Read Our Solidarity Letter sent to our Burmese advisors and groups below.
To donate to the Global Fund, click here.

Our long time support of Burmese human rights groups outside of Burma has given us insights into how best to respond meaningfully to this terrible catastrophe. In solidarity with the Burmese democracy movement, the Global Fund for Women has chosen not to work directly in the country. In addition, current US government legal sanctions and presence of the military junta prevent us from funding independent women's rights organizations inside Burma.

For immediate disaster relief, we recommend any of the following reputable organizations that have an on-the-ground presence or connections inside the country:

The United States Campaign for Burma http://uscampaignforburma.org/

The Mae Tao Clinic http://www.maetaoclinic.org/

Global Health Access Program http://www.ghap.org/how_to_help/money/

Foundation for the People of Burma http://www.foundationburma.org/

GFW Solidarity Letter to our Burmese Advisors
and Friends

May 5, 2008

Dear Burmese Advisors and Friends,

We want to express our solidarity with you during this difficult time as you, your friends, and family continue to recover from the devastating Typhoon Nargis this past Saturday, that has cost almost 10,000 innocent lives, displaced over 90,000 people and disrupted daily life along the Irrawaddy Delta and inside Rangoon and surrounding areas of Burma.  On behalf of the entire staff and Board of the Global Fund for Women, we express our deepest sympathy for those families that have lost loved ones in the Typhoon.  We are also concerned for those of you who are working on challenging issues since no doubt, this incident and the danger of trying to reach your family and friends inside Burma have added a tremendous burden on your friends, family and colleagues.

Through the press, radio, fellow grantees, advisors and our friends, we have learned of the disturbing consequences to the daily lives of people in Rangoon region as a result of the Typhoon and the challenges of getting international aid to the affected areas inside Burma, particularly in rural areas. As you know, our main objective as a women's fund is to strengthen women's organizing efforts and groups at all times.  In this time of disruption in your country, we wish to recognize your courageous work as your family and friends continue to recover from this natural disaster.  We understand that it must be particularly difficult and painful for many of you along the Thai-Burma border and in Chiangmai at this time given the distance from your families and friends inside Burma who may be affected by the Typhoon.

The Global Fund understands that your organizations are under immediate pressure to respond to local crises in your communities. Please know that while we are unable to act as a relief funder and provide emergency support, in expressing our solidarity the Global Fund is here to support women's groups in your long-term work to strengthen women's human rights in your communities and promote sustainable redevelopment within a gender and human rights framework among women-led organizations affected by the Typhoon.

If your group currently has an open grant from the Global Fund, you should feel free to use them for whatever activities you believe are most critical at this time of urgent need.  If you find that your current Global Fund grant would be better spent on relief efforts, please feel free to reallocate your existing funds as you see fit.  For example, you may decide that your current grant would be better used to purchase water, food, clothing, or materials for building shelter or livelihood tools. Your group does not need to seek our approval prior to reallocating funds under emergency circumstances.  We only ask that you notify us when submitting your final report.  Additionally, if you spend your grant before the one-year grant period is over, you may reapply for funding, submitting a renewal proposal with a final report to help us close your previous grant.  We will make every effort to expedite your request.

We understand that this is a very important time for people in Burma, particularly in and around the Irrawaddy Delta and Rangoon, to act to ensure that family, friends, and women you work with are rebuilding their lives.  We hope you will share with us how best the Global Fund can support your hopes for the future of your organization and community.

In solidarity,

Kavita Ramdas,
President & CEO, Global Fund for Women

Shalini Nataraj,
Vice President of Programs

Dechen Tsering,
Program Officer for Asia and Oceania

Elaine Howard,
Program Associate for Asia and Oceania