|A large group of people sit in a conference room, attentively listening and taking notes. Some have laptops open. Posters and presentation slides are visible on the walls.|ADF Chair Idriss Maiga in a wheelchair participates in a conference session, surrounded by other attendees seated at tables covered with documents and laptops. Everyone appears engaged in the discussion.

PRESS RELEASE: African Disability Forum General Assembly – 1 Sept 2024, Nairobi

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THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING OF THE AFRICAN DISABILITY FORUM HELD ON 1 SEPTEMBER 2024 IN NAIROBI, KENYA

The African Disability Forum concludes its General Assembly in Kenya with the election of a new Board/Executive Council.

The African Disability Forum (ADF), the leading umbrella organization representing organizations of persons with disabilities across Africa, successfully concluded its General Assembly yesterday, 1st September 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya. The assembly, held every four years as per the organization’s constitution, gathered all member Organizations of ADF from across the continent.

A large group of people sit in a conference room, attentively listening and taking notes. Some have laptops open. Posters and presentation slides are visible on the walls.

The General Assembly, a key event in the ADF’s calendar, serves as an essential platform for reviewing the organization’s progress, discussing strategic directions, and making critical decisions for the future. The agenda for this year’s assembly included the presentation of the ADF’s narrative and financial reports, the audit report, and the highly anticipated election of a new Executive Council who will steer the organization over the next four years.

During the assembly, the ADF secretariat presented a comprehensive narrative report, showcasing the organization’s achievements over the past four years. Key milestones highlighted included successful advocacy efforts for the rights of persons with disabilities across Africa, capacity-building initiatives for member organizations, and strategic partnerships that have enhanced the visibility and impact of disability inclusion on the continent.

ADF Chair Idriss Maiga in a wheelchair participates in a conference session, surrounded by other attendees seated at tables covered with documents and laptops. Everyone appears engaged in the discussion.

The financial report and audit report were also presented, reflecting the organization’s commitment to transparency and accountability. These reports provided a detailed overview of the financial health of the ADF, underscoring the prudent management of resources and the effectiveness of its financial controls.

The assembly concluded with the election of a new Executive Council. The newly elected council consists of nine members, bringing together a diverse group of leaders with extensive experience and a deep commitment to advancing the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in Africa. Notably, five members of the outgoing Executive Council were re-elected, ensuring continuity and the retention of valuable institutional knowledge. Accordingly, the new Executive Council comprises of:

  1. Idriss Alzouma Maiga: Chair
  2. Fatma Wangare Haji: Vice-Chair
  3. Auberon Jeleel Odoom: Secretary General
  4. Ayassou Komivi: Treasurer
  5. Eric Ngondi: Representative of Youth with Disabilities
  6. Emmanuelle Tchotchom: Representative for Women with Disabilities
  7. Indouma Olivier: Representative of Elderly Persons with Disabilities
  8. Mohammed Ali: Representative of Families having a Member with a Disability
  9. Cantol Alexandre Ponja: Representative of the Under-Represented

The Executive Council members are expected to play a pivotal role in guiding the ADF through its next phase of growth, focusing on strengthening member organizations, expanding advocacy efforts, and enhancing partnerships with regional and international stakeholders.

As the ADF moves forward under the leadership of the newly elected Executive Council, the organization remains dedicated to its mission of promoting, protecting and advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities across Africa. The outcomes of the General Assembly, including the renewed leadership and strategic discussions, position the ADF to continue its vital work in empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring their full inclusion in all aspects of society.

The African Disability Forum extends its gratitude to all participants, partners, and donors who contributed to the success of this General Assembly. With their continued support, the ADF is well-positioned to build on its achievements and drive positive change for persons with disabilities across the continent.

Mr. Shuaib Chalklen – Executive Director

African Disability Forum

02 September 2024

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Strengthening Partnerships to Advance Disability Rights in Africa (SPADRA): Gender and Disability Inclusive Advocacy Capacity Building Workshop, 18-19 July 2024, Nairobi, Kenya

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This week the African Disability Forum through its Strengthening Partnerships to Advance Disability Rights in Africa (SPADRA) program held a capacity strengthening workshop in Nairobi, Kenya for experts from Disabled Women in Africa (DIWA) and Inclusion Africa (IA) Alumni from Bridge-CRPD-SDGs and Young African Women with Disabilities.

