Sex Worker Networks Consortium

Sex Worker Networks Consortium: strengthening rights-based responses to HIV

In 2013, NSWP joined with regional sex worker-led networks - Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW); African Sex Workers Alliance (ASWA); Caribbean Sex Work Coalition (CSWC); International Committee for the Rights of Sex Workers in Europe (ICRSE) and Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network for Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (SWAN); and La Plataforma LatinoAmérica de Personas que EjeRcen el Trabajo Sexual (PLAPERTS) -  to form a consortium to apply for funding from the Robert Carr civil society Networks Fund (RCNF).

As of 2019, ICRSE decided to withdraw from the Consortium and support SWAN activities in Europe through collaboration rather than as formal members of the Consortium.

RCNF was established to provide financial support to global and regional networks seeking to address the needs and rights of inadequately served populations (ISPs). They define ISPs as key and other populations that are disproportionately impacted by HIV, and face higher mortality and/or morbidity compared to the general population, and who have less access to information and services.

The Sex Worker Networks Consortium received its third grant from RCNF for the 2019-2021 cycle to:

  • Continue enhancing sex worker-led organisations’ and networks’ capacity, at regional and national level, to influence policy makers and HIV programme implementers, through advocating for and implementing community-led, rights-based comprehensive programmes; promoting human rights and access to justice; opposing criminalisation and other legal oppression of sex work; and an end to violence stigma and discrimination against sex workers of all genders, as part of the global roll-out of the Sex Worker Implementation Tool (SWIT) and scaling-up of services for sex workers.
  • Enhance sex workers’ inclusion in national and international policy and programme design and implementation, through developing advocacy tools and communication platforms to share information and best practices.
  • Strengthen organisational capacity at national, regional and global levels, through the provision of technical support and the facilitation of intra and inter regional exchanges and South-South learning.
     
  • Promote movement building in regions and countries where no sex worker-led organisations exist.

For more information about RCNF click here.

Sex Worker Networks Consortium: making the Global Fund work for sex workers

In 2015, the Sex Worker Networks Consortium received a grant from the Global Fund and the Robert Carr civil society Networks Fund partnership to strengthen the capacity of sex worker-led networks and organisations and enhance their knowledge of and engagement with Global Fund processes in eligible countries.

Since 2017 NSWP has received funding directly from the Community, Rights and Gender Special Initiative to continue enhancing the knowledge and engagement of sex worker-led organisations in Global Fund processes through:

  • Producing Global Fund quarterly updates to ensure sex worker-led organisations have access to up-to-date information on recent developments relating to the Global Fund.
  • Organising regional workshops and convenings and on-going support for National sex worker-led organisations to develop and implement national action plans.

For more information about the Global Fund work on Community Rights and Gender and the Special Initiative that funds the above work click here.

To view the Global Fund Quarterly Reports: