The Advisory Board of the Empowerment Program for Refugee Women*

The Empowerment Program for Refugee Women* is organized bilingually. Please find the German version here.

In 2020 we have started the empowerment program for refugee women* and since September 2020, there is also an advisory board for it. This group consists of ten refugee and migrant women* who advise filia on decisions regarding the funding and the further development of the program. They all bring their own experiences, interests and intersectional perspectives to the board and the program.

Advisory board members are experts

Especially in this program it is important that it is shaped together with by those who know what is happening on the ground, who know refugee and migrant life realities from their own experience and who themselves actively fight against sexism, racism and other forms of discrimination. This knowledge makes them experts.

This advisory board brings together people who are active in various networks, who engage for many goals and topics. Like this, there is also the possibility for exchange of experiences and networking within the program.

The board members read the applications that filia receives for the calls for proposals and they make a preliminary selection. During a weekend meeting in Hamburg, they discuss the applications and finally decide which should receive funding. This recommendation reaches filia’s general board of trustees to confirm. When groups or organizations that board members are themselves actively involved in apply for funding, they resign from scoring these applications and leave the room when they are discussed.

Further developing participatory, intersectional grantmaking

In addition, the advisory board is actively involved in the further development of the program. For example, concerning the form of the call for proposals, the funding criteria or the exchange with the funded groups. In this way, a participatory, intersectional grantmaking approach is developed in and with the advisory board. This enriching learning process requires joint development, critical (self-)reflection and a willingness to learn and engage in dialogue on the part of everyone involved.

The advisory board works voluntarily and bilingually (English and German). It is accompanied by Lea Rzadtki, the program coordinator.