Juba, South Sudan – 25 September 2025
The African Disability Forum (ADF), together with its consortium partners and stakeholders, marked a significant milestone yesterday with the close-out ceremony of the We are Able! (WaA!) programme in Juba, South Sudan. This event was the third in a series of national close-out ceremonies, following similar gatherings in Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as the five-year programme (2021–2025) comes to an end.
The We are Able! programme, implemented across six African countries (Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Burundi, South Sudan and DR. Congo) implemented by a consortium of six partner organization (ZOA, ADF, TLM, SeeYou, THA and VNG) has focused on strengthening the capacity of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), promoting disability inclusive food security, and advancing disability-inclusive development. Since its launch in 2021, WaA! has played a crucial role in ensuring that persons with disabilities are not only consulted but actively engaged in decision-making processes that affect their lives.
Highlights of the Ceremony
The Juba close-out event brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, representatives from consortium partners, OPDs, international NGOs, UN Agencies, the donor community, and the diplomatic corps. The inclusive and diverse attendance reflected the spirit of partnership that has been central to the programme’s success.
The day’s major sessions included:
Opening Remarks – Delivered by representatives of the Government of South Sudan, partner organizations, CSOs and OPDs, among others. Speakers emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration and the need to ensure that persons with disabilities remain at the center of national development efforts. The ADF Senior Program Manager (Mr. Abebaw Abebe) has also delivered a remark at the opening session of the event. In his opening message on behalf of ADF, the representative extended gratitude to all partners and stakeholders who contributed to the success of the programme. He highlighted how We are Able! has strengthened the voices of persons with disabilities, empowered their organizations, and advanced inclusive development across six African countries (Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo). He also emphasized the value of partnerships with governments, OPDs, civil society, and the donor—the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands—in achieving the programme’s milestones. Looking ahead, ADF reaffirmed its commitment to collaboration and building a stronger, more resilient disability movement to achieve disability-inclusive development across Africa.
Presentation of Achievements – A review of the programme’s impact, highlighting success stories in strengthening OPDs, increasing community awareness, and influencing policies that support the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Panel Discussion and Audience Reflections: A lively exchange among selected speakers, followed by contributions from participants, underscored both the achievements and the challenges that remain and the way forward beyond the life of the programme for sustainability of its results and achievements.
Policy Recommendations: the session outlined key recommendations for disability inclusion and disability-inclusive development, serving as a roadmap for governments, partners, and donors to build on the WaA! legacy. Recommendations at general level, local and regional level, and at national level in the African countries for ensuring inclusive food security in particular and disability inclusive development in general have been presented by ADF’s Senior Programme Manager (Mr. Abebaw Abebe).
Closing Remarks: Speakers reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that the momentum gained through the programme is not lost, and pledged to continue advocating for inclusive development in South Sudan and beyond.
Looking Forward: While the We are Able! programme is officially closing, its impact will be long-lasting. Through strengthened OPDs, enhanced partnerships with government and partners, stakeholders, and increased awareness of disability rights, the programme has laid a strong foundation for continued advocacy and inclusion in South Sudan.
The African Disability Forum is proud to have worked alongside the consortium partner organizations and stakeholders throughout the programme’s five years. ADF remains committed to supporting the disability movement in South Sudan and across Africa, ensuring that persons with disabilities are empowered to claim their rights, influence policy, and actively shape their communities.
A similar event is happening today, Friday the 26th September 2025 in Uganda, and will be followed by two more events that will be held in Sudan and Ethiopia on 29th September and 30 September respectively.
As ADF and its partners look to the future, the call remains clear: we must continue building on the achievements of We are Able! so that no one is left behind.
For more information about the We are Able! programme, please visit https://weareable.ngo
