The African Disability Forum (ADF) had the pleasure of welcoming Mr. Washington Opiyo Sati, Regional Program Manager for Africa at the Disability Rights Fund (DRF), to its office in Addis Ababa on June 16th 2026.
Representatives of ADF and Disability Rights Fund reflected on the progress of their ongoing partnership and explored ways to further advance the rights, inclusion, and participation of persons with disabilities in Africa. Discussions focused on shared priorities, emerging opportunities, and strategies for enhancing collective efforts to strengthen organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) and disability rights advocacy initiatives throughout the region.
ADF highlighted the importance of strong and sustained partnerships in advancing disability inclusion and promoting the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in development, governance, and decision-making processes. ADF also shared updates on its current programs and initiatives running in various countries, aimed at empowering OPDs and amplifying the voices of persons with disabilities across Africa.
Mr. Washington reaffirmed DRF’s commitment to supporting disability rights movements in Africa and emphasized the importance of collaboration among regional and national stakeholders to achieve sustainable and inclusive change. He added that the discussion helped him to understand ADF better and recognize the growing visibility and influence of the organization at regional and international levels.
The visit provided an important opportunity to reaffirm the strong relationship between ADF and DRF. Both organizations expressed their commitment to continuing to work together to advance disability rights, strengthen disability-inclusive development and ensure that the voices of persons with disabilities remain at the center of policies and programs affecting their lives.
ADF values its partnership with DRF and looks forward to continued collaboration in promoting an inclusive and accessible Africa where persons with disabilities can fully enjoy their rights and contribute to sustainable development.