The workshop’s focus is to understand and unpack the gender related International and Regional Human Rights Instruments/Frameworks and discuss the challenges to come up with a strategy and methodology to enhance gender inclusive human rights protection for Persons with Disabilities. A key outcome from this workshop is an actionable platform to take forward the different recommendations for the participating organizations, countries and African continent.

Woman presenting at the SPADRA workshop. Behind her the screen says

Strengthening Partnerships to Advance Disability Rights in Africa (SPADRA) Program is designed to bridge the gap and advance gender and disability rights in Africa through building strong organizations of persons with disabilities. The project’s overall objective is to advance gender and disability rights in Africa through strengthening OPD capacity, cross-disability and mainstream partnerships at Pan African and national levels. The project is implemented in consortium of International Disability Alliance (IDA), African Disability Forum (ADF), Disabled Women in Africa (DIWA) and Inclusion Africa (IA) initially in Ghana, Benin, Malawi and Zambia with financial support from Sida.

Call for Membership Stakeholder Group of Persons with Disabilities a Thematic Group on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Action (TG-DRRCA)

Thematic Group on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Action (TG-DRRCA)

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Under the Stakeholder Group of Persons with Disabilities, a Thematic Group on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Action (TG-DRRCA) has been established to support the engagement of persons with disabilities, their representative organizations and other relevant stakeholders to contribute to the monitoring of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction within the 2030 Agenda framework, and also ensure that the global and regional climate action is inclusive of and allows equal participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations.

The TG-DRRCA is an open coordination mechanism led by a Steering Committee. Members of the Steering Committee include the global and regional focal points, representative of the Stakeholders Group, and the representative of the International Disability Alliance as the organizing partner. To read more about the group including the term reference please click this link.

The TG-DRRCA is currently calling for membership. The membership is open to all persons with disabilities, organizations of persons with disabilities, non-governmental, humanitarian and other civil society organizations working on the rights of persons with disabilities and non-governmental donors and experts working on inclusion of persons with disabilities in disaster risk reduction and climate action. If you are interested to become a member, please fill the membership form through this link.

To be eligible to participate in the upcoming process of electing the next permanent and alternate focal points, please fill out the membership form before 21 July 2024.

For any inquiries about the group, please email Alradi Abdalla, the Inclusive Humanitarian Action & Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Advisor at IDA Secretariat aabdalla@ida-secretariat.org.

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The 4th Cohort of the Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice commenced this week at Chuka University

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The Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice (NSSCJ) is an initiative pioneered by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) and is currently co-coordinated with Chuka University based in the small town of Chuka that is located 189km away from Nairobi, Kenya. The school is designed to provide a timely opportunity for long-standing scholar-activists, community-based scholars and the younger generation of climate justice advocates as well as practitioners from the Global South and North. Summer school participants will share experiences, exchange perspectives and collectively reflect on just, equitable and inclusive pathways to a low-carbon, climate-resilient development trajectory using modules that are designed in practical and uncomplicated ways.

The African Disability Forum (ADF) is participating in the school initiative with the support of Save the Children International and in collaboration with PACJA. Their presence aims to highlight the importance of incorporating disability considerations. One of their interventions is detailed below:

For this intervention and the specific question of ADF, the Regional Environment and Climate Change Specialist from Sida, Mr. Robert Muthami, responded as follows. He emphasized the importance of the question and highlighted the need to advance the issue by engaging in civil society movements. He stressed the significance of understanding the roles and spaces of different groups in ongoing processes. Additionally, he underlined the crucial role of mapping for potential policy dialogue engagement and coordination.

The ADF delegate also met with Mr. Ayele Kebede, the Program Manager for Sida’s Regional Development Cooperation Africa, Environment and Climate at the Embassy of Sweden in Addis Ababa, and Prof. Satishkumar Belliethathan, Ph.D., Head of the Africa Regional Office at NABU. The brief discussion emphasized the importance of reinforcing inclusion in the Summer School by involving youth with disabilities in the upcoming cohorts.

Follow the initiative here:

Twitter

– Pan African Climate Justice Aliance: @PACJA1

– Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice: @Summer_School1

LinkedIn

– Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice

15 countries that have ratified the African Disability Protocol: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Mali, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Niger, Rwanda, South Africa, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Uganda

PRESS RELEASE: Ratifications of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa

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The African Disability Forum (ADF) is pleased to announce the good news about ratifications of the African Disability Protocol.

The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa (also known as African Disability Protocol) was adopted by the African Union Heads of States on the thirtieth ordinary session of the AU Assembly held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 29th January 2018. The purpose of the Protocol is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human and people’s rights by all persons with disabilities in Africa, as well as to ensure respect for their inherent dignity. The Protocol will complement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), with an African focus by ensuring that persons with albinism, for instance, are not left behind. The Protocol seeks to provide for the rights of persons with disabilities from an African perspective, taking into account the lived realities of persons with disabilities in the continent while maintaining the core values and principles as set out in the CRPD. 

In addition, the African Disability Protocol will promote the adoption and harmonization of national laws and policies, to ensure that their inclusion and access to services and the equalization of opportunism for all citizens. The Protocol is the culmination of the African Union’s efforts to create a framework to safeguard the human rights of persons with disabilities on the continent.

The Protocol is an important tool for the protection and promotion of the rights of people with disabilities in Africa and its ratification will, therefore, provide for effective scrutiny by allowing persons with disability with an avenue to seek redress when domestic law fails to guarantee their rights. The Protocol enters into effect once ratified by a minimum of fifteen (15) African Union Member States.

ADF is pleased to share the great news that the Protocol by now has entered into force following the deposit of 15 ratifications by the following countries:

  • Angola
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • Republic of the Congo
  • Kenya
  • Mali
  • Malawi
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Nigeria
  • Niger
  • Rwanda
  • South Africa
  • Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
  • Uganda

ADF, as the representative pan-African Organization of national, sub regional and regional association of persons with disabilities, aspires to see an inclusive Africa where all persons with disabilities and their families have their rights and voices respected and participate actively in the life of their communities and nations as outlined in the Protocol and UN CRPD, has been working together with its partner organizations and stakeholders on advocating for ratification of the Protocol so as to attain the 15 ratifications.

ADF, on behalf of its members, would like to extend its acknowledgement to the countries that have ratified the Protocol and also to the partners who have been working on advocating for coming into effect of the Protocol. ADF congratulates all on the achievement of this milestone and is also grateful to all who have contributed in making this happen.

ADF believes that the coming into effect of this disability Protocol and its implementation enables persons with disabilities in Africa to benefit a lot from the gains of the Protocol.

Mr. Shuaib Chalklen – Executive Director

African Disability Forum

June 25, 2024

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Disability Inclusive Cash and Voucher Assistance E-Learning Course

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We are very excited to share with you the launch of the first course Disability Inclusive Cash and Voucher Assistance Learning Course, which has been developed by CBM Global, African Disability Forum, and the CALP Network.

Until now, there’s been a crucial gap in training material addressing disability inclusion within CVA, overlooking the specific needs, risks, and barriers that people with disabilities face to effectively receive cash assistance. Hence, this course aims to contribute to reduce this gap and to promote more inclusive CVA programs.

This online training is self-directed, and you can complete it at your own pace. Moreover, this is a hands-on and practical course, that includes real examples, which were crafted and presented by implementing staff from both International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs). The course also contains engaging video inputs, expert interviews, and interactive learning challenges that go beyond traditional learning formats.

The topics addressed in this training include:

  • Prerequisites for effectively generating disability data.
  • Using the Washington Group Questions to disaggregate assessment data.
  • Identifying and engaging local Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) as strategic partners.
  • Strategies to ensure meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in CVA.
  • Concept and use of Extra Cost and its implications for CVA.
  • Removing and mitigating barriers to ensure autonomous access to CVA.
  • Improving feedback and complaints mechanisms to ensure accountability and responsiveness to the requirements and concerns of persons with disabilities.

