AMSHeR Progress Report

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AMSHER STRIVES FOR A FUTURE
WHEN EVERY COUNTRY IN AFRICA WILL
ENABLE SAFE, HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE
AND FULFILLING LIVES FOR ALL ITS
PEOPLE, IRRESPECTIVE OF SEXUAL
ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR
GENDER EXPRESSION.

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ABOUT AMSHER
© November 2019 African Men for Sexual
Health and Rights (AMSHeR)
www.amsher.org
Phone: +27 11 482 4630
Email: info@amsher.org
Founded in 2009, African Men for Sexual Health and
Rights (AMSHeR) is a coalition of 18 LGBT+/MSM-led
organisations across sub-Saharan Africa that aims to:
address the disproportionate effect of the HIV epidemic
on MSM and LGBT+ individuals; redress the human
rights violations these populations face on the continent;
and increase the visibility of LGBT+ individuals and
their issues. Although AMSHeR’s formal membership
is 18 organisations, strategically chosen to maintain
geographic (Central, East, Southern and West Africa),
linguistic (English, French, Kiswahili and Portuguese-
speaking countries), and socio-legal (common law, civil
law and Roman-Dutch legal systems) representation of
sub-Saharan Africa, AMSHeR was formed in an attempt
to devise ‘home-grown’ strategies to address local issues.
AMSHeR maintains a reach across the whole of Africa
through partnerships with a network of affiliate members.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
AMSHeR10 - open up celebrations! 9
Introduction 9
Open Up Africa - Our footprint 11
10 Years of amsher - Raising an African Voice 15
Strategy – Open Up the Future 17
Open Up africa and the World 17
Open up: guiding principles 18
Open Up Strengths 19
Open Up: Strategic Objectives and Outcomes 21
Open Up the Journey 24
AMSHeR10 - Open Up Projects 30
Kp reach: key population representation, evidence, and advocacy for change in health (africa) 30
Ykp: linking policy to programming (south africa) 31
Sogir: sexual orientation and gender identity and rights – being lgbt in africa (africa) 33
Utetezi: advocacy for improved access to services for msm 34
Flai: francophone lgbti advocates initiative 35
Mhap: the msm health advocacy project 36
The sexuality and equality in africa project 36
Advancing health and human rights access for lgbt+ individuals 37
The voices for freedom 38
AMSHeR10 - Open Up Leadership 41
Leading our vision 41
Our young rising stars 43
AMSHeR10 - Open Up our Countries 48
Open Up 2020 - Where to Next? 55
Delivering results related to championing rights 55
Delivering results related to celebrating diversity 56
Delivering results related to inclusive development 57
Delivering results related to the LGBT+ social movement in Africa 59

KEY TERMS/ GLOSSARY
AMSHeR: African Men Sexual Health and Rights
APCOM: Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health
CAL: Coalition of African Lesbians
EAC: East African Community
ECOWAS: Economic Community of West African States
ECOM: Eurasian Coalition on Male Health
HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
IAC: International AIDS Conference
ICASA: International Conference on AIDS and Sexually
Transmitted Infections in Africa
ILGA: International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and
Intersex Association
INGO: International Non-Governmental Organisation
LGBT: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
MDGs: Millennium Development Goals
MSM: Men who have sex with men
NGO: Non-Governmental Organisation
PLWHA: People Living with HIV/AIDS
SADC: Southern African Development Community
SDGs: Sustainable Development Goals
UN: United Nations
UNAIDS: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS
UNDP: United Nations Development
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization

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A M S H e R 1 0 – O P E N U P C E L E B R A T I O N S !
8
18 MEMBERS
15 COUNTRIES
1 COALITION

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INTRODUCTION
One of the main highlights in preparing this Progress
Report for the African Men for Sexual Health and Rights
(AMSHeR) had to be the 10th Anniversary of AMSHeR.
That’s 10 eventful years of promoting non-discrimination
for LGBT+ individuals, building partnerships and achieving
our mission of a healthy and empowered LGBT+ community
in Africa. May this landmark occasion introduce an
exciting new chapter of strengthening our leadership
and, especially, celebrating the great contributions of our
18 members across 15 African countries as well as our
global partners.
What a wonderful journey it has been!
Founded in 2009 by our Founding Pioneer, Joël Gustave
Nana, AMSHeR came to be as a coalition of HIV and human
rights organisations sharing a vision of an empowered and
healthy life for African men who have sex with men, with
human rights for all.
As early as 2005, during the International Conference on
HIV/AIDS and STIs in Africa, people interested in building
a coalition started an email listserve through which they
could keep in touch and share information. The coalition
started to take shape through discussions between the
Global HIV and AIDS Programme Adviser at Oxfam GB, and
individuals such as the Director of the Centre for Popular
Education and Human Rights (CEPEHRG), an organisation
working for LGBT+ rights in Ghana. Enthusiastic responses
from members of the email listserve confirmed the appetite
for a coalition. The idea also received support from Oxfam
Novib, who at the time was the largest contributor to LGBT+
issues among Oxfam affiliates, and the International Gay
and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) based
in Cape Town.
During the International AIDS Conference in Mexico
City (August 2008), the Oxfam GB Programme Adviser,
Director of CEPEHRG and the HIV Officer from IGLHRC
stood outside a forum on MSM to ‘collect’ African activists
who agreed on the need to formally establish a coalition.
Donor representatives from amfAR (The Foundation for
AIDS Research) and UNDP who happened to be walking
by during the discussion expressed their willingness to
see proposals for such a coalition. Encouraged by this,
a member of Sexual Minorities Uganda drafted the first
concept note of the pan African network of MSM and HIV
organisations, which later became known as AMSHeR.
Celebrating 10 years of advocacy and leadership and
successfully implementing the organisation’s strategic
mandate, AMSHeR today continues its commitment
to promoting the health and rights of LGBT+ across
the continent.
AMSHER10
OPEN UP CELEBRATIONS!
I N T R O D U C T I O N

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AMSHeR has representation in 15 countries spanning
Central, East, Southern and West Africa, with a linguistic
diversity of English, French, Kiswahili and Portuguese.
We maintain a reach across the whole of Africa
through partnerships with a network of members and
affiliate members.
Here, at a glance, are the countries where AMSHeR has
representation as well as our members active in
those countries:
Burundi
Rainbow Candle Light (RCL) is a non-governmental
organisation founded on 24 November, 2009. Rainbow
Candle Light is an LGBT+ - led organisation working
towards sensitising community members, and to help
change attitudes and practices to reduce the risk of HIV
and other sexually transmitted infections.
Since the adoption of anti-gay laws in the revised penal
code of Burundi, RCL have extended their activities to
include advocacy for human rights and freedoms, and also
to promote the rights and duties of citizens, particularly
those relating to gay rights.
Cameroon
Alternatives-Cameroun was founded by a group of young
professionals and has been a legally recognised non-profit
organisation in Cameroon since 27 October, 2006. The
organisation works for equality, tolerance, and respect
for people who suffer from social exclusion, especially
for the rights of people who have sexual relations with
people of the same sex.
Their vision is to have a principled and strong Cameroonian
society, which is democratic and tolerant, and affirms
individual as well as social and economic rights.
Cote d’Ivoire
Alternative Ivory Coast is a non-political, non-confessional
and non-profit organisation founded on 14 March, 2010
in Abidjan. They work towards being a platform of health
training and human rights, planning and implementing
programmes and services in terms of HIV/AIDS which are
responsive to the realities of sexual minorities as well as
other populations who interact with them.
In their ongoing fight for respect of human rights,
the organisation actively campaigns for the right to access
medical services, information, training and education
for vulnerable people or victims of discrimination and
stigmatisation. They effectively advocate on a national
and international level to raise public awareness on
the issues facing the communities they represent.
Ghana
The Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights
(CEPEHRG) started as a youth and human rights project
in 1998 and was officially registered in March 2003. The
organisation works for the attainment of equal rights
and the removal of all forms of discrimination in all
aspects of life for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and same gender
loving people in Ghana, where same-sex relationships
are still criminalised. They strive to inform, educate,
counsel and support people in matters relating to law,
health (specifically HIV/AIDS in same-sex relationships)
and socio-economic well-being
OPEN UP AFRICA
OUR FOOTPRINT
O U R F O O T P R I N T

12 O U R F O O T P R I N T
Kenya
The Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALCK) is
the national umbrella body of 16 Kenyan organisations
working for the rights and social well-being of sexual
and gender minorities (SOGI). They envision a safe
and enabling environment for all – a space where
the fundamental principles of human rights, equality
and non-discrimination and the protection of the
marginalised are guaranteed. Where all Kenyans, regardless
of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression
are accorded their rights and freedoms as guaranteed
by the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
Ishtar is one of the founding organisations of the Gay
and lesbian coalition of Kenya (GALCK) and was formally
registered as a community based organisation in 2002.
Their initial membership was male sex workers but the
organisation has since been at the forefront of advancing
LGBT+ health rights in Kenya, becoming actively involved
in several groundbreaking research programmes.
Malawi
The Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) was
established to address the needs and challenges of minority
groups in Malawi in the context of human rights, health
and social development. Such minority groups are LGBT+
people, prisoners, sex workers, street children and any
other minority groups whose rights are often neglected.
The main goal of CEDEP is to create a legally and socially
accepting environment where minority groups have an
improved livelihood. They work to advance the human
rights of minority groups through advocacy and lobbying,
to promote the human rights and health of minority groups
through civic education, training, capacity building,
networking and research, and provide support services
for the improvement of the welfare of minority groups.
Mozambique
The Mozambican Association for Sexual Minority
Rights (LAMBDA) was founded in 2006. They work to
promote the civic, human and legal rights of LGBT+ citizens
through public awareness and education, advocacy and
social dialogue. Their target groups are all LGBT+ citizens,
civil society organisations, political and governmental
institutions, and social groups such as youth, teachers,
medical doctors, and the general public.
Namibia
Out Right Namibia (ORN) is a human rights based
organisation that was formed in March 2010 by self-
identified LGBT+ activists and officially registered in
November 2010 as a Trust. ORN advocates as the voice
for lesbian women, gay men, bisexuals, transgender and
intersex people in Namibia to further address, redress and
arrest the amount of homophobia rhetoric in the country.
They work towards being the leading organisation
to create a united movement for sexual diverse people
to enjoy improved quality of life and have access to legal
and social justice.

