In Nigeria, HRC Global Innovator Bisi Alimi organized the first Nigerian LGBTQI Chamber of Commerce Summit through the Bisi Alimi Foundation. The summit brought together 15 LGBTQI small business owners and founders of start-up ventures for a two-day business development training program where the participants were trained on idealization, pitching, networking, branding, and digital marketing. "The training was an eye opener to so many things in terms of business structure, branding and identity, content marketing and other business tools,” said one participant.

In Ghana, HRC Global Innovator Bill, through her organization the Mediators Foundation, brought together faith and business leaders in Accra to strategize how to improve their allyship to the LGBTQ+ community. Bill said, "Thank you, HRC for your generous support for the community. This Grant broadened our fighting scope and brought attention to the need for respecting diversity."

In Zanzibar, HRC Global Innovator Salum through the Bridge Initiative Organization, conducted two roundtable discussions for business leaders to increase their awareness of the LGBTQ+ community. They then held joint work planning sessions with the participants to brainstorm opportunities to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion in their business strategy, including investments in communities, communicating the Sustainable Development Goals, and business impact. These businesses were then invited to develop company-wide plans to increase their employees' awareness of LGBTQ+ rights issues and how they can become better allies.

In Uganda, HRC Global Innovator Tom Twongyeirwe through Universal Coalition of Affirming Africans (UCAA) Uganda engaged faith leaders and people and communities of faith as allies for equality through a workshop to change hearts and minds. During this thought-provoking dialogue, they discussed faith-related issues impacting the LGBTQ+ community in Uganda. focusing on debunking the lies and the myths that are especially prevalent following the recent passage of the draconian Anti-Homosexuality Bill. One of the faith leaders in the workshop said, “Thank you UCAA for the good work you are doing, keep doing it and pray for those who are not there yet, we shall all be there at some point. This is a spiritual warfare, and we are together in this.”

In Albania, HRC Global Innovator Arbër Kodra organized a workshop for business leaders on how to be more effective allies for equality. The workshop, conducted by Arbër's organization Open Mind Spectrum Albania in collaboration with the Commissioner Against Discrimination, provided tools for employers to improve conditions for their LGBTQ+ employees and demonstrated how support from the business community can help promote equality.

In Montenegro, HRC Global Innovator John Barac, and his organization LGBT Forum Progress, conducted a pilot research study among leading businesses to measure levels of LGBTI acceptance and perception, as well as the existence of nondiscrimination policies in the workplace. This first-of-its-kind research report provided immensely valuable benchmarking data that point to the next steps needed to strengthen the role of businesses in promoting LGBTI equality in Montenegro. From the group of respondents, only a very small number include non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in their nondiscrimination policies, and most companies say they are unaware of having any out LGBTQ+ employees in their company.

Photo credit: Government of Montenegro.

In Slovenia, Petra Polanič, through her organization Legebitra, organized a program to promote inclusive workspaces for transgender employees. Building on their previous efforts supported by HRC to recognize inclusive companies, Legebitra developed innovative educational materials focussed on creating inclusive workplaces for transgender employees. They convened a workshop with 16 participants from eight companies to present these materials, and through the connections formed there they were able to identify further participants in this program. "The space for discussion exceeded our expectations as participants were not only eager to ask questions but also engaged with one another, sharing experiences and good practices."

In Armenia, HRC Global Innovator Lilit Martirosyan, and her transgender-focused organization Right Side NGO, organized a three day training for 18 LGBTIQ+ activists across the country with the theme of “Advocating for our Rights.” The advocates gained human rights advocacy and strategic communication skills, which they are now using to initiate activities in their own communities. They have expanded their reach to almost 200 people across the country who now have new tools to promote their protection and well-being. "As a result of the training, LGBTIQ+ activists from all across Armenia have become aware of strategic communication, advocacy and campaigning and now they are more involved in social and civic life by cooperating with different CSOs and activists, participating in activism by multiplying their knowledge through peer-to-peer education on equality and inclusion in their own regions," says Lilit.