A global coalition of organizations convened in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from October 26 to 31 to strengthen solidarity, rights-based advocacy, and economic resilience for gender-diverse communities. Participants included IPPF Member Associations; FPA Sri Lanka, FPOP (Philippines), and RENEW (Bhutan), alongside the IPPF Social Enterprise (SE) Hub team, GATE (Global Action for Trans Equality), TransCore Association (Romania), Inclusive Bangladesh, GAAT Foundation (Colombia), GDX (South Africa), and Sri Lanka’s Heart to Heart and National Trans Network.

Worldwide, gender-diverse communities continue to face discrimination, exclusion, and criminalisation, with limited access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Individuals facing intersecting vulnerabilities such as poverty, migration, sex work, drug use, and racialization remain at heightened risk of violence, HIV, and socioeconomic exclusion. This convening focused on strengthening cooperation and shared strategies to counter anti-gender movements while expanding access to SRHR services and economic opportunities.

The programme opened with remarks from Dr Ruchitha Perera, Executive Director of FPA Sri Lanka, who emphasised the importance of cross-movement collaboration, dignity-driven advocacy, and long-term sustainability for community-led efforts.

A central component of the meeting was capacity-building on SE as a pathway to financial resilience and community-led sustainability. The IPPF SE Hub delivered a two-day learning programme, introducing participants to IPPF’s SE models, an overview of the technical expertise and capacity building the Hub can offer, business planning, and social impact assessment. Advanced sessions explored business plan development, financial analysis, P&L management, market research, and marketing. The training was led by Rishikeshan Thiyagaraja, Chief Operations Officer, and Manjula Chathuranga Liyanage, Technical Advisor at the Hub. Team-building activities encouraged connection and strengthened solidarity across regions and movements.

On the closing day, Nadika Fernandopulle, Deputy Director of HIV and Project Manager of the GFATM National HIV Prevention Project, together with Dr. Mihitha Basnayake, Senior Manager – Advocacy, coordinated a learning visit to community organizations engaged in the National HIV Prevention initiative and the IPPF Sex Worker Project, highlighting grassroots efforts towards strengthening the HIV response and community-led action.

Through shared learning and continued partnership, IPPF and its allies are building stronger, more resilient movements, enabling gender-diverse communities to lead change, secure livelihoods, and advance equality and justice globally.