Capacity Building Activities
In addition to the grants themselves, Brazil Fund support includes individually following up on each project. This is done with full respect for the autonomy of each group, and includes both virtual meetings and site visits.
Our methodology for supporting organized civil society also includes encouraging dialogue among several human rights defense groups. We understand that collective analyses and peer-to-peer learning opportunities boost the work of each group in their territories, while also expanding the impact of our projects.
Capacity building and networking in 2023
In 2023, we brought together more than 280 activists from supported groups to discuss the reality, challenges, and opportunities for the defense of human rights in the country.
The Projects Gathering is a large event that fosters intersectional dialogue among groups devoted to different causes. Two such gatherings were held in 2023 in the city of São Paulo, with approximately 100 participants each. They included discussion panels on specific agendas, their points in common, people’s engagement based on political-electoral changes in the country, and how to address growing religious fundamentalism, among other topics. The gatherings also delivered workshops on institutional strengthening, strategic communication, and fund raising.
Participants included representatives of groups supported by the following calls for proposals: Resisting With Those Who Resist; Human Rights and Criminal Justice; Tackling Racism from the Basis; In Defense of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; Human Rights Defenders; Mobilization in Defense of Civic Spaces and Democracy; SOS Amazon Emergency Support Fund; and Strengthening Informal Workers’ Fight for Their Rights.
Indigenous organizations supported by the call named In Defense of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples were able to participate in a detailed project preparation and writing workshop.
The groups included in the call for proposals on Tackling Racism from the Basis participated in a thematic meeting in August. One of the main activities was developing a timeline of the achievements of Black movements drawn from the actions of the groups present at the meeting and the personal experiences of each activist.
There were also autonomous meetings organized by groups supported by the Brazil Fund to discuss their specific areas of work. We were invited to these meetings, and our role was mostly that of observers—to learn about the work carried out. Throughout the year, 10 such events took place: in São Paulo, Bahia, Pará, Piauí, Rio de Janeiro, and the Federal District.