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Nigeria
The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIER) is a registered
non-governmental organisation that was established in
2007 as a response to the continuous discrimination
and marginalisation of sexual minorities in health
programmes such as the HIV prevention programme and
human rights advocacy. It envisions a society that is free
from discrimination on the grounds of age, gender, tribe
and, especially, sexual orientation and gender identity.
The organisation works to achieve this through sexual
health programming, skills acquisition programmes,
capacity building development and legal aid programmes.
The International Center for Advocacy on Right to
Health (ICARH) is an independent research initiative
established in 1999 to contribute to policy issues affecting
the rights of sexual minorities through research, analysis,
training, awareness campaign development and advocacy.
They are also active in providing legal support to its
members and is a member of a number of important
human rights coalitions including Sexual Minorities
Against AIDS in Nigeria (SMAAN).
South Africa
OUT-LGBT Well-being is 15 years old and one of the
biggest LGBT+ organisations in South Africa. Their focus
is on health and rights and they have played a leading
role in securing legal same sex marriage in South Africa.
They work towards counselling LGBT+ communities, focus
on HIV and substance abuse prevention programmes and
the strengthening of community norms. Their advocacy
includes the advancement of inclusive LGBT+ and
progressive gender legislation. They also serve on the South
African National AIDS Council.
Tanzania
TheCommunityHealthEducationServiceandAdvocacy
(CHESA) was established in 2008 and is a registered
youth voluntary, non-partisan, non-governmental
organisation (NGO) dedicated to the key population, LGBT+
communities and their networks. They work towards
responding to HIV/AIDS and human rights issues through
in-depth partnership with the communities in Tanzania.
CHESA uses international commitments such as Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) as a measure of competence
and performance for improved standards of living for
the key population.
Togo
Afrique-Arc-En-Ciel, founded on 23 October, 2007
is a group of young gay men who advocate for access to
adequate prevention, treatment, care and support in HIV
and AIDS, as well as a social environment free of stigma
and discrimination. They work in partnership with the
NGO Medical Aid and Charity (MAC) and administers a
meeting space in Lomé, where free discussion without

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any taboos on the topics on homosexuality and HIV/AIDS
prevention and human rights can take place.
Uganda
Frank & Candy was formed in 2005 as a Kuchu grassroots
organisation with the specific aim to address the HIV and
health care needs of Kuchus in Uganda. The word Kuchu
is used deliberately as a self-identification of all those who
have sexual orientations that differ from the heterosexual
majority. Frank & Candy aims to help Kuchus, Kuchu
organisations and individuals self-actualise with regards
to their needs of health, in particular sexual health and
HIV prevention needs.
Zambia
Friends of RAINKA (FoR) is a non-governmental,
not-for-profit organisation that champions the rights
of sexual minorities in Zambia through advocacy,
information dissemination, legal reform, research and
direct service provision. They work to engage law and
policy makers in legal reform, build capacity to undertake
effective advocacy, establish member services based on
identified needs and priorities, and to research, gather,
analyse and disseminate information.
Zimbabwe
Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) is a voluntary
membership organisation established in 1990 to serve
the needs of the LGBT+ community in Zimbabwe. They
provide membership driven services to the LGBT+
community and work to increase availability of relevant
services that are responsive to the needs of members,
ensuring access to safe and non-discriminatory spaces and
facilities. Their aim is to strengthen the capacity of LGBT+
people to exercise their rights and to raise awareness
and understanding by the public of LGBT+ issues,
interests and rights.
GALZ achieve their goals through ongoing and engaged
advocacy, lobbying, empowerment, education, research
and provision of safe spaces.
SEXUAL RIGHTS
ARE HUMAN RIGHTS.

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R A I S I N G A N A F R I C A N V O I C E
Joël Gustave Nana (1982-2015) – AMSHeR’s founding
Executive Director
Joël was the founder and Executive Director of AMSHeR
from 2009 until early 2014. A colourful, outspoken and
dedicated champion for human rights, sexual orientation
and gender identity, and HIV health access for LGBT+ in
Africa, he pioneered AMSHeR from a fledgling activist
organisation to an influential coalition leader.
Joël believed that LGBT+ communities in Africa needed
to find a voice, to raise an African voice. “Denial of
the existence of these communities lead to the denial
of access to services for these communities all through
the continent,” he cautioned, and proposed that motivated
advocates around Africa who work on these issues
in their own countries must come together to raise an
African voice.
His contribution in creating a voice and visiblity for LGBT+
communities and putting the issue of violence against
these communities on the agenda at policy forums such
as the AU and the African Commission of Human and
People’s Rights is unprecedented and still bears fruit
today. In his own words, “having found our African voice
has been one of AMSHeR’s greatest achievements.”
His achievements sprang from deep, personal convictions.
Joël’s friends and colleagues remember him as a person of
conviction: “If he felt strongly about something, he would
tell you about it. He was a complex person,” they say.
“He had a clear vision of what AMSHeR is, and made
effort to persuade people and establish AMSHeR as a key
player in Africa and globally in a very short space of time.”
But Joël was also human, someone who responded to
tone and emotion. There was something about the way
he stepped in to care and say “this must matter ...” He is
fondly remembered as a friend and an inspiration: “He was
human, he was flawed, he made mistakes, but he always
acted with compassion and conviction.”
What he stood for remains clear in the minds of those
close to him: “What I’ve learned from Joël was don’t ever
be paralysed by inaction of those around you. Don’t get
distracted. People will tell you all kinds of things, but keep
your focus. Stay on the course.”
“If your country’s too small to work in, work for your
continent. Africa is full of dreams and promises, get out
there. Do something!” Joël leaves an indelible mark, and
a vision worth upholding.
10 YEARS OF AMSHER
RAISING AN AFRICAN VOICE

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STRATEGY – OPEN UP
THE FUTURE
The daily reality for African SOGI (sexual orientation
and gender identity) communities, has not significantly
changed for most in the past few years. HIV prevention
and care remain key priorities for these key populations.
However, today the needs and priorities of our communities
go far beyond HIV. There is a risk that an exclusive focus
on HIV to the exclusion of other issues might reinforce
public perceptions of these communities as vectors
of disease.
A broader approach has become the norm across Africa, as
“mainstream” human rights groups are increasingly likely
to defend equal rights for people regardless of sexual
orientation, gender identity or gender expression, even
in the face of strong and politicised homo/bi/transphobia.
The adoption of Resolution 275 by the African Commission
on Human and Peoples’ Rights in May 2014, condemning
violence related to sexual orientation and gender identity
was a particularly significant step forward.
There has been a significant shift in the over-arching
development framework that shapes both domestic
policy and development assistance in Africa. This shift
is illustrated in the transition from the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) as well as the endorsement
of the AU’s Agenda 2063. Both the SDGs and Agenda
2063 emphasise universality, including the aspiration of
leaving no one behind in development efforts.
This changing landscape informs AMSHeR’s policies,
strategies and approach.
OPEN UP AFRICA AND
THE WORLD
As a regional African coalition, AMSHeR works at three
levels to contribute towards better lives for people
of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and
gender expressions.
• At country level AMSHeR continues to empower
members and partners to directly influence change as
well as to strengthen other national and local LGBT+
groups and other national and local social movements.
This is achieved through facilitating access to
specialist technical support, access to resources by
sharing information about funding opportunities, and
by producing and/or sharing evidence about what
works to achieve relevant social change.
• At regional level AMSHeR advocates for attention
to sexual and gender diversity in regional human
rights, facilitates inter-country programming, and
strengthens the regional evidence base and its use
by supporting multi-country documentation, research
and knowledge sharing. To this end, AMSHeR
cooperates with regional bodies of religious, cultural
and media organisations to increase the positive
representation of gender and sexual diversity.
• At global level AMSHeR focuses on increasing
and improving attention to African gender and
sexual diversity issues within health-related
governance bodies and networks, emphasises
African perspectives and priorities in international
civil society organisations, and facilitates sharing of
relevant evidence and lessons across regions.

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OPEN UP: GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Driving and delivering its strategic plan and advancing
its vision, AMSHeR challenges widespread homophobia
and related discrimination. The LGBT+ movement in
Africa is dynamic and growing but also fragile. In order to
be successful, it is essential that AMSHeR’s leaders, the
staff of AMSHeR’s member organisations and secretariat,
and volunteers have a shared commitment to guiding
principles that guide how we work.
• Human rights-based approach: AMSHeR consistently
advocates for human rights principles as the basis of
health and development programming, emphasising
equality and addressing marginalisation, exclusion
and discrimination. The constant challenge is
to identify and address the different forms of
discrimination, power imbalances and structural
factors that perpetuate marginalisation.
• Inclusivity and intersectionality: AMSHeR recognises
that contexts are complex and are made up of a
range of factors that enhance or hinder the ability of
people to access their rights. We recognise that each
individual is complex – in addition to their sexuality
and gender identity and expression, they are young
or old; women, men, intersex or transitioning; ethnic
majority or minority within their countries; citizens
or migrants; living with disabilities or not. AMSHeR
is committed to an inclusive and intersectional
approach that considers these multiple realities.
• Incremental approach: AMSHeR has a vision of
an ideal society where stigma, discrimination and
violence are eliminated, and where human rights are
respected, protected and promoted. We also recognise
that our strategies require incremental engagement
and planning to achieve realistic outcomes.
• Empowerment: AMSHeR is committed to promoting
partnerships and strategies that reinforce autonomy
and agency of African SOGI individuals and
communities instead of charity models that perpetuate
dependency.
• Professional, accountable and compassionate:
AMSHeR is committed to the highest standards of
professionalism and accountability in its approach and
operations. AMSHeR’s secretariat and members are
accountable to people of diverse sexual orientations,
gender identities and gender expressions in Africa as
well as to donors that finance activities. All AMSHeR
investments and actions must remain consistent with
such accountability
• Positive narrative: The people of AMSHeR are
committed to positive language and messaging
that celebrate the courage and success of African
LGBT+ individuals and the rich diversity and
humanity of the African people. The narratives of
victimhood and homophobia that currently dominate
discourse on sexual orientation and gender identity
in Africa are not the full story of Africa or African
LGBT+ individuals.

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AMSHeR has a number of significant key strengths, which
we leverage to inform our strategy and achieve change.
Members and partners: At the beginning of the Strategic
Plan period, AMSHeR has 18 members in 15 countries as
well as 9 other formal partnerships with affiliates that work
at country or sub-national levels, expanding AMSHeR’s
reach to 20 African countries in total. These members
and affiliates are intimately familiar with the priorities
and needs of people of diverse sexual orientations, gender
identities and gender expressions in their countries,
understand local political and cultural dynamics and
opportunities related to sexual and gender diversity, and
collectively possess a wide range of relevant skills:
• AMSHeR members and partners find areas of common
interest with other members and foster collaboration
across the membership.
• Join in common advocacy alliances to develop
joined-up advocacy strategies and to pursue common
advocacy goals.
• Support multi-actor fundraising in partnerships or
consortia with other members and/or the secretariat.
• Provide visibility for AMSHeR at country and
sub-regional level.
• Cultivate good governance in their own organisations.
• Share information, results and tools from their
own activities and programmes with others, via
the AMSHeR secretariat.
Strong regional and global networks: AMSHeR has
played a significant role in building a better coordinated
and formidable pan-African LGBT+ voice, which is respected
regionally and globally, including:
• The Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL), Pan Africa
ILGA (PAI), and others.
• At global level, networks and institutions including
the Global Forum on MSM and HIV, the Programme
Coordinating Board of UNAIDS and the Board of the
Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
• Influencing global policy, programmes and discourse
that in turn can influence responses in Africa.
• Developing important skills in how to leverage HIV
and health networks and movements that it will
increasingly apply to networks and movements
addressing other relevant issues.
Expertise in working with key state bodies and
multilateral organisations: AMSHeR has successfully
developed relationships with national and regional
political institutions, state agencies, broader social justice
movements and development agencies and elevated
the discourse on human rights, social justice and state
accountability. The AMSHeR approach is based on:
OPEN UP STRENGTHS
S T R E N G T H S

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A KEY FOUNDATION OF THE POST
1945 HUMAN RIGHTS SYSTEM IS
THAT RIGHTS ARE UNIVERSAL,
THAT IS, APPLICABLE TO ALL
PEOPLE. SUCH AN APPROACH
IS FIRMLY ENSHRINED IN
INTERNATIONAL LAW AT GLOBAL,
AS WELL AS REGIONAL, LEVELS –
INCLUDING IN AFRICA.

