Programme Disability Partnership 2016-21 Web viewDevelopment Cooperation Programme of Disability Partnership Finland 2016-2021June 2017 Update. Index. 1.Summary3. 2 ... or anyone else,

Development Cooperation Programme of Disability Partnership Finland

2016-2021June 2017 Update

Index1. Summary............................................................................................................................................3

2. Foundation.........................................................................................................................................3

2.1 Disability Partnership Finland...................................................................................................3

2.2 Strategy............................................................................................................................................3

2.3 The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.....................................5

2.4 Human Rights Transformative Approach..............................................................................6

3. Impact Statement and Theory of Change...............................................................................7

4. Programme Outcome 1: Able Organizations........................................................................10

4.1 Output 1.1: DPOs’ administrative capacity has risen.....................................................10

4.2 Output 1.2: DPOs follow principles of democratic governance...................................11

5. Programme Outcome 2: Advocacy for Inclusion.................................................................11

5.1 Output 2.1: Persons with Disabilities in partner countries are active human rights advocates at local, national or international level......................................................12

5.2 Output 2.2: Mainstream NGOs include persons with disabilities in their programmes..........................................................................................................................................12

5.3 Output 2.3: Policies and guidelines of Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland are disability inclusive...............................................................................................................................13

5.4 Output 2.4: Persons with disabilities are better represented in local, national and global organizations, networks and partnerships on disability & development and disability inclusion issues..................................................................................................................13

6. Programme Outcome 3: Education and Learning..............................................................14

6.1 Output 3.1: Children and youth with disabilities can access an inclusive, quality and free primary education and secondary and tertiary education on an equal basis with others in the communities in which they live (CRPD, Article 24, 2b)......................14

6.2 Output 3.2: Persons with disabilities have access to non-formal education..........15

6.3 Output 3.3: Deaf people have access to information in their own language........15

7. Programme Outcome 4: Work and Livelihood.....................................................................16

7.1 Output 4.1: Persons with disabilities have effective access to general technical and vocational guidance programmes, placement services and vocational and continuing training (CRPD, Article 27d).......................................................................................16

7.2 Output 4.2: Persons with disabilities have increased opportunities for self-employment, entrepreneurship, the development of cooperatives and starting one's own business (CRPD, Article 27f)...................................................................................................17

7.3 Output 4.3: Private and public sector internalize inclusive employment practices and employ staff with disabilities..................................................................................................17

8. Programme Outcome 5: Gender Equality as a Crosscutting Outcome.......................17

8.1 Crosscutting Output 5.1: DPOs take measures to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of women and girls with disabilities of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.................................................................................................................................................18

8.2 Crosscutting Output 5.2: Gender specific rights issues, such as gender based violence and sexual and reproductive health are recognized and DPOs take supportive measures for the rights promotion..........................................................................18

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1. Summary This Programme Paper is a six years’ strategic plan of Disability Partnership Finland. It guides our work from 2016 to 2021. For other stakeholders, it serves as an introduction into the development cooperation programme of Disability Partnership Finland, describing the foundation of the programme and the results that we aim to reach by the end of 2021. The document has been updated in June 2017. The until now unwritten theory of change has been vocalized and the underlying assumptions have been opened for the reader.

2. Foundation2.1 Disability Partnership Finland Disability Partnership Finland (the Partnership), formerly FIDIDA, is a registered non-governmental organization founded in 1989.

As per statutes, the purpose of the organization is to work for the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities in developing countries and serve as a service and coordination body for its member organizations in questions related to disability and development. It can also support persons with disabilities and their organizations in other countries.

Work towards the purpose is realized through development cooperation projects, development communication, expert services, advocacy and other similar means for advancing the rights of persons with disabilities.

To finance its operations, the organization can collect membership and participation fees, apply for donor funds, fundraise and collect fees for its service.

The statutes define three kinds of membership: 1) full membership 2) associate membership and 3) support membership.

Only Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs) are eligible for full membership in Disability Partnership Finland. A Disabled People’s Organization, as per the Partnership’s statutes, is an organization, whose highest decision making body has a majority of persons with disabilities or guardians of children with disabilities. Full members, by statutes, automatically, are parties to this Disability Partnership Programme.

