In 2021, UNICEF and the Government of Norway established a Partnership for disability inclusive programming at the global, regional and country level, focusing on the Eastern and Southern Africa region.
The Disability Inclusive Programming Framework for the Eastern and South Africa region is to implement inclusive social protection programming in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Madagascar and Mozambique and to implement cross-sectoral disability inclusive programming in Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Madagascar, Mozambique and Lesotho. The cross-sectoral programming includes activities in the areas of inclusive education, water, sanitation and hygiene management, health, early childhood development, child protection, social protection, assistive technologies, communication for development, and data and research.
UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office has established a Disability Inclusion Team led by a Regional Disability Inclusion Specialist, Yetneberesh Nigussie Molla, supported by a Programme Officer on Children with Disabilities, Kristel Jüriloo. The role of the Regional Disability Inclusion Team is to provide quality assurance and oversight of the disability inclusive programming in the 7 UNICEF country offices implementing cross-sectoral disability inclusive programming, technical assistance to all UNICEF country offices in the region, evidence generation and establishing and strengthening partnerships with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities between UNICEF regional and country offices.
For example, in Rwanda, UNICEF continues to end stigma and discrimination by supporting children and young persons with disabilities to participate in the programme “Activate Talks”. On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in Rwanda in 2020, six speakers bravely faced the camera during UNICEF’s ‘Activate Talks’ event and shook off the stigma to speak openly about their experiences with discrimination. In Mozambique, UNICEF is continuing its partnership with Light for the World to reach children with disabilities with inclusive response and recovery after the cyclone Idai. In Zimbabwe, UNICEF is supporting the adoption of a National Disability Policy which is based on recommendations from consultations with children and young persons with disabilities.
We encourage Organizations of Persons with Disabilities to engage with the Regional Disability Inclusion Team so we can inform you of the specific activities at the regional and country level and engage in close collaboration between UNICEF and the disability community. Every UNICEF country office has a focal point for disability inclusion and the Regional Disability Inclusion Team can put your organization in touch with them upon request.
Contact information:
Regional Disability Inclusion Specialist, Yetneberesh Nigussie Molla: ymolla@unicef.org
Programme Officer on Children with Disabilities, Kristel Jüriloo: kjuriloo@unicef.org
