Funders, Networks, & Allies

This regional network
Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW) has 32 active organisational members in 23 countries that work together to promote the human rights of sex workers of all genders in Asia and the Pacific. APNSW conducts advocacy with regional intergovernmental bodies and the United Nations. The network provides training and technical support to its members on human rights, and quality HIV and health services, sets up sex worker-led legal services, and develops advocacy strategies.

“The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is a network of 85 member organisations across 23 countries, mainly in Asia. Founded in 1991, FORUM-ASIA works to strengthen movements for human rights and sustainable development through research, advocacy, capacity development and solidarity actions in Asia and beyond. It has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and consultative relationship with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. The FORUM-ASIA Secretariat is based in Bangkok, with offices in Jakarta, Geneva and Kathmandu.

FORUM-Asia provides urgent funding for human rights defenders through their Protection Plan for Human Rights Defenders at Risk.”

Comic Relief is a charity based in the UK “with a vision of a just world, free from poverty… We aim to entertain, engage and accelerate change. We will do this by being a creative agency for social change.” Comic Relief’s Power Up strategy prioritises women and girls having the power to identify their needs, organise around solutions and strategies, and collectively make decisions on how to move forward.

“CREA is a feminist international human rights organization based in the Global South and led by women from the Global South. CREA’s work draws upon the inherent value of a rights-based approach to sexuality and gender equality. CREA promotes, protects, and advances human rights and the sexual rights of all people by building leadership capacities of activists and allies; strengthening organizations and social movements; creating and increasing access to new information, knowledge, and resources; and enabling supportive social and policy environments. Many resources are also in Bengali, Hindi, and Nepali. “

Foundation for a Just Society (FJS) “advances the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQI people and promotes gender and racial justice by ensuring those most affected by injustice have the resources they need to cultivate the leadership and solutions that transform our world.” Learn more about what they fund on their website.

The Global Fund is a partnership designed to accelerate the end of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as epidemics. As an international organization, the Global Fund mobilizes and invests more than US$4 billion a year to support programs run by local experts in more than 100 countries. In partnership with governments, civil society, technical agencies, the private sector and people affected by the diseases

Global Fund for Women offers “flexible feminist funding and support to fuel collective action and create meaningful change that will last beyond our lifetimes.Over the course of 30+ years, Global Fund for Women has supported feminist movements and grassroots organizers to end civil wars, get female Presidents elected, and secure laws giving new protection to millions. Today, building on historic wins and the latest research, we are doubling down on supporting movements. By shifting towards a movement-led approach, Global Fund for Women will harness and fuel rising people-power globally to increase their impact and accelerate change.” Information about their grantmaking is available on their website.

Founded in 2004, HER Fund mobilizes resources for women’s empowerment, the promotion of social changes and gender equality. “We support the most vulnerable women and girls in Hong Kong by providing capacity-building, leadership training and small grants to grassroots organizations led by and serving the most disadvantaged. We also increase the visibility of marginalized women and girls—and the issues they face.” Informal groups based in Hong Kong may apply with a registered organisation. There is significant accompaniment available through the organisation to support the applications process. 

Hivos is a humanist organization that strives for a free, fair and sustainable world. Hivos seeks new and creative solutions to persistent global problems; solutions created by people taking their lives into their own hands. Hivos has a global office in the Hague, The Netherlands and provides support to civil society organisations working in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia.

“The Human Capability Foundation (HCF) is a grant-making foundation based in the UK. Founded in 2011, we support organisations working for the rights of marginalised communities.
The Foundation’s primary focus is in India and on the issues of: Women’s Education and Empowerment; Youth Education; Mental Health & Disability Rights; Labour; and Migration. ​The HCF seeks to build long-term funding relationships with NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and CBOs (community-based organisations).”

Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights – Asia & Pacific (UAF-ANP) is part of the Urgent Action Fund global consortium. supports the resilience and resistance of movements led by women and non-binary activists in Asia and the Pacific by co-creating a safe environment for them to sustain their work and thrive. Guided by feminist values, individuals, organisations, and their communities are provided urgent grants and strategic support to strengthen their safety and well-being.They provide rapid response grants.

“The Women’s Peace & Humanitarian Fund is an innovative partnership empowering local women to be a force for crisis response and lasting peace.
We galvanize support from across the globe to support the efforts of women working on the frontlines of the world’s most intractable conflicts. From Jordan to Burundi, the Solomon Islands to Colombia, we aim to amplify the voices of women and support their vital work to prevent conflict, respond to crises, and accelerate peace in their communities.””

They provide funding including urgent or rapid response funding to sex workers’ rights projects and related civil society groups in specific contexts of conflict and crisis worldwide.”