21
• Building civil society solidarity
• Eschewing LGBT+ exceptionalism
• Focusing on the intersectionality of struggles
• Using evidence as the basis of policy engagement
and advocacy
• Its influence on working in networks
An increasingly professional secretariat and technical
depth in key areas: At the beginning of the Strategic
Plan period, AMSHeR’s secretariat includes an office in
Johannesburg with 12 staff as well as an additional five
national officers, one each in Madagascar, Zimbabwe,
Zambia, Angola and Mozambique. Staff have expertise
in technical areas including human rights and law, HIV
prevention and care among men who have sex with men;
and organisational capacity assessment and planning.
Different staff members are fluent in English, French and
Portuguese. Capacity in communications and knowledge
management is improving. Senior staff have extensive
professional networks in public health, human rights and
the NGO sector. The ever-expanding role of the secretariat
is to:
• Lead AMSHeR advocacy on LGBT+ rights and
inclusion in Africa at regional and global levels.
• Facilitate coordination of advocacy and other efforts
among the members and between the members
and other institutions (including regional and sub-
regional institutions).
• Reinforce the technical and organisational capacity
of members, particularly by facilitating linking and
learning programmes amongst the membership.
• Serve as a centre of excellence in SOGI inclusion
work in Africa.
• Facilitate collective resource mobilisation.
OPEN UP: STRATEGIC
OBJECTIVES AND
OUTCOMES
Informed by our geographical focus, guiding principles
and strengths, AMSHeR has identified four Strategic
Pillars, each with its intended outcomes:
Strategic Objective 1 – Rights championed: Improved
human rights policies that address stigma, discrimination
and other violations related to sexual and gender diversity
in Africa and improved responses to violations, including
redress to survivors.
Outcomes
• Increased affirmation of sexual and gender diversity
and human rights by policymakers, public officials,
other stakeholders and institutions.
• Increased incorporation of AMSHeR positions and
priorities in relevant law and human rights meetings,
deliberations and consultations at global, regional
and country levels.
Strategic Objective 2 – Diversity celebrated: Increased
number of government bodies, civil society institutions,
private sector companies, and other stakeholders in
Africa issue policies, official statements or similar
pronouncements that recognise, accept and affirm sexual
and gender diversity.
Outcomes
• Increased neutral and positive media and
communication coverage and representation of sexual
and gender diversity in Africa.
• Increased number of political, cultural, religious,
private sector, community, academic and other
relevant leaders in Africa personally recognise, accept
and affirm sexual and gender diversity.
S T R E N G T H S

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• Increased visibility and influence of African LGBT+
leaders and champions for change, reflecting
the diversity of Africa’s key populations’ realities
and communities.
Strategic Objective 3 – Inclusive development:
Attention and responsiveness to sexual and gender
diversity integrated into public sector health, social
protection, education and other relevant development
programmes in Africa.
Outcomes
• Increase in policies improved or developed at country,
regional and global level that recognise and address
social determinants of health outcomes for people
of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and
gender expressions, and that define and promote
access to equitable, quality health services.
• Increased inclusion of needs and priorities related to
sexual and gender diversity in policies and strategies
to advance the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and
the Sustainable Development Goals, at country and
regional level.
Strategic Objective 4 – Empowered social movement:
The LGBT+ movement in Africa, including (and beyond)
AMSHeR members and secretariat, more effectively advances
rights and social inclusion for people of diverse sexual
orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.
Outcomes
• Improved performance of the AMSHeR secretariat and
of AMSHeR members in delivering on their missions.
• AMSHeR members and partners better reflect the
distinct, continental, intersectional identities of African
LGBT+ constituencies.
• Increased use of AMSHeR tools, position papers,
workshops, events and training resources by African
designate groups and other relevant African NGOs/
CSOs, beyond AMSHeR members and partners.
S T R E N G T H S

