On June 26, 2021, the Asfari Institute hosted the third webinar in its Feminist Circle Series, titled “Funding Feminist Movements in the MENA: Analyzing the Current Ecosystem.” This webinar brought together feminist funds and activists to discuss the critical issues surrounding funding for feminist movements, particularly in the MENA region, and to explore the outcomes and implications of the Generation Equality Forum held in Paris earlier that month. It provided essential insights and laid the groundwork for the development of plans and strategies for the coming years, emphasizing the need for sustained and flexible funding to support the diverse and dynamic feminist movements in the MENA region and beyond.

Speakers’ Work and Organizational Efforts

Kasia highlighted the pivotal role of feminist movements in driving global change, whether in pushing for economic justice, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting communities, or aiding in family recovery. Despite their importance, these movements remain severely underfunded.

Mozn Hassan, representing the Doria Feminist Fund, emphasized the organization’s commitment to amplifying the voices of feminists across the MENA region. She pointed out the language barrier as a significant challenge, noting that much of the feminist discourse is not available in Arabic, which limits regional accessibility and engagement. The Doria Fund strives to bridge this gap by enhancing communication within the region and elevating the voices of marginalized groups.

Lama Al-Khateeb discussed the recent Generation Equality Forum in Paris, where the Open Society Foundation (OSF) announced a $100 million commitment over the next five years to bolster feminist movements and leadership globally. This initiative seeks to support feminist rights, reproductive rights, digital organizing, and combat online harassment. While global in scope, it presents an opportunity to build bridges between the MENA region and other parts of the world.

Zakaria Nasser focused on the unique needs of transgender people in Lebanon, emphasizing that the language used by many funding organizations often alienates transgender communities. He highlighted the non-restrictive nature of feminist movement funding, which has made it easier for his organization to secure support.

Hadeel Qazzaz of Oxfam addressed the importance of how organizations present themselves and their ideas to potential funders. She noted that feminist activism has evolved from political movements to NGOs, which has led to a loss of structure and deficiencies in proposal writing. This evolution has impacted the effectiveness of these organizations in securing funding.

Kasia also introduced an emerging initiative for a global alliance for sustainable feminist movements, co-developed with Canada, the Equality Fund, and AWID. This initiative will create a platform where feminist activists and funders can engage directly, providing a space for funders to understand how flexible funding can better support feminist work.

The Way Forward

The discussions emphasized the challenges funders face in identifying appropriate funding types and balancing donor agendas with the needs of feminist movements. It is crucial for funding to be responsive to the complexity and diversity within feminist organizations, considering factors such as generation, community, minority status, and geography. This includes supporting both institutionalized and informal movements, as well as academic research, which is often overlooked due to its long-term nature and difficulty in tracking immediate impacts.

The importance of adopting an intersectional approach in funding was highlighted, ensuring that diverse voices and perspectives within the feminist movement are recognized and supported. Additionally, there is a need for creating spaces for dialogue and learning, particularly as movements evolve and expand. Addressing the generational divide within feminist movements and overcoming the influence of conservative forces remain ongoing challenges.

Another significant issue raised was the lack of responsiveness from many partners to the region’s history and context. It is vital to understand and support the narratives and efforts of local actors in the MENA region as they work to drive change.

---

Missed it?

Watch the full recording here: