1. BY SOLOMON WAMBUA
UHAI EASHRI
COC NETHERLANDS

2. Where we are

3. What the programme is Two-year UHAI/COC Netherlands program.
Sub component of the Bridging the Gaps program.
Focused on amplifying the voices of Eastern African LGBTI
grass root activists
To strategically advocate at national, and supra national
levels with more synergetic and sustainable outcomes.
8 out of 51 activists selected in a rigorous process.
(2 Kenya, 2 Tanzania, 2 Burundi and 2 Uganda)

4. REASON FOR THE PROGRAMME
To develop and sustainably strengthen strategic
engagement of regional and international mechanisms and
instruments in advocacy.
Through building a consolidated African LGBTI voice in
regional, continental and international spaces, by:
building a platform for joint amplified action and intervention.
and building the capacity of grass root activists to advocate
with more synergetic sustainable output.

5. ACTIVITIES Strategy meetings for orientation and induction, mapping
out landscape, identifying opportunities. Etc.
Attending sessions of the ACHPR and NGO forums.
Developing of country plans with broader regional and
continental ramifications.
Engaging key special rapporteurs and commissions.

6. OUTCOMES Formation of a pan African advocacy support group.
Identification of symbiotic linkages between national and continental level advocacy.
Strengthening the network of activists as a platform for:
- Sharing learnings and experiences
- Collective engagement in pushing the continental
agenda.
- Amplified and more coherent unified articulation of
LGBTI issues in East Africa within the continental
movement.

7. CHALLENGES Systemic societal and state endorsed homophobia.
Reluctance of state bodies to implement AU decisions
Insufficient follow up mechanisms on AU decisions
Lack of means of endorsing decisions of the AU.
Reluctance of activists to engage regional and
continental mechanisms and procedures.

8. CHALLENGES..Cont’d
Lack of coordination and collaboration in engagement
by activists
Limited support from mainstream Human rights
institutes and commissions.
Resource bottlenecks in sustaining regional and
continental level advocacy.
Competing interests-immediate national needs vs. long
term supra national action
Frustrating, slow results-requiring perseverance and
endurance

9. WAY FORWARD Continued advocacy at regional and supra national spaces.
Focusing on inter session strategising as a component.
Focus on mainstreaming SOGI issues by:
Increasing engagement with other movements in
Africa.
Building alliances and partnerships.

10. ASANTE SANA!!!