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One day Quarterly stakeholder meeting on 12th Feb 2024 in Juba –South Sudan

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South Sudan Union of Persons with Disabilities (SSUPD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare, with support from NAD, organized one day stakeholders meeting in an effort to strengthen collaboration and harmonization among stakeholders, The quarterly partners meetings brought together the 4 OPDs, 3 UN Agencies, 12 INGOs, 9 NNGOs, 3 civil society organizations, and 7 representatives of the State and National Government.

The Establishment of effective coordination mechanisms Facilitated the created a platforms for collaboration between partners and other relevant organizations; including INGOs, local NGOs and women’s organizations, OPDs that helps to create synergies, align goals, share best practices, and solve problems between the partners implementing disability programs.

ADF representative (Chandiga John) facilitated a session to the participants during the meeting on:

Introductions to Organizations of persons with Disabilities (OPDs),Types of OPDs. Roles of OPDs, Structures of OPDs/Networking. Example of OPD and Why work with OPDs?.

The session objective was to lobby for involvement of OPDs in partnership. Traditionally, persons with disabilities & their organizations had decisions made on their behalf by service providers, policy makers and professionals but Legally, The CRPD imposes the legal obligation for meaningful involvement of persons with disabilities, through their representative organizations, in all spheres of life, including international cooperation .

Technical: Persons with disabilities are best placed to identify the actual barriers they face, and to find innovative solutions. Therefore, involving their representative organizations is essential.

As such, involvement of OPDs will help to ensure that the approach to disability, inclusion & accessibility will be coherent between the national level and international policies & programmes.

Photo above shows John ADF representative doing presentation roles of OPDs and why Involvement OPDs in programming is important.
Photo above shows John ADF representative doing presentation roles of OPDs and why Involvement OPDs in programming is important.
Photo above shows participants of Stakeholders Quarterly Meeting With the South Sudan Union Of Persons With Disabilities standing together posing for a photograph
Photo above shows participants of Stakeholders Quarterly Meeting With the South Sudan Union Of Persons With Disabilities standing together posing for a photograph

Poster says: Press release: international fellowship programme

Press release: international fellowship programme

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University of Massachusetts Boston Institute for Community Inclusion Partners with the International Disability Alliance and the African Disability Forum on International Fellowship Program

BOSTON, MA – The Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Boston, in collaboration with the International Disability Alliance (IDA) and the African Disability Forum (ADF), has been awarded a grant from the US Department of State to launch the third round (FY 2023) of the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement. This program, designed for emerging leaders in East Africa, aims to facilitate exchange and implementation of best practices for disability-inclusive civic engagement.


The program will support approximately 12 mid-career disability rights professionals (Fellows) from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia to participate in a 5-week intensive Fellowship Program in Spring 2025. The program includes a placement with US host organizations to enhance leadership and professional skills.

Each Fellow will be individually matched with a US host organization based on shared professional interests and goals to ensure a meaningful exchange. The focus of the Fellowship will be on a key policy or practice issue related to disability and civic engagement in their respective home countries. Fellows will collaborate with US colleagues to design individual project action plans, which they will implement upon return to their home countries. US hosts may also visit East Africa to provide technical assistance, supporting Fellows’ projects and fostering ongoing collaboration.


Program Director Dr. Heike Boeltzig-Brown from the ICI shared:
“We’re honored and excited to continue this important program in new partnership with the IDA and the African Disability Forum to provide opportunities for the next generation of African disability leaders committed to inclusive civic engagement. As the continental membership organization of Disabled Persons’ Organizations in Africa, ADF brings unparalleled expertise and connections to this partnership, further strengthening the existing partner consortium composed of ICI, Humanity & Inclusion, and the network of Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) members.”


ADF Executive Director Shuaib Chalklen emphasized:
“ADF looks forward to the collaboration with UMass Boston and the invaluable opportunities that this program offers to the Fellows. It is also an opportunity for ADF to work with a new partner in UMass Boston, and we are optimistic about exploring additional avenues for collaboration in the future.”


The Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement reflects the partners’ shared commitment to building sustainable partnerships that promote fully inclusive civic societies for people with disabilities.