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The very first sentence of the African Union’s Agenda
2063 refers to the people of Africa and her diaspora,
“united in diversity”. That reflects the political and popular
recognition and validation of commonality among all
Africans, with “desire for shared prosperity and wellbeing,
for unity and integration, for a continent of free citizens
and expanded horizons, where the full potential of women
and youth, boys and girls are realised, and with freedom
from fear, disease and want.”
Against this background, AMSHeR was founded in 2009
and rapidly grew into an influential coalition of role-players
and advocates who championed the vision of prosperity,
safety and wellbeing of the LGBT+ communities in their
own countries.
Funding for the coalition’s start-up costs were secured
from UNDP and the Global Centre of Learning for HIV and
AIDS (GCoL) at Oxfam GB, and a consensus workshop to
define and agree on the objectives of the new coalition was
held in Cape Town in March 2009. After this meeting,
which marked the formal beginning of AMSHeR, coalition
structures, a constitution and workplan were developed,
with the HIV Officer from IGLHRC hired as the Coalition
Coordinator.
By the time of the International AIDS Conference in
Vienna in July 2010, AMSHeR had functional structures
in place. The Coalition Coordinator had now become the
Executive Director, and AMSHeR had a secretariat of
three staff (including the ED, an office manager and a
communications intern).
AMSHeR’s coordination provided visible leadership on
SOGI in Africa at regional and global levels, which had an
immediate year-on-year impact. The AMSHeR international
sign-on statement in 2011 shifted the debate linking
SOGI and aid conditionality. AMSHeR coordinated the
participation of and submissions from African LGBT+
organisations to the Global Commission on HIV and
the Law in 2012 and ensured a broader dialogue on the
implications of the UN SOGI Resolution follow-up process
for countries in the global South with the AMSHeR and
CAL-led 10 May 2013 Statement.
Starting in 2014, the AMSHeR Secretariat began a period
of transition, culminating in the launch of a new identity
for AMSHeR. the Board engaged Ingrid Obery as the
Managing Administrator to oversee the transition process.
Her contribution to the renewal of AMSHeR was immense
and included strengthening the organisation’s governance
processes, re-building AMSHeR’s financial management
systems, strengthening human resource policies and
practices, and building and maintaining relationships
with key donors.
2015 is the year AMSHeR begun its journey into
a new strategic plan that moved it from being a purely
health-centric organisation advocating access to health
care, into more of a champion in the LGBT+ law and human
rights space.
Empowered by its refreshed identity and strategy, AMSHeR
carried out a series of meetings, workshops and other
forms of engagement throughout 2016, culminating in
their active involvement at the 60th session of the African
OPEN UP THE JOURNEY
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25
Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Significantly,
this engagement resulted in the graduation of AMSHeR
from an MSM (Men who have sex with men) and LGBT+
organisation to more broadly promoting non-discrimination
of individuals based on their real or perceived sexual
orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGI).
This continued through 2017 when AMSHeR began to
focus more on intersectionality and the space and identity
of individuals within the multiple identities that they
occupy at different spaces in time. More development
language now emerged, tied to the SDGs and the concepts
of ‘leaving no one behind’, social inclusion, reducing
inequalities and getting to zero infections.
In March 2016 the Regional Seminar on Practical Solutions
on Ending Violence and Discrimination Against Persons
based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and
Expression was held in Ekurhuleni, South Africa. The
Seminar brought together government officials, national
human rights institutions and civil society organisations
from 24 African countries. The outcome document of the
Seminar, The Ekuruhleni Declaration, made a number of
practical recommendations for State actors including law
enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system in
addressing violence and discrimination based on sexual
orientation and gender identity in Africa.
In November 2016, AMSHeR convened a meeting
of the Regional Key Populations Networks (ASWA, CAL,
SATF) to discuss key issues affecting Key Populations
and to frame common themes for joint advocacy. These
processes yielded a joint advocacy plan, titled: Meaningful
Representation, Dialogue and Advocacy [MRDA] plan. As
a result, a second round of the meetings was convened
at the end of May 2017 to address the gaps identified
and cost the plan accordingly, with inputs and support
from Southern African Trans Forum (SATF) and Gender
Dynamics (GDX). Discussions were further enriched by
inputs from the Southern African Litigation Centre (SALC),
M&C Saatchi, United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP), Aids Accountability International (AAI), Hivos and
Southern African HIV and Aids Information Dissemination
Service (SAFAIDS). The MRDA plan was finalised and
disseminated amongst the networks for implementation.
The plan remains a first in Southern Africa because it
is a marker of diverse key population groups with differing
ideology and positioning coming together to identify
a common advocacy theme that is at the centre of their
struggle in African society.
A further significant event was seeded in November 2016,
when a consultation process started with Law Enforcement
Officials to assess their role and responsibilities in reducing
SOGI based violence. In June 2017, a self-organised event
was held in Naivasha, on the occasion of the 6th Changing
Faces, Changing Spaces Conference for further discussion
and inputs from potential donors and regional partners.
In July, the Mechanism was presented in a sub-regional
consultation meeting to organisations and activists
from West and Central Africa.
Along its journey, AMSHeR continued to remain focused
on the aims to enrol its membership into a comprehensive
capacity strengthening approach that would significantly
establish AMSHeR as a coalition of strong member
organisations.TheOCAT(OrganisationalCapacityAssessment
Tool) was rolled out in July 2017 in Harare, Zimbabwe
following the successful implementation of a community
dialogue with Young Key Populations (YKPs) that enabled
the selection of Trans and Intersex Rising Zimbabwe (TIRZ),
a youth trans-led organisation to be assessed using OCAT.
As a result of the OCAT assessment, a capacity strengthening
plan that included support provided by the YKP project
national officer in Harare was developed and implemented
in the country.
Further to its Strategic Objectives to improve policy
framework guaranteeing access to quality health services
for LGBT+ individuals in Africa, 2018 saw a number
of highlights:
• AMSHeR and ASWA jointly organised and convened a
RegionalLinkingandLearningworkshopinNairobiKenya.
• AMSHeR provided capacity assessment support to 2
KP network partners GALZ and Outright in Zimbabwe
and Namibia respectively.
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26
• A Strengthening Plan development meeting with
Friends of Rainka in Lusaka, Zambia and MoU
signing were implemented.
• The Police Manual Customisation process was
rolled out.
• AMSHeR coordinated and supported the IAC
conference for KP REACH in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
In terms of their Strategic Objective to improved response
to stigma, discrimination and violations based on sexuality
and gender in Africa, AMSHeR through their Linking Policy
and Programming, UNDP focused on strengthening legal/
policy environments for young key populations 10–24
years, and to improve sexual and reproductive health
outcomes for young key populations in SADC countries,
implementing a host of capacity strengthening activities.
Looking forward to the next leg of their journey, the people
of AMSHeR are committed to continue portraying a positive
narrative that celebrates the courage and success of African
SOGI individuals and the rich diversity and humanity
of the African people.
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30
Activities are organised through the 3 AMSHeR strategic
objectives to strategically detail achievement of AMSHeR’s
mission and vision.
It is important to note that specific donor driven projects
therefore direct resources into AMSHeR’s 3 objectives.
Of importance are the overarching resources under the
The BUILD Grant which, under the auspices of the Ford
Foundation, provisions AMSHeR with general support
to facilitate its work in four major areas: regional and
international advocacy on LGBT+ social inclusion, training,
office spaces and human resources, as well as core support
for institutional strengthening in the areas of: strategic
plan development for the Secretariat and membership,
network-wide leadership and governance, establishment
of safety and security systems and retention of critical
technical competencies.
The organisation undertook the following programmatic
activities in the quarterly reporting period were
implemented:
KP REACH:
KEY POPULATION
REPRESENTATION,
EVIDENCE, AND ADVOCACY
FOR CHANGE IN HEALTH
(AFRICA)
KP REACH is a consortium project funded by the Global
fund and aims to implement a focused program of work
by a consortium of KP Networks, Technical Partners, Civil
Society and Academia. KP REACH implementation started
in January 2016, and the regional programme funding
cycle ends in 2018. The implementation of the regional
programme involves key populations regional networks
which include Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL),
African Men for sexual Health and Rights (AMSHeR),
African Sex Worker Alliance(ASWA) and Southern
African Transgender Forum (SATF), with the intention
of sustaining the lessons learned, capacity strengthening
of the network secretariats and their partners, improving
collaboration, synergies and resources within the KP
networks and organisations themselves. The overall
goal is the reduction in HIV infections and HIV-related
deaths among key populations in Southern Africa through
improved access by KPs to HIV prevention, testing and
treatment services.
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Within the KP REACH Programme, AMSHER implements
its contractual process activities under the auspices
of the Meaningful Representation, Dialogue and Advocacy
[MRDA] plan.
The MRDA plan is a joint Southern African regional plan
which has key population networks advocacy common
advocacy themes. The plan is a regional game changer in
Southern Africa as a yardstick of diverse key population
groups with different ideologies and positioning cleaving
together with major identified common advocacy
themes at the centre of their struggle in African society.
The theme identified: ‘Freedom from Violence’ serves
as the advocacy theme which AMSHeR and the other
networks are pushing at several platforms including
The International Conference on HIV/ AIDS And STI’s in
Africa, International AIDS conference, Southern African
Development Community (SADC); country roll-outs
at the level of the Ministry of Health, law enforcement
and Judiciary.
Key Activities
• Capacity strengthening of Young Key Populations in
advocacy in Angola.
• Conducting a community dialogue and multi-
stakeholders meeting in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
• Conducting an OCAT assessment of AMSHeR affiliate
member ASSOFRAMA, in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
• Conducting the strengthening plan development and
approval with Transbantu in Lusaka, Zambia.
• Conducted capacity assessment, strengthening plan
development and members/partners engagement in
Cameroon and Senegal.
• Adapted and piloted the Advocacy Guide around YKP
Sexual and Reproductive Health.
• Established mechanisms for community inputs into
policies, strategies and laws regulating sexual and
reproductive health needs of young key populations
on country and regional level.
• Established and operationalised an Advocacy Working
Group (AWG) in Angola.
• Convened at the International AIDS Conference
2018 in Amsterdam, where oral presentation of the
issues on HIV and the Law was made and AMSHeR’s
experience was shared with the global audience.
YKP: LINKING POLICY
TO PROGRAMMING
(SOUTH AFRICA)
The project primarily focuses on strengthening legal/
policy environments for young key populations 10–24
years and to improve sexual and reproductive health
outcomes for young key populations in SADC countries.
The project is implemented at SADC regional level and in
5 countries, community-based partners, including sex
workersandpeoplewhoinjectdrugs-ledpartners,areselected
to be part of the project.
Key Populations [KPs] are disproportionately affected
by HIV and YKPs (both female and male) are especially
vulnerable to Sexual Reproductive Health risks through
widespread discrimination, stigma and violence. Young
prisoners can be exposed to sexual abuse, young female sex
workers are at risk of unwanted pregnancies and sexually
transmitted illnesses [STIs], while young lesbian women
are the targets of ‘corrective’ rape.
Key Activities
• Developed relevant tools and guidance on the HIV/
Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH)-related needs
and rights of each young key population – Advocacy
Curriculum; Scorecard for year 1.
• Implemented capacity strengthening activities for
young sex workers [SW], young lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender individuals [LGBT+], young people
in prison, young people who use drugs in HIV/SRH
rights and on access to justice – Community Dialogues;
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Stakeholders’ Workshops; Advocacy Work Plans
Development.
• Established a mechanism for community inputs into
policy development and implementation related to
HIV/SRH service provision for young key populations.
The Advocacy Guide around YKP Sexual and
Reproductive Health
AMSHeR adapted and piloted the policy advocacy
curriculum around MSM Health to the training needs
of stakeholders around young key population issues.
The process of adaptation involved developing terms
of reference, recruiting a consultant, producing a draft
advocacy guide for young KPs and holding a community
validation meeting, translating and publishing/printing
the Guide. This is an important process because the use
of the advocacy guide around LGBT+ health has yielded
positive outcomes, as illustrated by key populations’
participation in various national, regional and international
health governance bodies.
Key Activities
• As of the end of 2017, the draft YKP Advocacy
Curriculum was submitted by the consultant,
community validation, editing, translation, publication
and printing in 2018.
• Strengthening legal/policy environments for young
key populations in SADC countries, noting that only
young key population adults aged 18-24 participate
in the capacity strengthening, policy/advocacy and
research components of the project.
• Established mechanisms for community inputs into
policies, strategies and laws regulating sexual and
reproductive health needs of young key populations.
SOGIR: SEXUAL
ORIENTATION AND
GENDER IDENTITY AND
RIGHTS – BEING LGBT
IN AFRICA (AFRICA)
The project aims to strengthen the evidence base, develop
advocacy capacity and public information materials,
and convene regional and national dialogues that bring
together national decision makers from the executive,
legislative and judiciary branches of government
with LGBT+ civil society organisations, their allies and
other stakeholders.
The non-implementation of activities related to
the SOGIR project within this quarter poses a risk
to the grant agreement signed by the organisation with
UNDP particularly the In-country meetings (community
dialogue, stakeholders’ roundtable and CSO capacity
assessment & strengthening). The in-country missions
for Zambia, Tanzania, Nigeria, Cameroon and Senegal
did not occur due to circumstances beyond programme
management’s control.
Key Activities
• Developed shadow report and preparation of
in-country meetings in Nigeria.
• Reviewed and made inputs to the consultant report
on the status of inclusion of LGBT+ in Botswana.
• Conducted community and other stakeholders’
engagement in Zambia.
• Engaged bilateral and multilateral partners on
advocacy priority for LGBT+ inclusion in Zambia.
• Prepared shadow reports on Togo, Nigeria and
Eritrea.
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34
• Attended SOGIR in-country meetings with the
Advocacy Working group and National Steering
Committee in Lusaka, Zambia.
• Conducted Capacity assessment, strengthening plan
development and members/partners engagement
in Cameroon and Senegal.
• Attended the launch of the African Commission’s HIV
Study Report on HIV, Law and Human Rights within
the African Human Rights System in Ethiopia.
• Attended SOGIR in-country meetings in Botswana.
• Involved in regional advocacy at the African
commission on human and peoples’ rights for
sexuality-related rights and engaged with partners
on issues related to sexual orientation and
gender identity.
Capacity strengthening plans development for
AMSHeR membership
Under the KP REACH, RCNF-Core, BUILD and YKP projects
in the reporting period, AMSHeR enrolled some of its
membership into comprehensive capacity strengthening
processes that has already significantly started establishing
AMSHeR as a coalition of strong member organisations. A
Work plan and Project Management Preparation process
were initiated for BUILD Grant. The outputs include a
staff retreat conducted, annual work plan, new strategic
plan draft developed and the convening of a 9-member
board meeting in February 2018 to review AMSHeR’s
past performance and inform the direction for 2018 and
beyond, review AMSHeR strategies and policies and
strengthen institutional capacity through management
of the executive transition, governance leadership while
assessing progress made to date in the implementation
of the organisation’s strategic plan.
Key Activities
• Finalised all the preparation for planned activities
with several partners including CAL, Synergia, TIERS,
Afrique Arc En Ciel, Centre for Human Rights and
Amnesty International at the NGOs forum and 62nd
session of the African Commission as well as attendance
of the NGOs forum and 62nd session of the African
Commission in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
• Provided strategic input in the development of a shadow
report by Afrique Arc En Ciel, Togo.
• Submitted Q1 RCNF update report to MSMGF.
• With support from existing grants from the Netherlands
Foreign Ministry under the Linking Policy
to Programming Project (LPP) and the Global Fund
under the Key Populations Representation, Evidence and
Advocacy for Change (KP:REACH), AMSHeR undertook
capacity strengthening assessments with several
of its members, notably Centre for the Development of
People (CEDEP), Malawi, Outright Namibia, Lambda
Mozambique, Friends of RAINKA, Zambia and
the Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ).
• Other assessments with AMSHeR’s partners and
affiliates who are being courted for membership, notably
Iris in Angola and ASSOFRAMA in Madagascar to
increase the coalition.
• A process to develop a 4-year strategic plan for 2019
– 2022 was initiated in early July 2017 to support
the strategic direction of the AMSHeR network and
inform its programming beyond 2019.
• Through support from the BUILD Grant and other existing
funders, the AMSHeR Secretariat undertook a number
of coalition building activities which included sponsorship
and support of members to attend a steering committee
meeting and other advocacy initiatives including at
the International Conference on AIDS and STI (ICASA).
• Conducted further assessments of affiliates across the
continent including in Madagascar, Angola, Zambia
(Transbantu), Botswana (LEGABIBO) and Zimbabwe
(Trans* and Intersex Rise Initiative in Zimbabwe - TIRZ)
under the SOGIR and the LPP Project.
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35
UTETEZI: ADVOCACY FOR
IMPROVED ACCESS TO
SERVICES FOR MSM
Starting in 2013, AMSHeR partnered with the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Southern
African AIDS Trust (SAT) and the USAID-funded Health
Policy Project to implement the Utetezi project. The
goal of the project was to increase health care access
for communities of gay men through policy and
advocacy training, which would result in locally-led,
multi-stakeholder policy interventions. The project had
a further aim to ensure meaningful participation of the
key population in policy-level processes, regardless of
their legal status within the target countries.
Key Activities
• Training of key government and civil society
stakeholders such as City Council Health Units, law
enforcement officials, NHRI, NACs, Departments of
Justice and Health, and LGBT+ organisations.
• Facilitating the establishment and governance of an
Advocacy Working Group in Burundi, Cameroon,
Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Togo and
Zambia, and developing and implementing targeted
advocacy activities.
• Mentoring of LGBT+ organisations at country level
to sustain the engagement of other stakeholders
in the project.
• Mentoring LGBT+ organisations to sustain participation
and work with municipal, national and regional bodies
to ensure increased support for access to services.
• Researching, writing and publishing best practices
on LGBT+ interventions in Africa.
FLAI:FRANCOPHONELGBTI
ADVOCATES INITIATIVE
This project seeks to ensure that Francophone LGBT+
advocates and organisations have enhanced capacity, are
skilled, and able to engage in SOGI advocacy. The project’s
aim is to broaden the LGBT+ leadership in 9 Francophone
countries: Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire,
Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Rwanda, Senegal
and Togo.
Key Activities
• With support from the European Commission’s
Instrument for Human Rights and Democracy
through Heartland Alliance, under its Global
Initiative for Human Rights, AMSHeR implemented
the Francophone LGBT+ Advocates Initiative (FLAI)
across countries in West and Central Africa.
• In Cote D’Ivoire, the project team worked with the
National Human Rights Commission to develop
an implementation plan to respond to the
recommendations of the United Nations Human
Rights Committee on strengthening human rights
protections for LGBT+ in the country.
• In Burundi and Burkina Faso, a socio-political
crisis gave more sense to the security assessment
component of FLAI, shifting the focus of the project to
risk mitigation and ensuring the safety of beneficiaries
and the LGBT+ constituency as a whole.
• In Rwanda, an existing platform on youth and human
rights was extended to include project participants.
• In Cameroon, the country’s Monitoring Group
for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights invited
representatives of LGBT+ organisations to be part
of the committee drafting shadow reports and to
participate in monitoring the implementation of
recommendations from regional and international
human rights bodies.
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• In Mali, a larger Platform was created to discuss how
best to document and address SOGI-based human
rights violations, and to strengthen community
organising and participation in advocacy for change.
MHAP: THE MSM HEALTH
ADVOCACY PROJECT
The MHAP utilizes an African MSM Health Scorecard
as the tool for establishing a baseline and building
accountability for MSM health services. The Scorecards
are used by member organisations for advocacy and
tracking of progress on strategic indicators of MSM health.
Men who have sex with men across Africa remain at
the margins of HIV interventions despite the grave need
for urgent, immediate and serious attention to their health
needs. This is evidenced by the lack of comprehensive data
analysing the situation despite several key studies that
hint at the scale of the epidemic and its impact on MSM
across the continent.
This project is a comprehensive review and analysis of the
current situation for MSM in each country about health
policy, programme and funding support for MSM health
services.
Key activities
• Established a baseline of services in Cote D’Ivoire,
Kenya and Nigeria. This was achieved through a desk
study of the current situation in each country; and
the development, implementation and evaluation
of an MSM Health Score Card.
• Through series of capacity building workshops,
technical assistance, coordination, communication
and follow-up mentoring, three member organisations
were able to collect, analyze, and report on MSM
health disparities.The workshops provided skills
building, project development, collaboration and
networking in health policy advocacy for MSM
in each country.
THE SEXUALITY AND
EQUALITY IN AFRICA
PROJECT
Through advocacy and delivering capacity developments
interventions for CSOs, national, regional policymakers
and other stakeholders. AMSHeR’s work is underpinned
by five guiding principles – human rights based
approach to health; intersectionality of social justice
issues; incremental approach; empowerment model that
re-enforce autonomy and agency; and positive narratives
of African LGBT+ persons.
Key activities
• Developed the Voices for Freedom video documentary
featuring LGBT+ individuals from 8 countries
portraying positive narratives of their work and
contributions to the societies.
• Ran the Respect, Visibility and Inclusion poster
campaign to raise awareness of the rights of LGBT+
individuals in Africa.
• Coordinated emergency legal aid and psycho-social
support to LGBT+ persons facing prosecution
and persecution on the basis of their SOGI. Supported
LGBT+ asylum seekers through referrals, provisions
of country of origin information for refugee
status determination.
• AMSHeR staff have served on a number of global
platforms to advance policies for key populations
and other marginalised groups including the
Project Coordinating Board of UNAIDS, Southern
Refugees Legal Assistance Network, Global Board
of the MenEngage Alliance and the International
Bar Association.
• Supported country civil society networks to develop
shadow reports for submission to the United Nations
Human Rights Council – Universal Period Review
[UPR] process and other UN treaty bodies.
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• Mobilised a global campaign at the UN Human Rights
Council to voice the concerns of CSOs from the
Global South on the proposed position of the Special
Rapporteur on SOGI.
• Led the campaign for the adoption of Resolution 275
of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’
Rights condemning violence based on sexual
orientation and gender identity in Africa.
• Successfully implemented the Francophone LGBT+
Advocates Initiative, the largest European Commission
LGBT+ project outside Europe.
• Published the Reflections on Sexuality and Equality
in Africa, Vol 1 [2015], a collection of peer reviewed
articles written by Africans and reflecting African
perspectives and addressing various issues
of sexual orientation, gender identity and equality of
these issues.
• Hosted the first Pan-African Key Populations Pre-
Conference to an AIDS Conference. The pre-conference
held before the International Conference on AIDS and
STIs in Africa [ICASA] 2015, brought together LGBT+
communities, sex workers, people living with HIV and
people who use drugs to address a range of policy
and service delivery issues affecting the HIV and
SRHR responses to their communities, with a view
to identifying a common advocacy agenda.
• Hosted a Panel Discussion on BRICS, Civil Society
Solidarity and Key Populations beyond 2015, featuring
LGBT+ activists, sexual and reproductive health rights
advocates and social justice practitioners from Brazil,
Russia, India, China and South Africa.
• SupportedanumberofCSOsintheEasternCaribbean
region who are setting up a gay men’s network to
address human rights violations, discriminatory
policies and practices within their region. AMSHeR
has been providing technical assistance on coalition
building and advocacy strategies for addressing
discrimination and exclusion based on sexual
orientation and gender identity.
• Coordinated a CSOs listserv of organisations and
activists working at the African Commission on
Human and Peoples’ Rights, the African Union’s
human rights body. This listserv includes activists
working on a range of human rights issues and
provides a platform information sharing, campaigning
and solidarity.
ADVANCING HEALTH AND
HUMAN RIGHTS ACCESS
FOR LGBT+ INDIVIDUALS
Through the production of credible evidence on
community experience and leadership, the project aims at
addressing critical gaps within the HIV response for, and
SOGI advocacy discourse on, LGBT+ individuals in Africa.
Although the contribution of community-led initiatives
are acknowledged, the investment by States and global
health financing institutions remain insignificant, despite
laudable objectives in national strategic plans (NSPs),
strategies and targets.
Key activities
• Documenting the experiences of LGBT+ communities
in the country processes of the health financing and
governance institutions with a view to strengthening
their engagement in decision making, promote
and respect human rights, and lead to greater
accountability and transparency.
• Demonstrating the impact of LGBT+ led community
initiatives in promoting a favourable policy/human
rights environment and addressing stigma and
discrimination against LGBT+ persons.
• Supporting local civil society organisations and
activists to develop shadow reports on the situation
of LGBT+ individuals for the UN UPR process and the
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
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THE VOICES FOR FREEDOM
The Voices for Freedom Project aims to portray a positive
narrative of African LGBT+ persons and their experiences
through their voices and the voices of their friends
and family. This project seeks to counter the single story
of African LGBT+ as victims by presenting alternatives
of courage, resilience, pride and freedom. Ultimately and
perhaps more importantly, this project will give that young
LGBT+ person somewhere on the continent, a positive role
model that is relatable to his/her own situation.
Key activities
• Debunk the ‘un-African’ argument, often used against
same-sex practising people in Africa.
• Foster visibility, tolerance and acceptance.
• Garner support from mainstream organisations
and the general public to better protect the rights
of LGBT+ people from human rights violations.
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41
We bring tribute to our leaders, past and present, who
directed AMSHeR’s endeavours with their unique vision.
Not only those who have been entrenched in the very
heart and workings of our organisation but also those
new leaders, our young rising stars, who are increasingly
making their mark in their countries and on AMSHeR
as a whole.
LEADING OUR VISION
Kene Esom
AMSHeR Executive Director, 2015 – 2017
As a child, Kene Esom was intrigued by stories of Martin
Luther King Jnr’s commitment to achieving social change
through dialogue. Little wonder then that as part of the
AMSHeR team from 2011 to 2017, he made a significant
contribution to advancing thought leadership on human
rights and access to HIV health services for LGBT+ and
other key populations in Africa through training and
technical advisory. As a remarkable contribution, he
developed a research agenda to support policy reform
and evidence-based advocacy with government officials
that was implemented across 25 African countries.
Kene quotes “integrity, compassion, and diligence”
as three cardinal values that govern his professional
and personal life.
Indeed, during his tenure as Executive Director from April
2015 to August 2017, he focused on entrenching AMSHeR’s
position as a credible, authoritative community voice and
thought leader on issues of human rights, HIV, sexual
orientation and gender identity in Africa. Specifically,
he led AMSHeR through a period of organisational
transformation, ushering in a new strategic direction and
expanding the organisation’s footprint in the international
rights and health governance sector.
His personal views on HIV/AIDS are possibly most evident
in the following extract from a speech he made at the
38th annual United Nations Programme Coordinating
Board (PCB) reception in Geneva in 2016: “Funding Key
Populations communities is not only the pragmatic,
evidence-based, sensible thing to do, it is also the morally
just thing to do in order to end AIDS.” Or, in the words
of Martin Luther King Jnr, “The ultimate measure of a
man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and
convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge
and controversy.”
“Funding Key Populations communities is not only
the pragmatic, evidence-based, sensible thing to do,
it is also the morally just thing to do.”
Danilo Da Silva
AMSHeR Interim Chair, 2014 – 2015
Founding member of LAMBDA, the first LGBT+ organisation
in Mozambique, Danilo Da Silva is one of the region’s
strongest voices for the advancement on LGBT+ rights.
In his role as Executive Director of LAMBDA, as well as
in previous roles as the Pan African representative of the
ILGA (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and
Intersex Association) and board chairman of AMSHeR,
Danilo has worked tirelessly to shift attitudes towards
LGBT+ people.
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42
In the 2015 AMSHeR annual report, he reflects on
the organisation’s successes during the review period:
“I’m particularly proud of achievements in championing
the recognition of sexual orientation and gender identity
through our members in countries across the continent,
and at the African Commission on Human and People’s
Rights. Without this recognition, we’ll continue to struggle
to achieve dignity, equality and freedom, not just for
gay men and other MSM, but for everyone.”
Danilo was instrumental in many positive shifts in
his native Mozambique, in the region, and globally.
His direct hand was visible in the positive findings
of the 2016 report, Canaries in the Coal Mines, that, next
to South Africa, Mozambique is the country most accepting
of homosexuality in Southern Africa, as was he an active
role player in the decriminalisation of homosexuality
in Mozambique in 2015. But the pragmatic civil engineer
maintains there is much work to be done: “We are
swimming against the current in a flood of prejudice
that you sometimes don’t see but you know is there.”
“We are swimming against the current in
a flood of prejudice that you sometimes don’t see
but you know is there.”
Lorna Dias
Coordinator, Gays and Lesbians Coalition of Kenya
(GALCK)
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons in Kenya
face unparalleled challenges. In Kenya’s Kwale County,
where homophobia is rife, those who suffer mob attacks,
violence and victimisation can’t even afford to report their
experiences to the police. “LGBT+ people are not safe,”
says Lorna Dias, executive coordinator of the Gay and
Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALCK).
Criminalisation, discrimination and violence also
inhibit access to HIV prevention and treatment
and those who assist LGBT+ people often become
targets as well, with mobs attacking clinics, healthcare
workers, activists or anyone providing assistance.
Working tirelessly to establish relationships and alliances
with both government institutions and civil society
organisations, GALCK strives for a safe and enabling
environment for all – a society that appreciates diversity
and recognises that everyone has a right to equal
opportunities, irrespective of their sexual orientation,
gender or expression.
With the High Court of Kenya refusing an order to declare
sections 162 and 165 of the Kenyan Penal Code (which
criminalise same sex conduct) unconstitutional, the fight
against discrimination remains just as strong as when
the #Repeal162 movement started four years ago. A rebel
by her own admission, Lorna Dias remains steadfast:
“Being a lesbian or a gay man is a non-issue. Being
harmed because of it is a huge issue,” she says.
“Being a lesbian or a gay man is a non-issue.
Being harmed because of it is a huge issue.”
Gift Trapence
Programmes Manager, Centre for the Development of
People (CEDEP), Malawi
An HIV/AIDS and human rights activist focusing
especially on issues of sexual minorities, Gift has worked
on MSM sexual health and HIV prevention projects
since 2005. He has contributed to more than 20 studies
related to HIV and LGBT+ rights and issues, including
the first ever HIV seroprevalence study among the MSM
community in Malawi. He was also a principal investigator
of the study “HIV Prevalence, Risks for HIV Infection,
and Human Rights among men who have sex with men
(MSM) in Malawi, Namibia, and Botswana”, published in
PLOS One (a peer-reviewed open access scientific journal
covering primary research from any discipline within
science and medicine).
Says Gift, CEDEP has achieved many positive results
in areas of LGBT+ human rights and health, research,
policy, access to justice, HIV prevention care and treatment
and general governance, in fact, “... the National AIDS
Commission supports MSM HIV/AIDS peer education
programmes, and MSM were included in HIV/AIDS
national policy documents as early as 2013.”
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43
Despite such impressive strides forward, Malawi still has
one of the highest prevalences of HIV in the world. Fear
of discrimination and victimisation remain key barriers
to progress, particularly among MSM and sex worker
communities. Social stigma, combined with the punitive
legal environment prevents many lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender people from getting medical care,
or from reporting abuse.
True to CEDEP’s motto – Different people, same rights –
for Gift the answer is much simpler than the contradictions
in Malawi’s criminal law and constitution, or a culture that
doesn’t recognise the rights of LGBT+ minority groups.
“People confuse culture and human rights. The issue
is about human beings. People shouldn’t use ‘culture’
to oppress others.”
“People confuse culture and human rights.
The issue is about human beings.”
OUR YOUNG RISING STARS
And here they are, some of our young leaders who have
been nominated by their peers for making a meaningful
contribution and making it ever more possible for AMSHeR
to reach its goals.
Name: Ezéchiel Koffi
Country: Ivory Coast
Since 2013 Ezéchiel is an active member of the NGO
Alternative Cote D’ivoire. It is an organisation that fights
against STIs, HIV and AIDS and also promotes the human
rights of sexual minorities, in this case LGBT+ people.
His collaboration with AMSHeR started at ICASA 2017
in Ivory Coast.
Ezéchiel works so that LGBT+ people feel happy and have
the desire to live in a heterogeneous world where they are
accepted and can freely live, think, express their gender
identity and sexual orientation. “A very large number of
human rights associations in African countries refuse
or are reluctant to consider mainstream LGBT+ issues”,
he explains. “At the state level, there are no structured
policies on LGBT+ issues; the reception of these questions
is very random and often depends on the whims of the
person to whom they are addressed.” To justify their lack
of opposition to LGBT+ discrimination, Ezéchiel feels that
states often resort to a perverse argument, especially in
spaces such as the Human Rights Council. “They say that
they cannot do anything because of the opinion in their
country. But at the same time, they do not do anything to
reduce this stigma or hostility and there is no outreach.
So not only does the state fail to reduce the stigma against
LGBT+ people, but it also prevents associations that could
do so from carrying on their activities.
“States often resort to a perverse argument,
that they cannot do anything because of the opinion
in their country.”
Yet he finds satisfaction in the fact that he, and others
like him, can live a fulfilling life: “It empowers me to
know that I am not only gay, but also a person
living with HIV-HBV co-infection that has effective
treatment that enables me to live with the disease.
I can tell LGBT+ youth like me to be faithful to their
gender identity and sexual orientation while taking
into account that STIs, HIV and AIDS are a reality.
We must take care not only of our sexual health but
also of our rights and duties.”
Ezéchiel believes a unifying vision for LGBT+ youth
in Africa can be found through solidarity, closely united
in love and tolerance between the LGBT+ networks,
organisations and associations fighting for the same cause.
This is his message:
• Living in community means living with minorities.
• Living with minorities means accepting oneself
as different.
• Accepting oneself as different means loving others
as they are.
• Loving others as they are means living free and equal.
• Open Up the Future. I am AMSHeR.
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Name: Irwin Iradukunda
Country: Burundi
Irwin got involved in AMSHeR through the Sexual Health
& Rights Institute at the 19th International Conference
on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) held in Abidjan, Côte
d’Ivoire in 2017. “My foray into human rights activism in
Burundi is almost unintentional,” he explains, “I landed
there accidentally, by working at the very first newly
established (at that time) LGBT+ community centre in
Bujumbura, Burundi in 2011. I have been working on
Advocacy for Human Rights and Social development in the
areas of LGBT+ and Sex Workers’ rights in Africa, drawing
my experiences from both local and regional organisations
for the past nine years.”
Irwin’s work focuses on delivering programmes on
documentation and surveillance of human rights violations
on the basis of real or perceived sexual orientation and
gender identity, research and advocacy and capacity
strengthening for emerging LGBT+ activists and groups
in Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo
and the Republic of Congo. He’s most passionate about
equality and non-discrimination in leadership, governance
and development: “I believe in civic participation,” he says,
“the right to the realisation of the full potential and equal
opportunities for young people in Africa.
He’s most concerned about the shrinking civic space in
Africa. “Given the actual African politics around human
rights, sovereignty is often invoked to deny allegations on
in-country human rights violations or denying basic human
rights to the most vulnerable, such as LGBT+ communities.
The existing set of legal norms, standards and mechanisms
lack accuracy in addressing accountability and protect the
States’ citizenry from violence, discrimination, access to
public health care, education based on real or perceived
sexual orientation and gender identity.”
“Follow your dreams, do not give up, improve
on yesterday’s efforts.”
So, what are the biggest challenges for LGBT+ communities
in Africa? Irwin believes they can be found on various
levels. The public discourse fuelling hatred and intolerance
from the general population, propelled by political and
religious opinion leaders towards LGBT+ communities in
Africa, for one. Also, the criminalisation of the work of
LGBT+ Human Rights Defenders through a vague mention
of ‘homosexuality’ in the law: This has institutionalised the
discrimination and human rights violations based on real or
perceived sexual orientation and gender identity in Africa.
“And the psychological well-being due to high levels
of pressure and discrimination,” he adds, “the under-
representation of LGBT+ young people in decision making,
and within the high-profile stakeholders driving social
change within the larger LGBT+ movement in Africa.
There is a gap in youth leadership within the continental
leadership where ageism prevails.”
But Irwin remains positive and believes there is hope
to be found despite the circumstances. “Being able to
achieve milestones and changing lives with extremely
limited resources, overcoming the many barriers put
by our Governments and still exist and operate as
activists, communities and groups is what gives me
the most satisfaction.” He believes a unifying vision for
LGBT+ communities in Africa can be achieved through
intergenerational, honest and open discussion and by
harnessing the demographic dividend through gender-
sensitive investments in the African LGBT+ youth.
His advice to young LGBT+ individuals? “Fight for your
life, follow your dreams, do not give up, improve on
yesterday’s efforts. Never say no to hope!”
Name: Joseph Ssemanda
Country: Uganda
Joseph, through his leadership at the Masaka KP HIV
Prevention and Support Organization (MAHIPSO) became
involved and benefited from AMSHER projects such as
SOGI through Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG). He has
also been involved in LGBT+ issues at local and national
level through MAHIPSO. “I collaborate with different
partner organisations who share the vision of SMUG,
Lady Mermaid Bureau (LMB) among others, to advance
protection through advocacy on delayed policies, such as
the Draft Adolescent Health policy (ADH), Draft school
health policy and the implementation of resolution 275
on sexual orientation and gender identity,” he explains.
L E A D E R S H I P

