The Fund is a part of the Nordic co-operation on improving conditions for LGBTI people. NIKK administers the Fund on behalf of the Nordic Council of Ministers. It opens for applications for funding on 1 September 2022.

The Fund finances projects in which at least three organisations from at least three of the Nordic countries will co-operate to promote equal rights and opportunities for LGBTI people in the Nordic countries. Projects that aim to respond in various ways to promote equal rights for LGBTI people, contribute new knowledge and promote exchanges of experience or which manifest and develop Nordic co-operation can apply for grants from the Fund.

All information about the Fund is now gathered in a message available in English, Finnish, Icelandic, and Swedish.

Read the message in

• English
• Finnish
• Icelandic
• Swedish

*LGBTI is an acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex. Although the abbreviations used in the various Nordic countries may differ, LGBTI is the acronym used in all official Nordic co-operation as it is equivalent to what is used in other international organisations.

The work to improve the living conditions of LGBTI people is an important part of Nordic co-operation and of the Nordic Council of Ministers’ vision of becoming the world’s most sustainable and integrated region. Since 2020, the Nordic Council of Ministers has been co-operating to promote equal rights and opportunities for LGBTI people in the Nordic region. One part of this work is the Nordic LGBTI Fund, which is administrated by NIKK on behalf of the Nordic Council of Ministers. This autumn, the Fund opens up for applications for the second year in a row. 

Who can apply for funding? 

Dialogue and co-operation are one of the cornerstones of Nordic collaboration. The Nordic LGBTI Fund provides the opportunity for this. The Fund finances projects where at least three organisations, from at least three Nordic countries, collaborate. The call is open to various activities and organisations, such as voluntary organisations, authorities and companies. 

Projects that contribute to Nordic interests and work for equal rights and opportunities for LGBTI people in the Nordic countries can apply for financing from the Fund. A total of approx. 1,5 million DKK will be distributed. 

The activities should start during 2022 and are to be carried out within two years. The funding can be used to develop common methods and new knowledge, and to hold conferences and build networks, etc. 

• Read the guidelines for the Nordic LGBTI Fund 
• Read about the projects granted funding in 2021 
  

Important dates for the Nordic LGBTI Fund 

You need to apply via a form, which will be available from nikk.no during the application period. 

• 1 September – the call opens 
• 30 September – deadline for applications 
• November/December – decisions notified to applicants 
• December – contracts will be signed  
  

Upcoming events within Nordic LGBTI co-operation 

In addition to the work with the Fund, NIKK also contributes to the collaboration by gathering and spreading knowledge. In May, several events within the Nordic co-operation for strengthened LGBTI rights will be arranged. 

On 20–22 May, a conference aiming to enable the exchange of experience and knowledge between Nordic LGBTI organisations will take place in Oslo. The conference is organised by the project Enhancing Nordic LGBT+ organisations capacities amidst an international backlash against LGBT+ rights, financed by the Nordic LGBTI Fund. NIKK will be participating as an observer, to inform about the possibilities with the Fund, and highlight the Nordic LGBTI co-operation. 

On 20 May, NIKK will arrange a network meeting in Oslo for the projects granted funding in 2021. The meeting will give participants the opportunity to present their projects and discuss Nordic co-operation within the LGBTI area. 

*LGBTI is an acronym for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex. Although the abbreviations used in the various Nordic countries may differ, LGBTI is the acronym used in all official Nordic co-operation as it is equivalent to what is used in other international organisations. 

The report entitled Hate crimes targeting LGBTI people in the Nordic countries describes how these countries are working to capture and combat hate crime targeting LGBTI people and points out important actors, strategies and legislation.

– All people should be able to live and work in the Nordic countries without fear of hatred, threats and discrimination. This report gives us a better basis for improving the situation of LGBTI people by pointing to what efforts are needed. For example, decision makers, the authorities and civil society all need to work together in better ways, says Thomas Blomqvist, Finland’s Minister for Gender Equality.

The report presents how the police and the legal system work when it comes to hate crimes in each country for example. It also gives examples of knowledge-enhancement initiatives and support for victims of crime. The role and efforts of civil society are also a focus.