About the Institute for Community Inclusion

The Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) is a University Centre for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) based at the University of Massachusetts Boston and Boston Children’s Hospital. ICI supports the rights of children and adults with disabilities to participate in all aspects of society. As practitioners, researchers, and teachers, we form partnerships with individuals, families, community organizations, and service agencies. Together, we advocate for personal choice, self-determination, and social and economic justice.

About the African Disability Forum

The African Disability Forum (ADF) is the continental membership organization of Disabled Persons’ Organizations (DPOs) in Africa. Established in 2014, ADF aims to strengthen and unify the representative voices of Africans with disabilities, their families, and organizations. Acknowledging the vast regional diversity of the African continent, ADF recognizes the impossibility for any single organization to fully represent such diversity directly. Therefore, ADF actively incorporates and builds upon existing pan-African, sub-regional, and national federations of DPOs and networks.

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Child Rights Training Material Validation workshop successfully completed! 13-15 Dec 2023

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In a significant step towards promoting inclusivity and safeguarding the rights of children and children with disabilities in Africa, a three-day Validation Workshop on the Development of Child Rights Training Material recently concluded. Held in Addis Ababa from 13 to15 December 2023, the workshop aimed to evaluate and refine the training material in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Participants were from child-led organizations, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities and ADF staff. The initiative was made possible by the Civil Society Strengthening Programme, led by Save the Children and implemented by various partners, including the African Disability Forum (ADF).In a significant step towards promoting inclusivity and safeguarding the rights of children and children with disabilities in Africa, a three-day Validation Workshop on the Development of Child Rights Training Material recently concluded. Held in Addis Ababa from 13 to15 December 2023, the workshop aimed to evaluate and refine the training material in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Participants were from child-led organizations, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities and ADF staff. The initiative was made possible by the Civil Society Strengthening Programme, led by Save the Children and implemented by various partners, including the African Disability Forum (ADF).

a group of participants sitting around a table working on an activity for the workshop

The workshop brought together a dynamic group of individuals, each contributing their unique perspectives and experiences. With representatives from child-led organizations and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities , the collaborative spirit of the event underlined the importance of working in the best interests of the child, as outlined in the UNCRC, taking into account children with disabilities.

The main objective of the workshop was to scrutinize and enhance the developed training material, ensuring its consistency with the principles outlined in the CRC and CRPD. These international conventions serve as cornerstones for advocating for the rights of children and persons with disabilities, emphasizing the need for a holistic, rights-based approach to their well-being.

a group of people standing together with a banner that says: validation workshop on child rights training material development. Global civil society strengthening programme (2022-2026)

Participants engaged in thought-provoking discussions, sharing insights derived from their rich experiences in advocating for child rights and disability inclusion. The diverse backgrounds of the attendees fostered a rich dialogue that enriched the process of developing the material. This collaborative effort not only ensured cultural sensitivity, but also incorporated a wide range of perspectives, making the training material more comprehensive and applicable. The material encompasses topics of enabling environment, intersectional challenges, the right to participate, the right to survival, the right to protection, and the right to development. The commendable progress made during this workshop was made possible with the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. The Sida-funded Civil Society Strengthening Programme has been instrumental in empowering organizations to advocate for children’s rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities in Africa and globally. This initiative exemplifies the positive impact that targeted funding can have on fostering a world where every child’s rights are respected and upheld. As the workshop draws to a close, the refined training material is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the participants. Going forward, the implementation of this material in diverse settings will play a pivotal role in empowering communities to advocate for the rights of children and persons with disabilities. The shared commitment to the principles of the CRC and CRPD will undoubtedly pave the way for a more inclusive and compassionate future. The successful completion of the workshop marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to protect and promote the rights of children and persons with disabilities. The collaborative endeavours of participants, under the support of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, exemplify the potential for positive change when diverse voices unite for a common cause. As these refined training materials are disseminated and implemented, the impact on communities and societies at large promises to be profound, fostering a world where the rights of every child are not only recognized, but actively championed.

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 THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BASELINE SURVEY

by Uncategorized

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 Umbrella Organization of Persons with Disabilities), 9 continental OPDs and 4 sub-regional OPDs.