Associate membership can be applied by CSOs or other legal entities that promote the human rights of persons with disabilities and accept the organization’s purpose. Associate members cannot use the programme funds.

Support member can be natural persons or legal entities.

2.2 StrategyDisability Partnership Finland’s strategy 2014-18 defines its values, which are:

1) Human rights, justice and equality

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Human rights are universal and inalienable; indivisible; interdependent and interrelated. Our approach to development is human rights based. Our work is directed toward justice and equality; we aim at a world where persons with disabilities have equal opportunities. We stand for the most vulnerable.

2) Global responsibilityGlobal solidarity is our guiding thought for advancing the rights of persons with disabilities.

3) Participation of persons with disabilitiesAt Disability Partnership Finland, persons with disabilities work for the rights of persons with disabilities. This applies to our Southern partners as well. Nothing about us without us -principle is strongly based on human rights.

4) Solidarity between persons with disabilitiesWe strengthen the partnership between persons of disabilities of the South and North by sharing experiences and peer support. Learning is mutual. We respect our partners’ independence.

5) We are able!Democratic governance, responsible action and transparency are foundations of our work and we require these of our partners as well. Our work is results-oriented and effective. Good governance as a basis, we encourage ourselves and our partners to use our talents and continuously grow our expertise and develop our operations.

6) CourageWe don’t hesitate to put our ways of working under scrutiny. We are innovative. We network across borders. We are not afraid of change.

Based on the values, the Disability Partnership Finland’s vision is:

Disability Partnership Finland’s vision is a world where the human rights of people with disabilities are fulfilled and where people with disabilities work themselves to

develop their own communities at local, national and international levels.

Disability Partnership Finland is a nationally and internationally renowned and respected expert in Disability and Development issues in the fields of development

cooperation and development policy.

And further, the mission is derived from the vision:

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Disability Partnership Finland works for the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities in developing countries. The work is realized in the Global South through development cooperation projects and in Finland through communications, expert

services and advocacy.

The aims of Disability Partnership Finland as an organization are:

1) Partners in developing countries are strengthened and development cooperation projects advance the situation of persons with disabilities and reduce poverty.

2) Disability issues are mainstreamed into the whole development policy and the process is closely monitored.

3) Members of the member organizations as well as the general public are more aware of the rights of persons with disabilities and of the global connections of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and they are more committed to the development policy goals.

Work towards reaching the vision:

Coordination and development of the effectiveness and quality of the Development Cooperation Programme of Disability Partnership Finland.

Acting as a national and international expert in Disability & Development questions in the context of development policy and development cooperation.

Mainstreaming disability issues into development policy and development cooperation, advocating and collaborating with the relevant stakeholders.

Implementing development communications and global education together with our member organizations.

Actively seeking new members to join the organization. Exploring new sources of funding for implementation of the programme to

supplement funding from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

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The development cooperation programme is an operationalization of the organization’s strategy.

2.3 The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), is one of the most widely ratified UN Conventions. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was adopted in the UN General Assembly in December 2006. The Convention entered into force on the 3rd of May, 2008, when over 20 countries had ratified the Convention. Disabled People’s Organizations actively participated in drafting of the Convention in addition to the representatives of the member states.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities complements the UN agreements on human rights that are already in force and reinforces their implementation to protect the human rights of persons

Article 32 -International cooperation

1. States Parties recognize the importance of international cooperation and its promotion, in support of national efforts for the realization of the purpose and objectives of the present Convention, and will undertake appropriate and effective measures in this regard, between and among States and, as appropriate, in partnership with relevant international and regional organizations and civil society, in particular organizations of persons with disabilities. Such measures could include, inter alia:

(a) Ensuring that international cooperation, including international development programs, is inclusive of and accessible to persons with disabilities;

(b) Facilitating and supporting capacity-building, including through the exchange and sharing of information, experiences, training programs and best practices;

(c) Facilitating cooperation in research and access to scientific and technical knowledge;

(d) Providing, as appropriate, technical and economic assistance, including by facilitating access to and sharing of accessible and assistive technologies, and through the transfer of technologies.

