BONELA Marang Fund article
Marang Fund a beacon of hope for the LGBTIQ+ community
A new era for LGBTQI+ rights is dawning in Southern Africa, with the official launch of the Marang Fund LGBTQI+ Grantees program. Following an intensive five-day training and a formal contract-signing ceremony in Johannesburg, a new cohort of grantees is now equipped to lead the charge for meaningful change.
This promising journey toward advancing LGBTQI+ rights, inclusion, and well-being has officially begun. The grantees are now well-prepared and ready to implement their impactful initiatives, bringing to life the fund’s vision of creating a rights-respecting and just region.
At the same time, the Botswana Network on Ethics, Law and HIV/AIDS (BONELA) is in Madagascar for a week-long onboarding training for grantees from Madagascar and Mauritius. This hands-on training is central to BONELA’s mandate to strengthen the capacity of these organizations.
The program focuses on crucial topics like advancing advocacy strategies, using strategic litigation as a tool for change, and establishing safe spaces to protect LGBTQI+ communities. This work is grounded in the belief that access to justice and the creation of enabling environments are the cornerstones of a truly inclusive region.
The timing of this training is particularly significant, as it coincides with the Civil Society Forum 2025 in Madagascar. The forum, held under the theme “Revitalizing the SADC We Want,” is a strategic platform for civil society actors across the region to reflect on their roles and reposition themselves to tackle evolving regional and global dynamics. It also offers a vital opportunity to deliberate on new approaches to advance good governance, strengthen accountability, uphold the rule of law, and safeguard fundamental rights and freedoms throughout the SADC region.
The Marang LGBTQI+ Fund is a regional initiative, generously supported by the European Union. Its mission is to empower LGBTQI+-led and focused organizations in Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius, Madagascar, and Namibia.
The fund provides grants of up to EUR 50,000 over two years to help organizations build safe, inclusive environments; strengthen the LGBTQI+ movement; challenge harmful social norms; and advocate for legal and policy reform. Managed by Gender Links and BONELA, this fund aligns with the broader goals of promoting human rights, inclusion, and dignity, and is a major step toward creating stronger, more resilient LGBTQI+ communities across Southern Africa.