In August 2023, International Disability Alliance (IDA) and The Swedish International Development Cooperation (Sida) signed an agreement on the ‘Strengthening Partnerships to Advance Disability Rights in Africa (SPADRA)’project. The project is implemented by IDA, ADF, Disabled Women Association (DIWA) and Inclusion Africa (IA).The project aims to advance disability and gender rights in Africa through strengthening Organization of Persons with Disability (OPD) capacity and cross-disability and mainstream partnerships at pan-African and national levels. The initial target countries are Benin, Ghana, Malawi and Zambia.


One of the activities is the preparation of the baseline survey. Any interested consultant can submit the proposal according to the attached TOR (DOWNLOAD HERE) via the following email: Azrah Shabudien at jobs@adf-secretariat.org
Deadline to submit the proposal: January 4th 2024

Poster says: VACANCY announcement Visit our website for more info africandisabilityforum.org

Vacancy Advertisement: Communications Officer

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The African Disability Forum (ADF) is a continental membership organization of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in Africa whose vision is 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 United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (CRPD).

The University of Massachusetts Boston’s Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) together with the African Disability Forum (ADF) are going to implement the Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Civic Engagement in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia. Partners will implement a 2-way international exchange for emerging leaders ages 25–40 to promote mutual understanding, enhance leadership and professional skills, and build sustainable partnerships with the goals of increasing civic engagement of people with disabilities and strengthening civil society in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia. Specifically, the program will support 12 mid-level professionals (Fellows) from the target countries to participate in a 5-week Fellowship on inclusive civic engagement. The program will also select five
American professionals (American Fellows) from the host site organizations to participate in a 2-week trip to visit their respective Fellow and their organizations in Africa to support and sustain project impact and long-term collaboration. Fellows will focus on a key policy or practice issue related to disability and civic engagement in their country. During their placements, Fellows will develop an action plan for an individual follow-on project to implement upon returning home.


This will provide an opportunity to prepare the next generation of leaders for their critical roles in ensuring
that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in civic life and society in Africa.

Job Summary: To support the recruitment of 12 mid-level emerging leaders (Professional Fellows) in the
disability and civic engagement field in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ethiopia through an open, merit-
based, competitive process for participation in a five-week US-based Fellowship Program on disability-
inclusive civic engagement.

Poster says: VACANCY announcement Visit our website for more info africandisabilityforum.org

Job Description: Duties and Responsibilities

  • Identify and use targeted methods and creative channels for outreach and recruitment (e.g., media
    engagements, social media, relevant events etc.).
  • Coordinate with Organization of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in the four countries.
  • Coordinate dissemination of the call for application.
  • Organize and facilitate virtual and in-person information sessions targeting in-country disability partner
    organizations and prospective program applicants and track attendance.
  • Work to engage program alumni in the implementation of outreach and recruitment effort.
  • Respond to applicants’ inquiries.
  • Participate in the screening of applicants and selection of interview candidates.
  • Handle logistical arrangements for the interviews, including communicating to semifinalists on their
    selection and scheduling interviews in conjunction with ICI the U.S. Embassies, and the interviewer
    panels.
  • Co-facilitate the semifinalist interviews and provide input on the selection of finalists and alternates.
  • Provide logistics support and reimbursement to semifinalists in preparation for interviews and to
    finalists/alternates in preparation for the US Fellowship.
  • Assist with Fellow communication and preparation leading up to their US departure.
  • Participate in project team meetings, as needed.

Job Requirements

  • First degree in communications, journalism, public relations, business administration or other related field.
  • Knowledge and good understanding of disability rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities and exposure to Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) is an asset.
  • A minimum of three years’ experience in a role similar to the one described in this advertisement, and ability to work under pressure, deliver and meet deadlines.
  • Candidates with disabilities are very welcome and strongly encouraged to apply.
  • Age 25-40
  • Language requirements: Fluent in English. Ability to communicate in French is an advantage.
  • Computer skills (Word, Excel and Power Point) and experience of using online/virtual communication platforms.
  • Excellent communication skills (written and oral).

The position is open to those based (willing to work) in South Africa, Niger or Kenya.


How to Apply
Interested applicants who meet the above criteria should submit their CV with a 1-page motivation letter
through jobs@adf-secretariat.org before December 25, 2023.

Persons with Disabilities and Women are highly encouraged to apply.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for exam/interview, no phone calls please.

