|
|
|
|
Dear ,
At Light for the World, we are committed to building partnerships that create a synergistic impact, achieving outcomes far beyond what any one organisation could accomplish alone. As the disability movement prepares for two landmark events - the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in December and the Global Disability Summit in April 2025 - we recognize the importance of joining forces as we aim to create a more equitable and accessible environment for people with disabilities.
Through this newsletter, we aim to strengthen our connection with you, our partners, and support collective efforts to elevate the voices of the disability movement. We warmly invite you to reach out as you plan your activities for these events.
On behalf of our team here in Kenya, we also encourage you to stay connected by following our social media channels.
Lucy Murage
Head of Programmes Kenya
|
|
|
|
|
The importance of umbrella OPDs |
|
|
Light for the World’s case study “Speaking with
one voice. The genesis of the South Sudanese umbrella organisation of persons with disabilities, 2015 – 2023” documents the process of strengthening and collaborating with the disability movement in South Sudan from 2015 to 2023. A key strategy was to support the formation of an umbrella OPD in the country – the South Sudan Union of Persons with Disabilities (SSUPD). The lessons learned show that the formation of SSUPD led to more visibility and recognition of the disability movement in the country and resulted in advocacy successes, such as the ratification of the UN Convention in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2023.
|
|
|
|
|
Gender Inclusion in Disability Rights Spaces |
|
|
|
|
Investing in Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs)
In its pursuit of localising disability investments, the Global Action On Disability Network (GLAD) acknowledges the importance of investing in Organisation of Persons with Disabilities so they can act as meaningful development counterparts. Their recent study assessed investments in OPDs in Bangladesh, Kenya and Nepal and identified a need to overhaul partnership modalities between OPDs and international intermediaries and to increase knowledge among donors on these partnership arrangements. More insights can be found in the full report and country case studies of Bangladesh, Kenya and Nepal.
|
|
|
Long-term impact of poor vision in schoolchildren |
|
|
|
|
|
|
11 - 22 November 2024: UN Climate Change Conference (COP 29)
The Conference of Parties (COP) on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is important to many social movements, including the disability movement. The IDDC Climate Group is for a first time accredited
to attend the COP and is collaborating with the informal Disability Caucus to ensure a fair distribution of badges to attend the COP 29. If you are attending the COP, Light for the World’s climate expert Jennifer Pitter-López is happy to put you in contact with the Disability Caucus. Ahead of the COP 29, eight major disability organisations signed a public letter to Paris Agreement state parties asking for an official Disability Constituency under UNFCCC.
3 December 2024: International Day of Persons with Disabilities |
|
|
|
|
2-3 April 2025: Global Disability Summit
2025 will be an important year for the disability movement, as the third Global Disability Summit (GDS) will take place. From 3-5 April 2025, Germany will be co-hosting the GDS in Berlin together with Jordan and the International Disability Alliance (IDA).
Here are five suggestions on how to contribute to GDS preparations:
Check the list of regional pre-summits to see how you can participate at conversations ahead of the main event: https://www.globaldisabilitysummit.org/regional-summits/
The BOND Disability and Development Group (DDG)’s Climate Working Group and IDDC Climate Task Group are preparing an advocacy report to influence UK and other national, European and international decision makers on climate action and raise awareness of disability rights. Please provide input to the report by
completing this survey by 1 November 2024. Please contact Jennifer Pitter-López (Climate Expert) if you have contributed, so you can be kept in the loop about the key findings and dissemination of key messages before GDS 2025.
At this time of year you may be busy planning your budget for 2025, consider including some activities and costs to advocate for strong GDS commitments.
Apply for funding to attend the Civil Society Forum and the GDS: https://idata.tools/survey/-O8hFSpDjGDoH4ioMCKh/intro. Applications are accepted in English, French, Spanish, German, and Arabic, and will remain open until 18 November 2024.
Stay tuned and subscribe to the GDS newsletter: https://www.globaldisabilitysummit.org/resources/
|
|
|
Training opportunities
|
Disability Inclusive Cash and Voucher Assistance
The “Disability Inclusive Cash and Voucher Assistance” e-learning course was developed by the African Disability Forum, CBM Global and CALP Network. The 3-hour course covers four modules on disability data, engaging with OPDs, understanding and calculating extra costs of disability and accessibility of cash and voucher assistance services.
Acumen Academy and Fellowship
At Acumen Academy a wealth of trainings for social change are provided ranging from Introduction to Human-Centered Design to Impact Measurement. Check out their course catalog as well as their Fellowship Program bringing together individuals with an entrepreneurial mindset and a commitment to solve problems of poverty in West Africa. The fellowship equips them with the tools and community to strengthen
their leadership, scale their impact, and create meaningful change.
Accessibility Core Competency
Inclusive Design launched an online course on “Accessibility Core Competency”. The self-paced course covers models of disability, different impairments, disability etiquette, individual accommodation and universal design and fundamentals in standards and laws. $65 gets you lifetime access.
|
Funding opportunities
|
|
|
Unsolicited Solutions for Locally Led Development (US4LLD)
The US4LLD Program provides funding to enable USAID Mission to support unsolicited applications that advance locally led development with awards up to 2 million USD. Find out more in the step by step guide.
Community Solutions Program by IREX
The Community Solutions Program (CSP) is a year-long professional leadership development program for established community leaders working to improve their communities by addressing issues related to democracy and human rights, environment, peace and conflict resolution, and women and gender. For more details on the application process click here.
Application deadline: 13 November 2024
Open Call Action on Women’s Health
Pivotal has launched a 250 million USD global call funding organisation that are improving women’s mental and physical health. The organisational readiness tool helps you assess if you are eligible.
Registration Deadline: 3 December 2024 and application deadline: 10 January 2025.
|
Web highlights
|
|
|
|
|
How spectacles transformed our lives
Watch videos of three individuals and their personal stories how getting spectacles transformed their lives. Light for the World’s employee Jane Waithera shares that if it wasn’t for her first pair of spectacles chances were high that she would have dropped out of school. The stories were compiled as part of the SPECS 2030 initiative by the World Health Organization which aims to improve access to refractive services.
Light for the World Kenya is on social media!
Follow the re-branded Light for the World Kenya social media pages on Facebook, X, LinkedIn. Join us on our journey to aspire, grow and influence socio-economic inclusion of people with disabilities.
Reframing Disability
Reframing Disability is a biweekly newsletter designed to simplify disability inclusion for content creators and to inspire fresh, inclusive storytelling perspectives. Targeted at journalists, influencers, communications teams and policymakers it offers practical guidance on language, accessibility, and inclusive strategies. The newsletter includes interviews, best practices, data resources, and updates on grants and events. It’s created by independent journalist Priti Salian and stems from her research and advocacy work. You can visit the archive and subscribe here.
|
|
|
