February 8, 2011

Partnerships Key to Inclusive Development ⁰

by Debbie Sharp • For Professionals, International Development & Disability • Tags: advocacy, disability rights, Ethiopia, inclusive international development, international disability organization or movement, leadership, training

In Ethiopia, MIUSA is working with the Ethiopian Center for Disability and Development (ECDD) to implement activities in Addis Ababa and beyond. ECDD recently celebrated its 5^th anniversary of promoting and facilitating capacity-building for inclusive development in Ethiopia, holding events to highlight accessibility in Addis Ababa, inclusive employment issues, and inclusion in Ethiopian HIV/AIDS services.

The focus of our collaboration with ECDD is to build the capacity of organizations in Ethiopia receiving USAID funding to make their programs inclusive of people with disabilities. Trainings for Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs) are facilitating partnerships between DPOS and international development organizations to ensure that disability inclusive development programs are sustainable. Recent activities have included technical assistance in education and HIV/AIDS programs in Ethiopia, with plans to work in other development sectors.