45
He also represents the southern region of Uganda
at the Uganda Key Population Consortium (UKPC) on
the board of directors, which unifies the voice of the LGBT+
communities and collaborates with organisations such
as Accountability International.
Joseph’s passion drives him towards serving the LGBT+
community, stemming from a sense of belonging: “The
community is part of me,” he says, “and we are united
through the different colours of the rainbow, which
inspires me to help influence and motivate people around
me and the community. It is my payer that all LGBT+
people can become part of an inclusive environment
in society, free from stigma and discrimination.”
“Appreciate yourself, accept yourself and, above
all, know your rights and have a positive mind.”
It is for this reason that he’s most concerned about the
rights of LGBT+ being respected, protected and fulfilled
by the African states. He sees unfavourable laws and
policies as a great challenge, combined with stigma
and discrimination, blackmailing, rejection by family/
clan, friends and church, mental health, exclusion from
services, LGBT+ asylum seekers, and the high rates of
violence and persecution.
But he also sees progress, which he finds encouraging.
“There are good coordination mechanisms through the
formulation of the Uganda Key Population Consortium
that unites all LGBT+ organisations in Uganda,” he
explains, “and continuous dialogue with service
providers has increased friendly service delivery to the
community members. That, and an increased awareness
about human rights amongst the LGBT+ community
members.”
Hence Joseph’s belief that a unifying vision for LGBT+
people in Africa can be found in pursuing the ideal of
a society free from stigma and discrimination through
celebrating their value in both their differences and
inclusivity. His advice to young LGBT+ individuals in
Africa is to “appreciate yourself, accept yourself, join
other networks and organisations that serve LGBT+ in
your community and, above all, know your rights and
have a positive mind.”
Name: Natasha-Ivy Chama
Country: Zambia
Natasha-Ivy got involved with AMSHer in 2017 when the
YKP project was first introduced in Zambia. “It was a great
opportunity for me when I was invited as participant by
our in-country coordinator,” she remembers. “This was a
start in harnessing what I knew about LGBT+ activism,
which I had been involved in for two years before my first
interaction on the YKP/LPP project. I first got involved
when a friend invited me for a focus group discussion that
took a beautiful turn for me and and I wanted to continue
getting engaged in the movement. It’s been wonderful
ever since!”
Natasha-Ivy works for a Transgender and Intersex
organisation in Zambia as Gender and Development
Officer. While the name sounds fancy, it’s a lot of work
trying to create an enabling environment for humanity.
“I usually find myself eager and excited to getting things
done,” she says. “My favorite part of my job is interacting
with the community and seeing how positive everyone
is about the future. That should keep everyone going.”
What motivates and drives her? “I remember a time in my
life when I had no one,” she says. “I was alone battling
with my sexual orientation at the age of 16 with no one
to seek counsel about how I was feeling and the negative
feedback I got from family and friends. I wanted to harm
myself in ways I can’t imagine right now. All I needed was
hope, a friend that was like me or understood me. I seek to
be that person to other people. I seek to be able to speak
for the voiceless, I seek to help people in whichever way I
can. I am motivated at how solidarity can enable change.
I am motivated by the hope that exists in our movement.”
“All I needed was hope, a friend that was like
me or understood me. I seek to be that person
to other people.”
What concerns Natasha-Ivy the most is the inability of
people to look and see other people as human beings, to
witness the way some people are frowned upon. “From
basic things to just accessing SRHR services or allowing
one to fully express themselves and the right to life. Taking
one’s life isn’t just by death; it’s by denying an individual
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47
to live their best life. It’s allowing an individual to have
and enjoy a good mental health, free from bullying, stigma
and discrimination.”
She considers the biggest challenges for LGBT+ in Africa
as gender norms and expectations infiltrated by cultural
and traditional beliefs, inadequate information and
understanding of LGBT+ communities, division of the LGBT+
amongst themselves, marginalisation and inadequate safe
coping mechanisms to deal with these challenges. She
implores young LGBT+ people in Africa to explore: “Get a
passport and allow your brain to absorb information! There
is so much in the world to learn from. Sometimes being
in one space can limit your ability to further capacitate
yourself.” But it doesn’t end there, information must be
brought home: “We as young people have identified in
various spaces that there is a huge gap in information.
But what are we as young people doing to generate the
information we want that has the power to inform our needs
and challenges? Young person, claim your space!”
Name: Simeão Zava Hanhane Júnior (Mitho)
Country: Mozambique
It was the Linking Policies Project that started Mitho’s
involvement in AMSHeR and LGBT+ issues, where he is
the national project assistant of LAMBDA, the only LGBT+
organisation in Mozambique. He works with YKP and LGBT+
youth in response to their needs for access to services.
Mitho is a law student at Sao Tomas University of
Mozambique, and juggles his studies and LAMBDA
activities ever day, which typically start at 5am. “I don’t
consider that I have ‘normal days’,” he laughs. “Each
day brings new opportunities, new challenges and new
achievements. My daily journey is composed of a morning
workout in the gym, followed by my work to carry out my
tasks for the fight for the rights of LGBT+ in the Lambda
Association. Only at the end of the day do I catch up with
the intellectual challenges of my studies.”
What motivates him and makes him want to get up so
early each morning is his hope that one day life will get
better in terms of service access for the marginalised LGBT+
community. “There are many LGBT+ people in my country
who need to be empowered, to know their rights and learn
to fight. I see myself as a young leader who has the ability
to influence other young people to empower themselves,
participate more and become more represented in the areas
that concern them.”
Mitho says he will not stop fighting for the causes of sexual
minorities and the Young Key Population until he sees that
there is balance and equity in the provision of rights. “Let
us fight for the rights we have and deserve. This battle
belongs to all of us, when you are part of a minority you
are obliged to be an activist,” he says. “Let us not be fooled
by the way people think and talk about us. We are bright
and light-filled people, let’s shine and be happy as we are.”
“Let us not be fooled by the way people think and
talk about us. We are bright and light-filled people.”
Seeing the progress of personal and professional projects
gives Mitho the most satisfaction, especially considering
the core challenges he believes LGBT+ in Africa are facing:
“A low African cultural identity in the LGBT+ community
is a great concern,” he says. “I have seen that there is huge
difficulty for LGBT+ in Africa to characterise themselves as
African in their advocacy activities. I think that apart from
raising the LGBT+ flag, we should highlight our Africanness
a little more, that would give us more originality.
“I think we have to start raising deeper debates focusing
on African identity at the continental level, looking more
at our origins as LGBT+ of Africa. Discussions should be a
little more appropriate to our culture.”
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48
Achieving the vision of LGBT+ rights as human rights
for all depends on relentless, committed and effective
advocacy on many levels, including health, protection
from violence and discrimination, access to services and
engaging local and global policy makers in addressing
the needs of LGBT+ people across Africa.
Advocacy is the act or process of pleading or arguing
in favour of a cause, idea, group or policy. It includes
multi-faceted and multi-leveled goals, programmes and
activities that can bring about societal or broad change. It
is about influencing people, policies, practices, structures
and systems in order to bring about such change. It can
include work that focuses on one specific issue, campaigns
that span a specific period of time or ongoing work that
addresses a range of issues.
Zimbabwe, for instance, has an ideal programme that
targets adolescents/youth and is designed to improve
the sexual and reproductive health of the young key
population. In Kenya, the global Health Policy Project
(funded by the United States Agency for International
Development) in partnership with AMSHeR, has provided
advocates, policymakers and service providers with tools
to advocate policies that govern the accessibility and
sustainability of services for key populations.
AMSHeR’s 15 Member Countries are continuing to
advocate for change, each of them achieving their goals
and making a difference in their own countries and abroad.
To be reminded of the different programmes conducted
in these countries and the real change they bring about,
here are some of the highlights:
Cote d’Ivoire
Organisation: Alternative Ivory Coast
Goals:
• Prevent and sensitise against STI/HIV/AIDS
proliferation and support LGBT+ living with HIV/
AIDS.
• Fight for the respect of human rights such as the right
to access to medical services, information, training
and education for vulnerable people or victims of
discrimination and stigmatisation (particularly
homosexuals, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender).
• Effectively represent discriminated groups both
on national and international level to raise public
awareness on issues related to their conditions.
Programmes and activities:
• Educational talks at the headquarters ofthe organisation.
• Group talks.
• Thematic talks under specialists’ supervision
(of health, nutritionists, etc.).
• Mass outreach activities.
• Door-to-door proximity outreach.
• Prevention activities via the internet.
AMSHER10
OPEN UP OUR COUNTRIES
O U R C O U N T R I E S