You can enroll now by following this link. The course is available in Kaya Connect, if you still don’t have an account, you can create one for free in a few steps.

In the coming months, there will be two live workshops to deepen the content included in this course. To have a chance to participate, you must complete this course first!

ENROLL NOW!
Heading that says Two Alumni Success Stories from the ADF Women’s Leadership Programme. An image below shows a woman facing a big screen as she is teaching. The screen says "Disability and intersecting identities"||||

Two Alumni Success Stories from the ADF Women’s Leadership Programme

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About the Young African Women with Disabilities Leadership Program

The Young African Women with Disabilities Leadership Program is a regional, hybrid capacity-building initiative to empower young African women with disabilities. The Program runs over eight months of contact and virtual spaces and includes women with all types of disabilities and intersecting identities, fostering self-confidence and competence. The primary objective is to cultivate a robust, engendered Pan-African disability movement and strengthen the capacity of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to advocate for the rights of women with disabilities effectively. The inaugural cohort included 16 young women with disabilities from 16 African countries and ran from 2022 to 2023.

Rowena Dinah Koloi

Rowena Dinah Koloi is a highly motivated young lady who has seen the beauty of life through one eye. She holds a BCom in Real Estate and is currently a learner official (Real Estate officer) at Debswana Mining Company. She identifies as visually impaired (partially sighted).

Ms. Koloi is a published author of a motivational book titled ‘A Walk to Remember: Disability is not Inability.’ She has participated in the auspicious Young Global African Leader’s exchange program offered by the U.S.A Department of State in Washington, D.C.

She is the founding Director of the Abilities Expo, a space created for young people with disabilities in Botswana to showcase their different abilities.

She is also the chairperson of the Network of Young People with Disabilities. The Network aims to ensure adequate representation of young people with disabilities in different SRH policies and programming platforms.

Ms. Koloi has represented Botswana and young women with disabilities as a panelist, speaker, trainer and facilitator on several regional and continental platforms since her selection as a participant in the African Disability Forum (ADF) leadership program for young African women with disabilities in 2022, including the 8th Regional Steering Committee Meeting for the UNFPA Flagship program for young people (Safeguard Young People program) in South Africa, Namibia, and Mozambique, the 4th Southern African Regional Student and Youth Conference (SARSYC) in Lilongwe, Malawi, the Conference (WEB for Life session), a discussion on sexual reproductive health and rights for young girls and women with vision impairment during the commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child, the East and Southern Africa UN Inter-Agency Working Group on Disability Inclusion Virtual dialogue on partnerships to end violence against women and girls with disabilities in Eastern and Southern Africa, the World Aids Day virtual panel discussion on “Girls’ voices in Ending Aids, the Women Enabled International (WEI) and UNFPA Global Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights and Gender-Based Violence and Related Services for Women and Young People with Disabilities Curriculum, the YOUTHCONNEKT Summit in Kenya, Nairobi, focusing on empowering youth and addressing their vulnerabilities in mental health and sexual reproductive health.

Ms. Koloi has been honored with the prestigious Best Youth with Disabilities Pioneering Disability Issues Award at the Botswana Youth Awards 2022/2023. This accolade is a testament to her unwavering commitment to empowerment, advocacy, and making a positive impact in her community.

Uzoamaka Anita Asiegbu

Uzoamaka Anita Asiegbu is a Gender and Disability Inclusion specialist passionate about championing the representation and mainstreaming of women with disabilities in all aspects of society.

With experience working with UN Women, and completing her post-graduate degree in Women and Gender Studies (GEMMA) from the University of Lodz, Poland and the University of Bologna, Italy, Uzoamaka has mastered the requisite skills to ensure the inclusion of women with disabilities in gender equality.

Uzoamaka is particularly devoted to ensuring the inclusion of women with disabilities in workplaces and organisational cultures. As a woman with a disability, she understands first-hand how impactful it is for women with disabilities to be independent and earn a sustainable living. She is committed to ensuring this happens for as many women with disabilities as possible through workplace inclusion advocacy.

In 2023, Uzoamaka was nominated for a Woman of Europe Award under the Young Woman of Europe category based on her works on the full inclusion of women with disabilities in Gender Equality agenda.