Preventive efforts common

A somewhat positive picture of the trend in the Nordic countries in recent decades emerges from the report, which names new legislation protecting LGBTI people against hatred and discrimination as a contributing factor to this. The majority of these countries are also working to prevent and identify hate crimes against people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Often, a number of authorities and civil society organisations are involved in this work.

Other factors that point in a positive direction are that hate crimes are prioritised by the police in many of these countries. It is also common to keep statistics on how often and where hate crimes take place in order to enhance knowledge about them. Many of these countries are also engaged in knowledge-enhancing measures which aim to get more people to report these crimes, or to improve the skills of those who encounter the victims of these crimes in their work.

A number of challenges for these countries in combating hate crime emerge from the report – challenges related to the work of the police and how cooperation between different actors functions. Examples of these challenges are that the police sometimes fail to recognise hate motives in crimes, and that those groups that are particularly at risk of hate crime often lack confidence in the police. These are factors which make it more difficult to solve hate crimes. The report also highlights the need to improve cooperation between the police and civil society crime victim support activities.

Several initiatives to improve the situation of LGBTI people in the Nordic countries

This report is one of several initiatives within the framework of the regional LGBTI strategy adopted by the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2020. Previous initiatives have focused on the health and well-being of young LGBTI people and next year a research review of the living conditions of older LGBTI people is planned. The report Hate crimes targeting LGBTI people in the Nordic countries was produced by Nordic Information on Gender (NIKK) on behalf of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

It will be presented in conjunction with the Nordic Council of Ministers’ seminar LGBTI People’s Safety and Well-being – Good Practices in the Nordics held in Helsinki on 30 November.

Read the full report here (PDF)
An accessible version of the publication can be found here

Despite the fact that life conditions of LGBTI persons* in the Nordic countries have changed in the last seventy years, major public health surveys indicate that this group suffers from an increased amount of mental and physical health issues compared to the rest of the population. Younger generations of LGBTI persons see their lives affected, too, by having a sexuality or gender identity that falls outside the traditional norm. Today a report is being presented (produced by NIKK on behalf of the Nordic Council of Ministers) that describes the current state of research and presents a number of efforts intended to improve the life conditions of this group.  

The purpose of the report Health, well-being and life conditions of young LGBTI persons in the Nordic countries is to spread knowledge and experiences in the region, in order to contribute to better life conditions. The report consists of two parts:  

• A research overview describing the current state of research regarding the health and well-being of young LGBTI persons in the Nordic countries, and 
• A mapping, presenting a selection of efforts aimed to improve the well-being of young LGBTI persons in the Nordic countries. 

Health impact factors 

Studies that focus on mental health and experiences of, among other things, depression, anxiety, and stress, indicate that having a sexuality or gender identity which falls outside the norm seems to have a major impact on mental health. Trans persons in particular are reporting mental health issues exceeding the average. 

• Studies show that it is also far more common among young LGBTI persons to experience self injury, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts, says research overview author Anna Siverskog, Ph. D., and lecturer at the School of Health and Welfare at Jönköping University. 

The LGBTI group also reports below-average physical health, in particular among trans persons. Multiple studies further indicate above-average drug and alcohol abuse in the LGBTI group. They also show how norms prevalent in sports contexts may affect which adolescents feel welcome there.  

Norms and life conditions  

Studies acknowledge that many young LGBTI persons are unable to be as candid as they would like, regarding their sexuality or gender identity. Sexual harassment and vulnerability to violence appear to be common. Trans persons in particular are subjected to offensive treatment, or to harassment. Such violence is rarely reported to the police. The report highlights, among other materials, studies with a focus on school, working life, growing up in rural areas, the importance of geography, and contexts where religion and conservative norms hold sway.  

The report also addresses factors that create differences within the LGBTI group. For example, young bisexuals frequently display somewhat less well-being compared to young homosexuals. Differences between homo- and bisexual girls and boys can also be observed across multiple studies.  

