Executive Summary

In an era marked by significant strides towards equality yet challenged by persistent disparities, ILGA-NAC proudly presents its strategic plan for the next five years: FlowForward. This document serves as a roadmap—a bold declaration of our commitment to accelerate progress, confront challenges head-on, and harness the collective power of our diverse communities to foster an inclusive society.

FlowForward is anchored in the principles of UNITY, SUSTAINABILITY, and JUSTICE—three pillars that are foundational to us and deeply intertwined with the aspirations of the 2SLGBTQI+ communities we serve. These principles guide our strategic priorities, shape our actions, and reflect our commitment to a future where every individual's rights to belong are recognized, respected and protected.

Through this plan, ILGA-NAC sets forth a series of ambitious objectives aimed at strengthening our network, mobilizing resources, and advocating for rights and equity. Each initiative and action is designed to build a more connected and unyielding community that can effectively respond to both current and emerging challenges.

As we launch FlowForward, ILGA-NAC is poised to lead with innovation, passion, and a relentless commitment to the communities we represent.

NB: This report uses the term "stakeholder" to describe those with a vested interest in the outcomes and processes discussed. While we recognize that this term has roots in corporate and colonial frameworks and is less commonly used in Canada, it remains widely used in the Caribbean. We have chosen to retain it as appropriate for this context. Our intention is to be inclusive and respectful, while acknowledging the evolving nature of language in decolonization efforts.

Core Values

At the heart of our organization lies a set of core values that define our very identity. These values serve as the foundation for our decisions, actions, and aspirations, guiding us towards a path of excellence, integrity, and compassion. They are the essence of who we are, and they manifest in everything we do.

To harness the collective strengths of our members and allies, amplifying achievements made in eradicating injustice and discrimination while advocating for the rights, freedom, and well-being of gender-diverse communities at societal and institutional levels, and ensuring availability and access to technical and financial resources.

Our Mission

ILGA-North America and the Caribbean envisions a region where the lives and rights of 2SLGBTQI+ communities are supported, protected, and celebrated. As a diverse and inclusive collective, we will uplift each other while breaking down the barriers of injustice and discrimination.

Our Vision

Assumptions in Each Pathway

Resource Activation Pathway

Continuous Resource Availability: Assume that funding and other resources will be available as needed without interruptions.
Access to Expertise: Assumes ongoing access to and retention of expert staff and the necessary technology to implement activities.
Stakeholder Commitment: Presumes that stakeholders and partners maintain their commitment and active support throughout the lifecycle of the initiatives.

Implementation Pathway

Seamless Execution: Activities are executed as planned, without delays or disruptions.
Audience Engagement: Assumes that the activities effectively reach and engage the intended audience, leading to active participation.
High Participant Uptake: There is enough engagement from participants for each activity to produce the expected tangible outputs.

Transformation Pathway

Effective Outputs: Outputs such as improved communication platforms or successful workshops achieve their intended effect on participants and stakeholders.
Utilization of Capacities: The capacities developed through these outputs are actively used to foster change.
Stable External Conditions: Assumes that external conditions including political, social, and economic factors, remain favorable for translating outputs into desired outcomes.

Impact Realization Pathway

Sustained Support: Long-term funding and support continue to underpin the initiatives, ensuring their ongoing viability.
Conducive Environments: The broader societal, legal, and policy environments evolve favorably, supporting the acceptance and institutionalization of advocated changes.
Minimal Resistance: Assumes minimal pushback or backlash against 2SLGBTQI+ rights and recognition that could detract from achieving the desired outcomes.

Feedback Integration Pathway

Community Participation: Assumes active participation and feedback from diverse community members, including marginalized and underrepresented groups.
Feedback Mechanisms: Effective systems are in place to collect, analyze, and integrate community feedback into ongoing and future planning.
Responsive Action: Assumes that ILGA-NAC can and will adapt strategies based on community/ membership input to improve relevance and effectiveness.

We kicked off our process by launching a dynamic data collection strategy, proactively gathering insights from multiple angles to paint a vivid picture of the current landscape and trends impacting the 2SLGBTQI+ community. Our approach included:

ImpactReels Interviews:
Online Video Surveys:

Data Collection and Community Engagement

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Co-Creation at the Cari-Flags and ILGA-NAC Regional Conference

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To deepen our understanding and ensure wider community input, we launched a community survey complemented by an information session. This initiative was designed to engage community members directly, allowing them to voice their experiences, concerns, and aspirations. The feedback collected was instrumental in shaping the foundational elements of our strategic analysis.

Community Survey and Information Session

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Utilizing web scraping and machine learning techniques, we conducted a sentiment analysis to gauge the regional pulse on 2SLGBTQI+ issues. The results indicated predominantly negative sentiments toward LGBTQ+ developments in 2024, with a forecast suggesting a potential decline in positive sentiment from 2025 to 2029. This crucial insight has guided us in prioritizing advocacy and support strategies to address and potentially reverse these trends.

Sentiment and Trend Analysis

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Because persistent disparities continue to challenge 2SLGBTQI+ rights, we work across North America and the Caribbean to help 2SLGBTQI+ organizations achieve equity and justice through strategic advocacy, capacity-building, and resource mobilization, in order to create a more inclusive and supportive society by 2029.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Adjustment Strategy

ILGA-NAC - Theory of Change

Our Approach

Between March 2024 and July 2024, our consultant team led a thorough, collaborative, and data-driven approach to develop and implement strategies that effectively responded to the evolving needs and dynamics of the 2SLGBTQI+ community in the region.

Data Collection and Community Engagement
Analytical Depth and Policy Consideration