49
Ghana
Organisation: Centre for Popular Education and
Human Rights (CEPEHRG)
Goals:
• Strive for the attainment of equal rights and the
removal of all forms of discrimination in all aspects
of life for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and same gender
loving people in Ghana, West Africa (where same-sex
relationships are still criminalised).
• Strive to inform, educate, counsel and support
people in matters relating to law, health
(specifically HIV/AIDS in same-sex relationships)
and socio-economic well-being.
• CEPEHRG works actively on human rights, HIV/AIDS
programmes and services for LGBT+ people living
in Ghana.
• They also have an interactive theatre group, which
performs interactive theatre performances in schools
and communities to create awareness on basic and
fundamental human rights of young people, including
the marginalised.
• Member of the UNAIDS Technical Working Group
(TWG) for most-at-risk populations in Ghana.
• UNAIDS/UNDP Red Ribbon Award winners in 2008
for offering HIV/AIDS prevention programmes and
services to MSM communities in Ghana.
Kenya
Organisation: Ishtar
Goals:
• Advocate for equal access of healthcare for MSM.
• To identify and develop a referral system for MSM
health needs.
• To create, raise and promote public awareness about
MSM.
• To use different media e.g. drama, dance and skits,
flyers, brochures, newsletters & media, to pass
messages regarding sexual health and safer sexual
practices for the MSM community.
• Capacity building of members to instill life skills to
help with living with oneself.
• To offer peer education services to members.
• To create, plan and manage different support groups
for members.
• To emphasise life skills and develop positive attitudes
and values.
• Ishtar has been at the forefront of advancing LGBT+
health rights in Kenya.
• Involved in several research programmes, the most
remarkable being their 2004/2005 partnering with
Nairobi University Institute of African studies and the
Population Council in understanding the HIV/STI risk
and prevention needs of MSM in Nairobi.
• This research presented the key findings and
acknowledgement that MSM are not a negligible
population in Nairobi and that their sexual behavior
has an implication on both men’s and women’s
reproductive health, hence the importance of
inclusion of MSM in the holistic approach to fight
the pandemic.
Malawi
Organisation: Centre for the Development of People
(CEDEP)
Goals:
• Address the needs and challenges of minority groups