2. The provisions of this article are without prejudice to the obligations of each State Party to fulfil its obligations under the present Convention.

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with disabilities. Discrimination based on disability is prohibited, and positive discrimination is acceptable to attain equality.

The Convention covers civil and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights of persons with disabilities. There is an optional protocol to the Convention that allows for individual complaints to be submitted to the CRPD Committee by individuals and groups of individuals, or by a third party, alleging that their rights have been violated under the CRPD.

All States Parties are obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how the rights are being implemented. States must report initially within two years of ratifying the Convention and thereafter every four years. The Committee examines each report and shall make such suggestions and general recommendations on the report as it may consider appropriate and shall forward these to the State Party concerned.

The Convention provides the DPOs a strong legal framework which they use as a tool in their efforts to raise public awareness and advocate for the rights of people with disabilities.

The 32nd article of the CRPD on International Cooperation stresses the importance of mainstreaming disability issues into all development cooperation and the participation and capacity building of DPOs, all of which are the Partnership’s main programmatic approaches.

All outcomes of this Programme are aligned with the CRPD as it provides a framework for our work.

2.4 Human Rights Transformative ApproachThe Partnership takes a Human Rights Based Approach to its work. Human rights standards, as laid out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the CRPD guide 1) the programming (defining impact and outcomes) and 2) the processes conducted by members of the programme. Therefore, we give equal emphasis to both rights based managing for results and rights based process management.

Rights Based Programming

The programme is human rights transformative as it fulfils the criteria of the highest rank of the human rights responsiveness. The programme

- is based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which reaffirms the universality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and the need for persons with disabilities to be guaranteed their full enjoyment without discrimination (CRPD, preamble (c) – The Partnership Programme impact statement),

- promotes equality and non-discrimination of persons with disabilities as equal members of the society (CRPD, Article 3 (b) – The Partnership Programme impact statement),

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- promotes equality and non-discrimination amongst persons with disabilities prohibiting all discrimination based on disability, gender, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age, language or any other reason (CRPD, Preamble (p) – The Partnership Outcome 5 on Gender equality + non-discriminatory approach),

- highlights participation of persons with disabilities not only in issues that concern them but in all decision making as all matters of the society concern persons with disabilities just like anyone else (CRPD Preamble (o) – The Partnership Programme impact statement),

- transforms societies from within by raising the accountability issues of duty bearers to the frontline (CRPD Article 32 on international cooperation and Article 33 on National implementation and monitoring – The Partnership Programme Outcome 2 on Advocacy for Inclusion), and

- systematically promotes the principle of transparency internally within the own structure (open decision making processes, feedback mechanisms, dialogue) and externally with the stakeholders (CRPD Article 32 (b) – The Partnership Programme Outcome 1 on Able Organizations).

Right Based Process ManagementWe have created a system to monitor and develop our systems and processes so that they fulfil the human rights based transformative standard. Sustainability, local ownership and meaningful participation are issues that need attention during all stages of the traditional project management cycle. We call the system PMELR, which stands for Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Risk Mitigation System. The system is described in a separate document.

3. Impact Statement and Theory of ChangeThe impact statement of the Programme is the same as Disability Partnership Finland’s vision:

A world where the human rights of people with disabilities are fulfilled and where people with disabilities work themselves to develop their own communities at local, national and international levels.

This impact statement is ambitious, and we are aware that after the six-year programme period the world will still be far from being an equal place for persons with disabilities.

By choosing this high-level impact statement we establish a direct connection between the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and our globally small scale, yet highly specialized and rights-centred work that we do as promoters of rights of persons with disabilities at the global, national and local levels.

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Our first assumption is that our work is unique and adds a special value to the global scale disability rights movement.

By recognizing this assumption, we are ready to regularly analyse our role in the global disability scene and notice and analyse the weak signals, thus remaining resilient in the fast-changing environment.

