Catalyzing Change by Building Community Awareness and Understanding of LGBTQI+ issues in DRC, Guinea, Sierre Leone, Timor Leste and Serbia

Group Submission Type: Formal Panel Session

Proposal

As part of the broader use of education as a tool for protest, education can be effective in raising awareness and catalyzing changes in mindsets and behaviors as part of fostering more inclusive societies and labor forces. International development implementers and donors have long recognized the importance of using education in this manner, but as societies become more closed and illiberal forces gain power in many countries around the world, there is a heightened need for more analysis and understanding of the factors that contribute to exclusion and promising education programming to address these threats to holistic education. USAID in particular has increased its investment in more inclusive programming as demonstrated by recent work under several USAID projects including The Inclusive Development Activity for Mission Support (IDAMS) Task Order. IDAMS is a global project that engages diverse perspectives of communities and key stakeholders to help expand awareness of power dynamics; foster inclusive mindsets; and embed practices that combat stigma and discrimination, promote empowerment, and improve the lives of those who have been marginalized. Since its inception in 2022, IDAMS has completed inclusive development analyses for USAID Missions in Timor-Leste, Sierra Leone, and Guinea that included a focus on better understanding local LGBTQI+ communities. The analyses were designed to gather data that is difficult to find via the published literature and other reports and organized data collection via trusted organizations who work with the local LGBTQI+ community. One common finding across country analyses was that pride parades and other similar awareness raising events had influenced changes in beliefs and attitudes about the LGBTQI+ population among community members; resulting in more open and positive feelings, perceptions, and mindsets. Izadji or “Let’s Come Out, Let’s Work Together” is a project focused on Serbia that seeks to raise the perception among Serbian society, particularly in the employment sector, that the inclusion of all individuals, including the LGBTQI+ community, yields positive effects for the economy. Izadji is using country-wide communication efforts and campaigns targeting the business community, the broader public, and youth in Serbia through a range of platforms to disseminate messages about open, diverse, inclusive working environments.

Work under these two projects sheds light on salient questions related to inclusion and education such as how LGBTQI+ individuals and organizations that represent them understand existing challenges, specific needs, opportunities and capacities to advance LGBTQI+ rights and inclusion in relevant national social, economic and political processes; how do local communities perceive and define inclusion; and what behaviors and attitudes exist about marginalized populations and LGBTQI+ in particular. The panelists will share inclusive development principles and practices, as well as analysis tools and recommended education program strategies to strengthen inclusion of LGBTQI+ stakeholders. The presented tools and program strategies are relevant to the CIES community because they highlight experiences and analytical tools that can inform programming or be adapted for other traditionally excluded communities. Speakers will include lead researchers and a local implementing partner to highlight different country experiences followed by a question answer discussion segment. Discussion questions will include: What are effective educational activities and strategies for raising awareness in political and cultural contexts that exclude vulnerable communities?
What is the role of communications and campaigns to catalyze changes in mindsets and behaviors and to foster inclusion?
What are promising data collection methods for politically and culturally sensitive issues in closed societies?

Sub Unit

• General Pool

Chair

• nancy Stuart taggart, Making Cents International

Individual Presentations

• Approaches and Findings from Inclusive Development Analysis in Timor Leste - Christine Allison, Data and Development Strategies, LLC

• Assessment Approaches and Findings on Intersectionality from An Inclusive Development Analysis in Sierre Leone and Guinea - Fabrice C Houdart, Georgetown University

• Strategies for Building Understanding for LGBTQI Community in Serbia- Let’s Work Together Project - Aleksa Savic, Group ''COME OUT''