The African Disability Forum (ADF) is participating in the annual learning and sharing event of the Rights in Action project, happening in Zimbabwe. The event, which commenced today, 19 February and concludes tomorrow, bringing together project partners, local Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), and other stakeholders to reflect on progress, exchange experiences, and strengthen collective strategies for advancing disability rights.
Rights in Action is a transformative, OPD-led disability rights advocacy project that has been implemented since 2025 in Zimbabwe and Nigeria. The project is financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and facilitated by CBM Global, in partnership with ADF, Zimbabwe’s OPD federation (FODPZ), Inclusion Africa, Nigeria’s OPD federation (JONAPWD), and other local OPDs and actors.
The overall objective of the project is to ensure that OPDs in both countries, including those representing under-represented groups, are strengthened to promote and protect the human rights of persons with disabilities at local, national, regional, and international levels. The project’s theory of change is anchored on strengthening OPDs, enabling joint and coordinated advocacy, influencing policies, and ultimately realizing disability rights.
Since its inception, Rights in Action has focused on enhancing OPDs’ organizational capacity, advocacy skills, and ability to engage meaningfully with duty bearers. The annual learning and sharing event in Zimbabwe provides a vital space for partners to review achievements, discuss challenges, and draw lessons from coordinated advocacy efforts at different levels. It also fosters cross-learning among OPDs and reinforces solidarity within the disability movement.
ADF is represented at the event by Abebaw Abebe, who is participating virtually. Through this engagement, ADF is contributing regional perspectives, promoting cross-country learning, and reinforcing the importance of strong continental and global linkages in advancing disability-inclusive policies and practices.
One of ADF’s key contributions to the Right in Action project is the documentation and dissemination of success stories, lessons learned, and case studies from OPDs across different regions. By sharing practical advocacy experiences and evidence of change, ADF aims to inspire confidence among participating OPDs, particularly those from under-represented groups, and demonstrate that coordinated, rights-based advocacy can lead to tangible policy and social transformation. These shared experiences also serve as valuable learning tools that strengthen collective advocacy and amplify the voices of persons with disabilities beyond national boundaries.
Through initiatives such as Rights in Action, ADF continues to advance its mandate of strengthening OPDs, promoting joint advocacy, and connecting local disability rights efforts to regional and international human rights platforms. ADF commends all partners for their commitment and looks forward to continued collaboration to ensure that the rights of persons with disabilities are fully realized across Africa and beyond.