50
in Malawi in the context of human rights, health and
social development.
• Create a legally and socially accepting environment
where minority groups have an improved livelihood.
• Advance the human rights of minority groups through
advocacy and lobbying.
• Promote human rights and health of minority
groups through civic education, training, capacity
building, networking and research, and provide
support services for the improvement of the welfare
of minority groups in accordance with their needs.
• Sexual health programme, which involves sexual
health workshops, distribution of condoms
and lubrication, an MSM friendly VCT clinic and a
resource centre.
• Research forms the basis for CEDEP’s advocacy
programme. In 2008 CEDEP in collaboration with
Open Society Institute and the Sexual Health and
Rights Project, USA, Johns Hopkins School of Public
Health, USA, Center for Public Health and Human
Rights, USA, and Open Society Institute of Southern
Africa (OSISA), RSA conducted an epidemiological
study of HIV prevalence among 200 men who have
sex with other men (MSM) in Malawi. The study
revealed an HIV prevalence of 21.4%, which is twice
the national prevalence.
Nigeria
Organisation: International Center for Advocacy on
Right to Health (ICARH)
Goals:
• To provide interventions that meet the sexual health
needs of sexual and gender minorities.
• To carry out awareness on human rights and its
linkage to HIV/AIDS as it relates to the sexual
minorities, with the aim of reducing discrimination
and stigmatisation.
• To advocate against harmful laws affecting sexual
and gender minorities and to document subsequent
human rights violations borne of hostile environments
and such hostile laws.
• Administer a clinic for HIV and other STI screening,
palliative care and support groups.
• Sexual Health Programmes for STI prevention through
peer education.
• Human Rights & Advocacy focusing on documentation,
mediation, advocacy and stakeholder engagement.
South Africa
Organisation: OUT-LGBT Well-being
Goals:
• The focus is on health and rights
• Dedicated LGBT+ community centre.
• Counselling (face to face, telephonic and electronic),
groups (gay men, lesbian women, book club, trans
group, group for parents, alcoholics anonymous,
group for therapists).
• HIV prevention programmes focusing on substance
use, strengthening of community norms and
electronic based prevention.
• Clinic with ARV service and holistic HIV care.
• Research into sexual risk factors.
• Advocacy to protect and further inclusive and
progressive LGBT+ legislation.

51
• Serves on the South African National AIDS Council.
Togo
Organisation: Afrique-Arc-En-Ciel
Goals:
• Advocate for good access to adequate prevention,
treatment, care and support in HIV and AIDS.
• Strive for a social environment free of stigma
and discrimination.
• Works in partnership with the NGO Medical Aid and
Charity (MAC).
• Makes available to the gay public in Lomé a meeting
space and a place for free discussion and prevention
where one can address without any taboos the issues
of homosexuality, HIV/AIDS and human rights.
Uganda
Organisation: Frank & Candy
Goals:
• To work with and empower other Kuchu groups.
It aims to be a professional link between programmes
and service delivery.
• An empowered and informed community of Men who
have Sex with Men (MSM) and Women who have
Sex with Women (WSW) and Transgenders in Uganda,
free from the threat of HIV/AIDS, functioning freely
in society without prejudice and stigma.
• The Frank & Candy Newsletter, a weekly HIV
prevention and care informational electronic
newsletter.
• The LGBTI Health Africa Listserve, an e-group, which
was formed with the aim to connect all those in Africa
who work in the fields of HIV health and health care
for Kuchus all over Africa. Its aim is to connect, gather
and disseminate information, get discussions going
and share experiences.
• The Safe Space Initiative: A virtual secret group on a
popular social networking site, which aims to create a
safe space that is for Kuchus, administered by Kuchus
to discuss any and all topics of interest to Kuchus.
• Kuchus Living with HIV/AIDS group (KULHAS). Frank
& Candy Uganda is the parent group of KULHAS, a
group of Kuchus living with HIV which was formed
as a self-support group to take care of the needs of
Kuchus living with HIV.
Zambia
Organisation: Friends of RAINKA (FoR)
Goals:
• To champion the rights of sexual minorities in Zambia
through advocacy, information dissemination, legal
reform, research and direct service provision.
• Engage law and policy makers on legal reform, build
capacity to undertake effective advocacy, establish
member services based on identified needs and
priorities, and to research, gather, analyse and
disseminate information.
• Work towards a system based on social and economic
justice, interdependence, solidarity and respect rather
than competition and exploitation. A Zambia without
the systems of oppression.
• In the recent past HIVOS International, a Dutch
organisation (Humanist Institute for Cooperation
with Developing Country) provided funding that
has greatly assisted the organisation in meeting its
financial commitments.

52
• The organisation has informally provided psycho-
social support for members of the community,
providing counseling, education on sex, sexuality,
gender, safe sex practices and HIV/AIDS.
• Held an organisational development and capacity
building workshop in February 2009 and a follow-
up workshop on advocacy and human rights
in March, 2009.
• FoR has strived to collaborate with human rights and
health-based NGOs but the existing laws have limited
their number of partners domestically and has denied
them access to traditional sources of funding.
Zimbabwe
Organisation: Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ)
Goals:
• To promote, represent and protect the rights and
interests of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender
and intersex people.
• Advocacy through lobbying, empowerment, education,
research and provision of safe spaces.
• Provide membership-driven services to the LGBT+
community and work to increase availability of
relevant services that are responsive to the needs
of members.
• Ensure that LGBT+ people have access to safe and
non-discriminatory spaces and facilities.
• Work to strengthen the capacity of LGBT+ people to
exercise their rights in different forums.
Work to raise awareness and understanding by the public
of LGBT+ issues, interest and rights.

