Institutional Strengthening Programme (KISP)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To improve governance, democracy, human rights and support to anti-corruption efforts in Kenya as part of UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership.
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.
Tristan da Cunha Provision of Technical Assistance and Essential Infrastructure 2023 to 2026
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.
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