Needs and measures 

A recurring model of explanation in the studies reviewed is that the difficulties experienced by young LGBTI persons in daily life revolve around what is known as minority stress. This is a concept used to describe a minority position which involves an increased risk of exposure to various psychosocial stressors (such as coping with bullying, discrimination, and violence). With this in mind, awareness-raising efforts are in focus when the studies propose any recommendations. 

Efforts made in the Nordic countries 

The mapping of efforts includes measures taken at municipal, regional and national levels, in many different areas throughout the Nordic countries. The efforts are targeting young people directly, as well as a number of professions with which they interact, such as school and healthcare staff. Other efforts may involve raising awareness about the situation of young LGBTI persons, and tasking key authorities with awarding the group a particular focus. 

It is mainly the LGBTI organisations of the respective nations who serve as the primary actors behind the efforts aimed directly at the target group. Other actors can be found among recreation leaders and social welfare secretaries operating locally, in a municipality or region. Collaboration frequently occurs between organisations and occupational groups. LGBTI organisations tend to function as repositories of knowledge, and provide professionals with education and in-service training covering issues pertaining to the health and life conditions of young LGBTI persons. 

Presentation of the report during World Pride 

The report Health, well-being and life conditions of young LGBTI persons in the Nordic countries is presented today, 16 August, during the World Pride panel debate “Nordic ministers gather forces for young LGBTI people’s wellbeing”. 

Since 2019, LGBTI issues have been an area of political co-operation in the Nordic Region, and in 2020 the Nordic Council of Ministers adopted the world’s first regional LGBTI strategy. 

*LGBTI  
LGBTI is an acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex.  
This term is used in the Nordic context as well as many other, international ones. 

The fund is a part of the new Nordic co-operation on improving conditions for LGBTI people. NIKK is tasked to administrate the fund. It opens for applications for funding September 1 2021. 

The Fund finances projects in which at least three organisations from at least three of the Nordic countries will cooperate to promote equal rights, treatment and opportunities for LGBTI people in the Nordic countries. Projects that aim to respond in various ways to promote equal rights for LGBTI people, contribute new knowledge and promote exchanges of experience or which manifest and develop Nordic cooperation can apply for grants from the Fund. 

All information about the fund is now gathered in a message available in English, Finnish, Icelandic och Swedish. 

The strategy for new Nordic co-operation on improving conditions for LGBTI people will be put into effect in 2021. Part of this work is the new Fund, which aims to promote Nordic co-operation in the LGBTI area.  

“LGBTI people should be able to live free, open and good lives in the Nordic countries. The Nordic LGBTI Fund is an important part of achieving this. The Fund is a unique way of supporting work for change in the Nordic countries in the LGBTI area,” says Thomas Blomqvist, Finland’s Minister for Nordic Co-operation and Gender Equality. 

Projects that contribute to work for equal rights, equal treatment and equal opportunities for LGBTI people in the Nordic countries can apply for financing from the Fund. A total of DKK 238,000 will be distributed. NIKK is the administrator of the Nordic LGBTI Fund on behalf of the Nordic Council of Ministers and will accept applications after the summer of 2021.  

As with the Nordic Gender Equality Fund, actors from at least three Nordic countries need to be involved in each application. Thanks to this co-operation, knowledge is growing and being shared across borders. We are finding common solutions and learning from each other. The activities should start during 2021 and are to be carried out within two years. The funding can be used to develop common methods and new knowledge, and to hold conferences and build networks, etc. 

“The new Fund will strengthen the work to ensure equal rights, equal treatment and equal opportunities for LGBTI people in the Nordic countries. We know that there is a great deal of expertise, knowledge and the will to drive this development forward, in particular in civil society. And we hope that this will be reflected in the applications received,” says Thomas Blomqvist. 
 

Preliminary important dates for the Nordic LGBTI Fund

You need to apply via a form, which will be available from nikk.no during the application period. 

• 1 September – the call opens  
• 30 September – deadline for applications  

• November/December – decisions notified to applicants  
• December – contracts will be signed 

 
Read more about the Nordic LGBTI Fund here and prepare your application by reading our guide for those seeking funding.