In the global south, funding for PWUDs has focussed a lot on Public Health, leaving not much on the human rights-based approach in addressing PWUD issues. This has PWUDs agency and self-determination. Their issues have been managed from a very siloed approach, leaving the movement in loose organising and heavily dependent on donor funding. Although this funding has brought PWUDs visibility and addressed their public health needs, it has also resulted in disenfranchised organising. In its current state, it is unsustainable, especially when funding is phased out or diverted to other priorities.

Using the PGM approach helps the communities look at their work from an intersectional lens, which means being intentional about reaching people as they live. The support goes in a way that recognises multiple identities and characteristics and how they combine in ways that can elevate privilege or compound injustices. From our (UHAI) work and various baselines that we carried out, we observed that PWUDs who carry multiple identities and vulnerabilities are often left out or pushed to the farthest, resulting in increased discrimination and stigma, ultimately subjecting them to further structural oppressions.

This workshop will bring donors and communities to unpack what intersectional funding for PWUDs could look like and how PWUDs could influence moving their resources.

Understand how funding has affected the building of PWUDs agency, autonomy and politics.

Unpack funding mechanisms of PWUDs and how it affects their human right discourse

Unpack challenges that the current existing funding poses in building a more robust sustainable movement

Increased knowledge of the challenges that the top-down funding has on PWUDs

Increased willingness by the donors to embrace intersectional and participatory grantmaking for PWUDs

Increased knowledge among PWUDs on the need to push for meaningful involvement and participation in moving the PWUDs resources