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Projects
Bridging the gap: Technical assistance for CSOs and Disabled People's Organizations (DPOs)
Short Description:
Overall goal
The project is contributing to the implementation of commitments to national policies, plans and donor-supported development initiatives for inclusive socio-economic services.
Expected results
The intervention aims at improving organizational capacity of nine Disabled People's Organisations (DPOs) in Amhara and Ethiopia Somali regional states to deliver effective programmes, exercise their mandates and effectively engage with state to influence decisions and resource allocations for inclusive socio-economics services. One of the technical and organizational capacity to be address in this project will be improving DPOs capacity to mainstream gender in their activities and projects.
Target group / Beneficiaries
On average, each of the nine DPOs targeted by the intervention will have five staff members / volunteers, making the total number of beneficiary staff / volunteers to 45 staff. These target groups will receive capacity development training as appropriate in key organizational capacity areas designed to improve the programmatic, institutional, and financial management capacity of partner organizations. The capacity development services will be designed to be as inclusive as possible in terms of gender and disability.
Activities
The key outputs of the intervention are outlined as follows:
Output 1: Support the development of tailored policies, procedures and systems for nine DPOs to properly and accountably manage their projects and general operations.
Output 2: Delivered tailored training to 45 staff / volunteers and board members on financial and programme management for improved staff performance, skills, confidence and effective programme delivery.
Output 3: Provided technical assistance, mentoring and coaching to nine DPOs, leading to strengthening the organizational capacity which allows the organization to deliver their programmes effectively and to ensure the effective utilisation and institutionalisation of skills and systems.
Output 4: Developed strategies and capacities for nine DPOs, leading to stronger organizations with the ability to, effectively engage, adapt and continue to develop over time.
Context
80 per cent of people with disabilities live in developing countries, and one-in-five of the world’s poorest have a disability. According to Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs 2010 report, in Ethiopia, 95 per cent of all persons with disabilities are estimated to live in poverty. Many depend on family support and begging for their livelihoods (ILO 2013). Furthermore, people with disabilities and their families are more likely to be poor and remain poor as a result of higher living costs, barriers to education, health and employment opportunities, and unpaid caring responsibilities.
These factors highlight the importance of enabling people with disabilities and their families to lift themselves out of poverty through accessible and appropriate health services, and education and employment opportunities. This requires concerted efforts to overcome stigma and discrimination in order to recognise the value and capacity of people with disabilities. Disability-inclusive development provides opportunities for people with disabilities to participate on an equal basis to others and realise their full potential. This enables countries to harness the potential contribution of all citizens, maximising opportunities for poverty reduction and sustainable economic growth.