Publications & Tools

We have organised our growing library of publications and tools to better serve the sex worker-led movement, funders, and allies. We have highlighted key topics that intersect with our work including participatory grantmaking, donor finders, and other work contributed from regional networks, sex worker funders, and other organisations that support sex worker rights.

In preparation for our second strategic plan, we reflected on our work to date: what have we accomplished, what have we learned, and how can we use these lessons to plan for the future. To understand the impact of our work, we gathered feedback from grantees, other activists, funders, members of the International Steering Committee (ISC) and Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) and staff.

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Grantcraft (recently renamed Candid Learning for Funders) produced a guide on participatory grantmaking, generously funded by Ford Foundation and Open Society Foundation as part of a issue lab on Participatory Grantmaking. Download the guide Deciding Together: Shifting power and resources through participatory grantmaking and learn more about the report on Candid’s website.

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Published in 2014, Issue 3 of the Anti-Trafficking Review focuses on money trails in the anti-trafficking sector, and is the first of its kind as to date there has been no research on how much is spent combating the human rights abuses that amount to human trafficking. This themed issue looks at money trails that reveal how anti-trafficking money has changed the world for the better or for worse.

Learn more: Are we really listening?

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“One of the main findings, as detailed in the recent FCAA and Elton John AIDS Foundation “Converging Epidemics: COVID-19, HIV & Inequality” report, was that HIV-related intermediary funders are best positioned to provide flexible, strategic support for the most critical needs of community members and community-led groups working at the intersection of HIV, human rights and racial justice.
The purpose of this follow-up briefing paper is to help make the case for greater investment in HIV-related intermediaries, particularly those that are community-rooted and community-led.
It explores their role, added value and impact, and key challenges and needs. It also looks at the strategic and practical considerations that donors who currently support intermediaries take into account when developing relationships with their intermediary partners.
Finally, this briefing paper also offers new benchmark data to contextualize the level of HIV-related philanthropy moving to intermediary and community-rooted funding organizations.
We hope that the case studies and insights from interviews conducted and data analyzed for this paper will encourage donors — whether public or private, large or small — to invest in community-rooted funders and/or adopt some of the community-rooted practices described within.
A series of recommendations for putting this into practice is included at the conclusion of this briefing paper.”

Read the full report.
Read the individual report case studies
Initiative Sankofa d’Afrique de l’Ouest
Southern AIDS Coalition and the Contigo F
und
Global Network of Young People Living with HIV and Advocates for Y
outh
Red Umbrella
Fund
Read the accompanying report: Converging Epidemics: COVID-19, HIV and Inequality

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Participatory Grantmakers Community is building a library of video resources for participatory grantmakers and funders with questions about participatory grantmaking. Participatory Grantmaking 101 as well as topics around operationalising sharing the power and conflicts of interest within grantmaking are included in their growing selections.

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The Participatory Grantmakers Community is a global community of practice focused on sharing knowledge to improve participatory grantmaking and encourage its use within philanthropy. The Community developed a list of resources and best practices about how to shift power effectively, equitably and authentically accessible on their website including introductory resources.

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Learn more about Mama Cash’s experience hosting Red Umbrella Fund from its former Executive Director Nicky McIntyre. In the article she describes ?the collaboration of sex workers and donors that established the Red Umbrella Fund?a truly pioneering participatory fund that puts sex workers in the driver?s seat on deciding where funding goes? the highlight of her 10 years at Mama Cash. She recalled: “Sex workers demanded that the collaboration no longer just be for donors but rather a genuine collaboration between donors and sex workers, one that would put the priorities of sex workers in the lead. They demanded that the focus of any funding should be on good funding (core, organizational support that is accessible to a range of groups, especially small organizations) and that it go to sex worker led groups, not NGOs working on sex worker rights. They demanded that sex workers have control over how the money would be spent and that whatever emerged would contribute to building a global movement of sex workers. They were not satisfied with only being participants in the process?they demanded to be in the driver?s seat. Wow! It was impressive, humbling, scary and exciting.”

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In 2020 Inside Philanthropy published an article by leaders at RSF focusing on shifting the power in philanthropy. RSF is a financial services organization that ?has formed a growing community of motivated, values-driven investors, donors, and entrepreneurs. Together, we are committed to transforming an unjust and extractive economy to one that brings healing and regeneration.?

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