NUDIPU Validation Workshop – 12 May 2023, Kampala,Uganda

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NUDIPU with support from African Disability Forum- ADF conducted a validation workshop in Kampala Uganda on 12 May 2023. The workshop was on the policy and programme analysis report on land rights and food security for persons with disabilities with the aim of;

• Conducting a comprehensive analysis of the existing national, regional, and international human rights instruments related to land rights and food security for persons with disabilities in Uganda.

• Identifying gaps and weaknesses in the policies and legal frameworks that may hinder the realization of land rights and food security for persons with disabilities in Uganda.

• Providing clear and actionable recommendations for addressing the identified policy gaps in order to improve land rights and food security for persons with disabilities in Uganda.

The validation had representatives from; NOPDs, the WAA! programme partners and District/City

Union leaders from Arua City, Yumbe, Omoro and Nwoya and some media houses.

The following were the key findings from the NUDIPU validation of the report on land rights and food security for persons with disabilities;

1. Lack of clear implementation mechanisms for disability-inclusive provisions in the land sector.

2. Lack of clear implementation mechanisms for disability-inclusive provisions in various sectors, such as land, agriculture, food and nutrition, and social protection.

3. Fragmented legal frameworks on land rights.

4. Limited details on the implementation of specific provisions for persons with disabilities.

5. Lack of clear implementation mechanisms for disability-inclusive provisions in the land sector.

Key recommendations included;

1. Enhance policy provisions on land rights and food security

2. Advocate for clear guidelines on implementing disability-inclusive policies.

3. Strengthen agencies, CSOs, OPDs for effective disability-inclusive policy implementation.

4. Incorporate disability indicators for tracking, informing policy, sharing experiences.

5. Strengthen advocacy, build relationships, establish dialogues, advocate for inclusivity.

6. Collaborate with authorities to review, amend policies, and ensure disability inclusion.

7. Strengthen OPDs and CBOs advocacy through capacity building and policy engagement.

8. Partner with CSOs, OPDs for unified message, streamline land rights.

On next steps: NOPDs and DUs will undergo capacity building trainings to understand the context of land rights and its related frameworks and procedure. This will provide capacity and directions for WaA! programme Partners on advocacy engagement with relevant stakeholders.

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Manifesto on Inclusive Education

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Representatives from seven different Organisations of Persons with Disabilities from seven different countries gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from October 10-12, 2022 to share their experiences and knowledge, discuss the gaps, and prepare the ground for further collaboration, in order to advance the inclusion of persons with disabilities in education, across the African Continent.

The three-day regional workshop on Inclusive Education was organized by African Disability Forum (ADF) in partnership with Humanity & Inclusion (HI) and Norad. Participants engaged in constructive live exercises to share and upgrade their knowledge on the various articles, policies and papers on education, particularly focusing on inclusive education.

The Manifesto to advance the inclusion of persons with disabilities can be accessed here.

Call for Workshops in October, 2022

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  • The International Disability Alliance (IDA) will be organizing a set of events in Nairobi, Kenya from the 11th of October until the 22th of October 2022, Kenya Festival. We are looking for a fully wheelchair-accessible hotel in the city, in close vicinity to the international airport, emergency medical services, pharmacies, bank, main road, etc. For the purposes of the event, we will be requiring the following:
    • Room accommodation for approximately 60 people,
    • 3 fully wheelchair-accessible rooms with a walk-in/roll-in shower,
    • Wheelchair-accessible meeting rooms accommodating 30 people respecting the social distancing and COVID-19 measures (Please refer to IDA COVID-19 Safety Protocol 2021),
    • Conference catering,
    • Audio/Visual system in the meeting room.Please fill in the HOTEL AND MEETING VENUE – SELECTION CRITERIA AND TECHNICAL CAPACITY document in Word or PDF, and do send us a quotation according to the requests to tenders@ida-secretariat.org with a subject Kenya festival_ Nairobi Kenya, October 2022. The application deadline is 23 September 2022.
  • The International Disability Alliance (IDA) and The World Federation of the DeafBlind (“WFDB“) will be organizing a set of events in Nairobi, Kenya from 23rd until 29th of October 2022, WFDB/African Federation of the DeafBlind (“AFDB”) General Assembly and regional workshop. We are looking for a hotel for this event. If interested please send us an email to tenders@ida-secretariat.org with a subject WFDB/AFDB GA and regional workshop in order to receive tender dossier that needs to be filled in.The application deadline is 07 October 2022.