Robert Carr Fund

In 2023 Robert Carr Fund began to monitor intersectional thematic focuses across the work of our grantees. Out of 59 networks, which carried out activities aimed at improving the human rights of inadequately served populations (ISPs), 32% of RCF grantees reported their advocacy efforts were focused on HIV criminalization including of drug use or sex work, 19% - on SRHR in the context of HIV, 19% - on Gender Transformative Approaches* including focus on girls and women, trans and genderdiverse people, and gay, bi- and MSM, 15% - on Youth health, rights and leadership, 2% - addressed the impact of climate change on communities affected by HIV. *"A Gender Transformative Approach is one that aims to address the root causes of gender inequality. We question existing power structures and amplify community-led actions that are creating new realities where gender justice is at heart of all policies and practices." - states Srushti Mahamuni, RCF Senior Gender Advisor. Read more about the work of our grantees in the RCF Annual Report 2023: https://bit.ly/3ZuGzVy #SAGE #CommunitiesFirst

The Robert Carr Fund and The Global Fund work together to amplify impact in global health. 65% of RCF-funded networks engage with the GF, and over 70% of these networks use RCF core funding to support essential staff salaries. This core funding is vital for building capacity, strengthening systems, and ensuring sustained operations, enabling networks to engage effectively with the GF and other donors. RCF focuses on supporting regional and global networks through flexible core funding, while the GF funds country-specific grant activities and strategic initiatives such as the Community Engagement Strategic Initiative and Community Led Monitoring Strategic Initiative. With 41% of RCF-funded networks also receiving GF funding, RCF ensures alignment through rigorous monitoring, collaboration, and engagement with GF representatives. Read more about complementarity with the Global Fund in RCF Annual Report 2023: https://bit.ly/3ZuGzVy #CommunitiesFirst

The last 3 days have been busy for Robert Carr Fund! Our Program Advisory Panel (PAP) discussed grant applications and developed the funding advice to the RCF International Steering Committee (ISC). The final decision on 2025-2027 funding cycle will be announced in December 2024! Timeline of the current Request for Proposal process can be found here: https://bit.ly/4b42aao Curious to know how RCF's PAP and ISC works? Visit our web-site: https://bit.ly/3BXswy0 #RCFfamily #CommunitiesFirst

We're thrilled to share two new research articles published under our collaborative project on Digital Health and Rights with #KELINkenya, Privacy International, Restless Development, STOPAIDS: Uniting UK Voices on the Global Response,& University of the Andes supported by Fondation Botnar. The Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+)’s Digital Health & Rights consultant Nomtika Mjwana co-authored a paper on "Brave Global Spaces: Researching Digital Health & Human Rights through Transnational Participatory Action Research" w/ #Javier Guerrero-C, Sebastian Leon-Giraldo & Meg Davis. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g3YXChEv

Five community-led networks from #EECA region, supported by the Robert Carr Fund, united in the Rise & Decriminalize Movement to protect rights of inadequately served populations. The premise behind the Movement is intersectionality – all underserved populations are interconnected, one person can belong to several vulnerable groups at a time. This provides a unique opportunity to build the decriminalization advocacy for one group on the results of the other group, support each other in campaigns. Read more about the initiative here: https://bit.ly/40gtNKy #CommunitiesFirst

Providing long-term, core, and flexible funding to Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP) enables them to gather evidence for advocacy on access to sexual and reproductive health rights (#SRHR) for sex workers in all their diversity. In 2023 through a consortium-wide project, supported by Robert Carr Fund, NSWP collected data across 27 countries in four regions, focusing on sex workers' access to social protection and SRHR. This data serves as a powerful tool for communities, enabling them to strengthen advocacy efforts that ensure sex workers’ rights to social protection and healthcare are upheld. Each country developed national reports, which were synthesized into regional reports, culminating in a global report that highlights key findings and paves the way for future advocacy strategies and research. NSWP’s global report is available here: https://bit.ly/3YcJQ9w More highlights from our grantees can be found in Robert Carr Fund's Annual Report 2023 here: https://bit.ly/3ZuGzVy #CommunitiesFirst #SRHR

In 2023, the Robert Carr Fund allocated approximately $970,000 to support #community networks in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, making up 23% of our total activity expenditures. At the same time, many #EECA countries are facing severe restrictions on fundamental freedoms, directly impacting human rights and access to health services. The Lancet recently published a story discussing innovative funding models amid the global freedom crackdown, highlighting RCF's pooled funding as a vital tool to keep organizations functioning and safeguard the rights of inadequately served populations. Read the full article: https://bit.ly/3BI0uqh Discover more in Robert Carr Fund's 2023 Annual Report, including our efforts to support vulnerable communities worldwide: https://bit.ly/3ZuGzVy #CommunitiesFirst ECOM — Eurasian Coalition for Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity Eurasian Harm Reduction Association

The Vybrant Young Voices (VYV) Consortium, a partnership between Y+ Global, Paediatric-Adolescent Treatment Africa (PATA), and the Coalition for Children Affected by AIDS (CCABA), is driving transformative change for young people living with HIV. Receiving long-term core and flexible funding from the Robert Carr Fund, the consortium focuses on advocacy, leadership development, and amplifying youth voices to empower young leaders to engage in policy dialogues, challenge stigma, and shape inclusive healthcare systems. Together, they work to ensure that the perspectives and needs of young people are at the forefront of the global #HIV response, creating a future where every young voice is heard and valued. Read more about the VYV Consortium: https://lnkd.in/eiSD7Yjt #RCFgrantee #CommunitiesFirst #YouthLeadership #HumanRights

In 2023, up to 87% of Robert Carr Fund-supported networks reported having relied on RCF core funding to implement programmatic activities, most frequently by paying salaries of trained staff responsible for implementation. Networks reported that core funding from RCF has been crucial in maintaining operational stability and allowing for strategic growth and overall improved organizational health. The #MENA region faces severe challenges, from political instability to rising violence against ISPs, including women, youth, & migrants. In 2023, we have seen notable successes even within their restrictive environment. Through RCF's flexible, long-term funding, community-led organizations are pushing for change: -MENA Rosa hosted roundtable discussions in Jordan, Egypt and Morocco around enhancing emergency health care and HIV services for Women Living with #HIV. - The MENA Community organized a regional workshop on Universal Health Coverage (#UHC), drafting a declaration submitted to the High-Level Meeting. - MENAHRA developed a harm reduction cost effectiveness study in Lebanon that acts as an advocacy tool for the introduction and scaling up of harm reduction services. Read more about networks' activities in MENA and other regions as well as see RCF's 2023 Annual Report in detail here: https://bit.ly/3ZuGzVy #CommunitiesFirst

Providing core, flexible and long-term funding to community-led networks works! Data collected by Robert Carr Fund clearly demostrates progress in organizational strengthening, networks' influence and increased capacity to build movements. Chart below is a part of the 2023 Annual Report, showcasing remarkable progress in the global HIV response, demonstrating the power of community-led action. In 2023, RCF invested $11.4 million in community-led and civil society networks in #HIV response. In the current funding cycle we provide 25 grants awarded to 71 global and regional networks, our largest cohort to date. Our grantee partners implement programs in 130 countries across the globe. Find out more in our 2023 Annual Report: https://bit.ly/3ZuGzVy