Botswana: Building Sustainable Movements Through Strong Finance and Compliance Systems

Friends of Diversity strengthened its governance, finance, compliance, safeguarding, and organisational systems through the Marang Fund and Gender Links Academy, transforming from a vulnerable grassroots group into a sustainable, professional human rights institution.

Friends of Diversity Organisation (FOD) is an LGBTIQ+ organisation in Botswana working to advance dignity, safety and inclusion. Before partnering with Gender Links, FOD had strong community programmes but informal financial and governance systems. Manual bookkeeping, inconsistent documentation, limited reconciliations, and informal HR and safeguarding practices created operational risk.

Through Gender Links Academy training and the Marang Fund, FOD transformed its finance, compliance, safeguarding, procurement, HR and MEL systems. Key milestones included: adopting QuickBooks, monthly reconciliations, a 5th‑day rule for accounts closure, three‑quote procurement, formal HR contracts, safeguarding and PSEAH policies, anti‑fraud procedures, strategic fundraising systems, and an active Board Audit Committee.

This shifted FOD from a reactive, high‑risk organisation to a fully professionalised human rights institution with strong internal controls and donor confidence. The change strengthened sustainability, improved staff safety and morale, and positioned FOD as a credible partner for multi‑year grants.