The PRSP way: mainstreaming disability in development
cooperation
In January 2006, Handicap International and the
Christoffel-Blindenmission (CBM) jointly published a
handbook, which gives propositions and
suggestions on how to include people with disabilities in national
poverty reduction strategy papers (PRSP). To put these ideas and
proposals into action, Handicap International and CBM decided to
implement a follow-up project on the issue "Disability and PRSP" in
cooperation with the GTZ (German Association for Technical
Cooperation).
The main objective of the project is to motivate and empower
national disabled people's organisations to participate and
influence the PRSP process effectively.
In order to achieve this, the project proposes the following
activities for implementation:
1. Initial orientation: The project starts with analysis
of the country-specific situation: What's the current stage of the
PRSP? Are people with disabilities considered so far? Who is
participating in the process? Who has influence on the process?
Which interests, capacities and potentials do disabled people's
organisations already have to participate in the process?
2. Participation of disabled people's organisations: PRSP
is a national political process. Therefore it is necessary that
several organisations unite and represent their specific position;
thereby achieving greater legitimacy and greater efficiency through
shared resources. Following the same approach, Handicap
International, CBM and GTZ contact already existing federations
(e.g. umbrella organisations) in the project countries or establish
specific networks, working groups or committees.
3. Formulation and implementation of a joint strategy: To
influence the PRSP effectively the project supports the
establishment of a joint strategy of the disabled people's
organisations. During formal and informal meetings, workshops,
seminars and conferences the participants get the opportunity to
share, discuss and formulate subjects of general interest. To
enable the concerned disabled people's organisations to implement
their strategy, the project provides micro-grants that support
specific activities, such as:
- Studies and consultancies to gather information (and data)
about the relationship between disability and poverty
- Lobbying activities to inform government, donors and other
stakeholders about the importance of including disability into the
national PRSP
- Seminars informing disabled people's organisation about how to
use the PRSP
So far, project activities have already started in
Vietnam, Camboda and
Tanzania. Activities in other countries, such as Bangladesh,
Ethiopia and Honduras, are currently at the stage of developing
their own specific proposal.
The experiences of the project will contribute to a revised
online version of the handbook
"Making PRSP Inclusive".
Handicap International regularly edits an English language
newsletter, which informs about the progress of the project in the
different countries.
Contact: umiller[at]handicap-international.de |