54
THE ONLY WAY
FORWARD IS HUMAN
RIGHTS FOR ALL

55
Staying closely aligned to their Key Strategic Pillars,
AMSHeR will continue their journey and success story
into 2020 and beyond.
DELIVERING RESULTS
RELATED TO CHAMPIONING
RIGHTS
AMSHeR will simultaneously advocate for appropriate
action by human rights “duty bearers” and facilitate
empowerment and action by “rights holders”. AMSHeR’s
secretariat and members have become increasingly skilled
in recent years at drawing on different tools to influence
duty bearers. These include:
• The preparation and submission of shadow reports
within sub-regional, African and global human
rights monitoring bodies, an approach that AMSHeR
members including Arc-en-Ciel Afrique have used to
secure relevant commitments from their governments.
• Advocacy to include specific recommendations and
action plans related to gender and sexual diversity,
such as Resolution 275 of the African Court of Human
and People’s Rights.
• Strategic litigation in national courts that typically
focuses on advancing and solidifying the least
controversial freedoms and protections first (such
as freedom from violence and the right to assembly),
before tackling criminalisation of same-sex conduct.
• Conduct high-level dialogues with judges and
human rights commissioners. At country level,
AMSHeR members frequently partner with other
institutions with similar values in this work,
including human rights commissions and groups
of progressive lawyers.
Opportunities and constraints vary from country
to country, but lessons can and should be shared, such
as the success of Lambda in Mozambique in advancing
decriminalisation of same-sex relations as part of a much
wider review and reform of criminal law. Some AMSHeR
members, such as GALCK in Kenya, have effectively
requested Amicus Curae status as part of strategic
litigation and the AMSHeR secretariat may do likewise
in the future, when national partners indicate that this
would be a useful contribution.
Similarly, within regional institutions, the AMSHeR
secretariat has learned the importance of partnering
with other relevant coalitions and networks. The Coalition
of African Lesbians worked closely with AMSHeR
in advocating for Resolution 275 and continues
to collaborate in calling for appropriate follow-up action
to that resolution. A broad range of other civil society
groups are leading the overall defense of the African
Commission and the African human rights system, with
AMSHeR playing a modest but important supportive role.
AMSHeR also contributes to these results by educating and
empowering rights holders. Most significantly, AMSHeR’s
capacity strengthening work with members and partners
includes specific attention to rights-related issues, so that
a growing number of CSOs in Africa can in turn educate
OPEN UP 2020
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W H E R E T O N E X T ?

56
LGBT+ rights holders, support them in documenting and
reporting violations, and call for appropriate redress.
There are also important opportunities to link this work
with AMSHeR’s celebration of diversity, including the use
of cultural, political and other champions as spokespeople
for acceptance and as advocates for rights protection.
Whether advocating for advances in law and policy
or supporting rights holders to demand accountability
from duty bearers, there is a large scope for AMSHeR
to facilitate learning in this area, particularly as more
and more African courts cite judicial precedents from
other countries.
DELIVERING RESULTS
RELATED TO
CELEBRATING DIVERSITY
As reflected in the outcomes and outputs described above,
AMSHeR will use three parallel and mutually reinforcing
approaches to deliver results related to this Strategic
Objective.
• First, AMSHeR will work through the media and other
public communications channels, both traditional
and social. There has been considerable success
at increasing neutral or positive media coverage
of sexual diversity in Africa in recent years, benefiting
from sympathetic coverage of real people, from the
voices of celebrity champions and from changing
attitudes among young social media influencers.
These successes can be reinforced and extended, by
training and sensitising journalists, communicators
and other influencers, by facilitating access
to appropriate people and stories, and by directly
producing content.
• Second, AMSHeR will produce training materials
and other relevant resources, as well as running
sensitisation and dialogue programmes, that are
designed to directly increase understanding of sexual
and gender diversity among leaders in key sectors,
including at community and political levels, of
cultural and spiritual/religious institutions, of private
sector enterprises, and of academics. The AMSHeR
secretariat will focus on identifying and sharing, as
well as developing, materials and methodologies
that can be used by multiple members and partners
(as well as by other relevant organisations).
The secretariat will also organise and deliver training
and sensitisation programmes on inter-country,
sub-regional and regional levels, for example with
Pan-African meetings of religious leaders.
• Third, AMSHeR’s secretariat and members will seek
to nurture, grow and diversify leadership from within
Africa’s LGBT+ communities. A strong emphasis will
be placed on identifying, supporting and celebrating
the next generation of leadership through youth
training programmes and inclusion of young leaders
as spokespeople at events and in boards and advisory
groups of AMSHeR itself and its members. Emerging
and established community leaders will also
be celebrated through awards programmes, social
media profiles and support to participate in key
influencing and networking opportunities.
Opportunities and constraints we are mindful
of is that some of AMSHeR’s member organisations are
particularly skilled at direct content production, such as
TIERS Nigeria’s production of Nollywood movies with
LGBT+ characters and plots. Those materials can be used
and disseminated by other members and by the AMSHeR
secretariat, and those skills can be shared with other
members working in other languages or cultural contexts.
Other AMSHeR members advance this agenda through
events such as Pride celebrations and film festivals.
AMSHeR members and partners are best placed to work
country by country, as reflected in the pioneering work
of Friends of Rainke in Zambia and CEPEHRG in Ghana
with religious and spiritual leaders within their respective
countries, as well as the work of Lambda and GALZ with
Mozambican and Zimbabwean politicians respectively.

57
DELIVERING RESULTS
RELATED TO INCLUSIVE
DEVELOPMENT
The AMSHeR secretariat and a majority of its members
have considerable experience working at policy
and programme levels to improve HIV responses,
promotinginclusionofandattentiontoSOGIcommunities.
AMSHeR will continue its proven approach to these
issues, including:
• Advocacy that draws attention to the HIV-related
needs of LGBT+ populations.
• Research that documents inclusion and attention to
these issues in governance policies and funding (or
lack thereof).
• Advocacy for the inclusion of LGBT+ on decision
making bodies such as the Global Fund’s “Country
Coordination Mechanisms”.
• Development and use of training tools aimed at both
public health leaders and front-line health workers.
• Alliance building and joint programming with
networks representing other key populations affected
by HIV.
Particular attention will be paid to prioritisation of LGBT+
needs as HIV-dedicated funding declines and to inclusion
of LGBT/MSM in areas of increasing investment, such as
the roll-out of PrEP. The AMSHeR secretariat will continue
its work at regional and global levels, drawing attention
to African priorities and experiences, increasingly
accompanied by relevant AMSHeR members. AMSHeR
members including OUT in South Africa, Arc-en-Ciel Plus
in Cote d’Ivoire, and Ishtar in Kenya will lead such work
at country level, benefiting from tools and peer learning
from the AMSHeR coalition.
AMSHeR’s role in influencing other relevant sectors and
development priorities to include attention to sexual and
gender diversity will be more limited but still important.
A first priority will be to consolidate evidence about the
relevance of LGBT+ to different priority sectors and to map
opportunities for changes to policies and programmes.
Opportunities and constraints: AMSHeR will invest in
sharing experiences and approaches across sub-regions,
as different parts of Africa have had varying degrees of
success at incorporating LGBT+ sensitivity into their HIV
policies and programmes. While AMSHeR’s previous
strategic plan referred to ‘health services’ rather than
health programming more broadly, AMSHeR has also
developed expertise in understanding and promoting
action on social determinants of HIV-related health
outcomes, and that work will be continued and expanded.
HIV expertise and networks with health policy makers
and health workers will be leveraged to increase action on
other health-related priorities for people of diverse sexual
orientations, gender identities and gender expression,
including TB, STIs, reproductive health and mental health,
learning from health sector work beyond HIV currently
being implemented by AMSHeR members including
Alternative Cameroon (with reproductive and maternal
health) and Outright Nambia (with mental health).
Nascent experience of AMSHeR members in influencing
issues and sectors beyond health to become more LGBT+
responsive will be an important resource, including the
experience of CEDEP in Malawi with poverty alleviation,
and OUT in South Africa addressing the links between
violence and low educational achievement for young
lesbians and bisexual women.
Given that neither the AMSHeR secretariat nor most
members have in-depth expertise in sectors like education
or social protection, an emphasis will be placed on creating
and/or deepening alliances with civil society organizations
and movements with more relevant expertise. AMSHeR
will review its experiences working productively with
Health Ministries and with Justice Ministries and Human
Rights Commissions to identify approaches that might be
transferable to other ministries and sectors. Work beyond
health will initially focus on areas where Members or
the secretariat have at least some initial relevant skills,
particularly in addressing violence.

59
DELIVERING RESULTS
RELATED TO THE LGBT+
SOCIAL MOVEMENT IN
AFRICA
AMSHeR was first established by African gay and bisexual
men and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM),
drawing attention to their human rights and their needs
for equitable and inclusive health services. As a result,
AMSHeR has a unique depth of experience and legitimacy
with African GBMSM, and AMSHeR will continue
to represent and draw attention to the particular needs and
perspectives of African GBMSM, with special attention
to relevant HIV issues.
At the same time, from the beginning, AMSHeR’s coalition
included LGBT+ as well as MSM groups and it quickly
became obvious that there were synergies between making
progress for GBMSM, making progress for other specific
communities within the African LGBT+ movement, and
making progress for African LGBT+ people overall.
AMSHeR quickly found itself working on broader LGBT+
issues as well as those that are specific to GBMSM and
AMSHeR’s staff and board were diversified to include
trans people and bisexual and lesbian women. At the same
time, other communities such as lesbians and bisexual
women and trans people need their own organisations
and networks to draw attention to their own priorities
and views. The various constituencies within the African
LGBT+ movement all stand to benefit from many of the
same laws, policies, programmes and social attitudes
– and are all threatened by many of the same forces.
In many cases, driving progress requires a common
front and joint action. As such, AMSHeR will continue its
longstanding practice of working particularly closely with
lesbian and trans networks, as well as with other networks
of key populations affected by HIV, such as sex workers.
Opportunities and constraints: Many organisations
within the movement are fragile but strengthening
individuals to become effective advocates can contribute
to the movement, even as those individuals move from one
role to another, or one organisation to another.
There are challenges that have received insufficient
attention to date and that require more concerted action,
including sexual harassment within the movement.
AMSHeR recognises that the LGBT+ movement in Africa
has rapidly grown and diversified since AMSHeR was
first established. Other networks now exist that convene
almost all relevant actors, most notably Pan-African
ILGA. AMSHeR will not try to emulate or compete with
Pan-African ILGA in its broad and inclusive convening
but AMSHeR will grow and diversify its membership to
better reflect the diversity of African LGBT+ experiences
and capacities. AMSHeR will invest much more attention
to sharing the products, insights and expertise of its
secretariat and members more broadly, to other LGBT+
focused groups and also to civil society and other allies
who are seeking to become more understanding of and
responsive to sexual and gender diversity.
Several AMSHeR members are themselves networks
of different NGOs or organisations with multiple branches
across their country, including GALCK in Kenya and GALZ
in Zimbabwe. This offers the opportunity to document
and leverage their experience in coordinating and
strengthening broader movements in their countries,
to widen such efforts across the AMSHeR coalition.

AMSHeR Progress Report

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