In the nearest future, Uzoamaka plans for a society where women with disabilities do not just occupy prominent spaces but also create renowned spaces in diverse industries.

Uzoamaka is an alumna of the Young African Women with Disabilities Leadership Programme 2022, hosted by the African Disability Forum (ADF). She is currently working as an intern at the International Labour Organisation’s headquarters in Geneva where she supports the ILO Global Business and Disability Network secretariat to promote disability-inclusive workplaces for member companies.

A digital poster from the African Disability Forum (ADF) with a blue and yellow border. The ADF logo is in the top left corner. The main text reads "CONSULTANCY advertisement" in bold black letters, with a megaphone icon to the left. Below, the text says, "Visit our website for more info" followed by the website link africandisabilityforum.org in bold.

Consultancy Advertisement: REQUEST FOR TRANSLATION SERVICES (ENGLISH/FRENCH)

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The African Disability Forum is the continental membership organization of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in Africa. ADF currently has members from 44 African countries (National Federations of Organization of Persons with Disabilities), 9 continental OPDs and 4 sub-regional OPDs.

ADF is a strategic partner for Light for the World in the We Can Work (WCW) program, which is a signature program to improve access to dignified and fulfilling work for young women and men with disabilities in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal. As a strategic partner, ADF is leading on Youth Led Advocacy in the programme and has scheduled a Training of Trainers (TOT) in July 2024.

It is against this background that ADF is seeking professional interpretation services during the scheduled training of trainer in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. For more information see the Terms of Reference (DOWNLOAD HERE). Any interested company can submit the proposal according to the attached ToR via the following email: Azrah Shabudien jobs@adf-secretariat.org
Deadline to submit the proposal: June 14th 2024, 5PM East African time

A digital poster from the African Disability Forum (ADF) with a blue and yellow border. The ADF logo is in the top left corner. The main text reads "CONSULTANCY advertisement" in bold black letters, with a megaphone icon to the left. Below, the text says, "Visit our website for more info" followed by the website link africandisabilityforum.org in bold.

Consultancy Advertisement: REQUEST FOR MEAL TRAINING CONSULTANCY

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The African Disability Forum (https://adfoldwebsite.neptunetechghana.com) is the continental membership organization of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in Africa. ADF currently has members from 44 African countries (National Umbrella Organization of Persons with Disabilities), 9 continental OPDs and 4 sub-regional OPDs.

In July 2023, Save the Children International (SCI) and the African Disability Forum (ADF) signed a partnership agreement to implement the ‘Global Civil Societies Strengthening ‘project. The focus of the program is developing the capacity of the African Disability Forum to enable it to respond to the needs of children with disabilities in Africa with a special focus on their rights based on the Child Rights Convention (CRC) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The main content entails measures to develop internal capacity in ADF and to broaden its network with mainstream child rights organisations and to strengthen existing partnerships.

One of the activities is to improve the capacity of ADF staff in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL). ADF is looking for a consultant to provide MEAL training. For more information see the Terms of Reference (DOWNLOAD HERE). Any interested company can submit the proposal according to the attached ToR via the following email: Azrah Shabudien jobs@adf-secretariat.org
Deadline to submit the proposal: June 14th 2024 EXTENDED TO 21 June 2024

Poster says: Join ADF for a panel discussion at COSP17 2024. Online event! Fostering Disability Inclusion: Through Cooperation and Partnership. Wednesday, 12 June 2024. 4PM East Africa time. 9AM New York time. Register today on ADF’s website. Africandisabilityforum.org. ADF Logo. COSP logo. UN logo.

COSP17 virtual side event on 12 June 2024 – Fostering Disability Inclusion: Through Cooperation and Partnership

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ADF is organizing a virtual side event at this year’s COSP17 under the theme “Fostering Disability Inclusion: Through Cooperation and Partnership”.

Date: 12th of June 2024

Time: 4:00pm to 5:15pm Nairobi time (9:00 to 10:15am New York time).

REGISTER HERE: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7yQ0xkEUQuiAG00cIKtc2Q

Save the date!!!!!!