We, or anyone else, cannot create a global level impact. The Partnership, as per its name, believes that only by working together towards the shared goal will we be able to achieve sustainable change in the world. Generating sustainable impact needs the effort of persons with disabilities themselves, but equally importantly, the effort of every other person and institution. This is the second track of our programme approach, disability mainstreaming.

The second assumption is that with the ratification of the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the onset of the Agenda 2030 whose motto is “Leave no

one behind” there is a growing demand for expertise for disability mainstreaming.

By recognizing this assumption, we are regularly monitoring the scene and, with our work, creating preconditions for the other stakeholders to include and maintain disability mainstreaming on the plans. We ourselves need to keep a high profile and be competent to provide them with what they need to make disability inclusion reality on their part.

Based on a hundred years of hands on experience on advancing the rights of Finnish persons with disabilities and more than three decades of experience on development cooperation, with emphasis on the word coordination, the following five outcomes have been identified as our pathway to achieve long-term impact:

1) Able organizations2) Advocacy for Inclusion3) Education and Learning4) Work and Livelihood5) Crosscutting outcome: Gender

These outcomes are global. They encompass all results achieved with the Programme funding by all programme organizations whether achieved in the Global South, in Finland or at global level. The following chapters describe the outcomes and the related outputs briefly. Visual presentation of our theory of change is below (figure 1). The results framework with indicators and integrated risk mitigation and monitoring responsibilities is a separate document.

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Figure 1: Theory of Change

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4. Programme Outcome 1: Able OrganizationsBuilding the capacity of our programme organizations is an essential part in making the Nothing about us without us principle sustainable. The aim is that every organization in our programme truly represents their

members (who are persons with disabilities), and is seen as a reliable partner by their stakeholders. This will be achieved by providing core funding to our partners in the South and by providing technical support to them for building up a well-functioning administrative system and creating democratic decision making processes.

The assumption is that once the basic elements of a functional organization are secured and sustained, internal and external respect and trust will be gained and the

programme organizations will be recognized and accepted as equal actors in the society. This will help creating pluralistic and inclusive societies.

4.1 Output 1.1: DPOs’ administrative capacity has risenPartners in the South are in the main focus. Every organization has its own strengths and weaknesses. We want to make our organizations aware of them by making them assess their capacities critically and finally help them make a plan for improvement to develop the weaker areas and knowingly using their strengths.

Although Partners in the South do the prioritization mostly by themselves, we have selected a few areas that the programme enforces on all: zero tolerance for corruption and solid financial management practices.

The justification for these should be evident. Corruption, although sadly common in many of our partner countries, is absolutely not allowed in our operations and active measures to dismantle any mechanisms that could enable corruption will be given special focus during this programme period. An important tool for prevention of corruption and corruptive behaviour is clear financial management. It also raises the credibility of an organization when searching for new donors.

The Finnish member organizations should have capacity for example to provide peer support, share knowledge and motivate their partners in identified areas. They participate in relevant international networks, building up their knowledge in program specific fields, such as inclusive education and employment. The Disability Partnership Office must also be highly competent in its role as a programme organization, providing back support to Finnish member organizations and Southern partners alike and doing their share of the mainstreaming work.

EVERY ORGANIZATION IN OUR PROGRAMME TRULY REPRESENTS THEIR MEMBERS, AND THEIR STAKEHOLDERS CONSIDER THEM COMPETENT AND RELIABLE PARTNERS (CRPD Article 32 (b)).

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The assumption is that a functional organization is modern and innovative and can navigate in the fast-changing world and effectively advance the rights of persons with

disabilities.

This assumption reminds us of the value of constant self-evaluation and of the value of high-quality external evaluations. We must stop regularly to detect and analyse the weak signals of change in the surrounding society and take them into consideration when planning our own operations.

4.2 Output 1.2: DPOs follow principles of democratic governanceThe principles of democracy are not always easy to put into practice. Participatory decision making is slow and sometimes leads to decisions not anticipated by those in lead. However, we need to learn to obey and enjoy obeying the principles of good governance because democratic decision making processes not only lead to decisions that have a wide acceptance but also to tighter feeling of ownership of the stakeholders.

Governance lies at the heart of organizational culture. Therefore, it is often a quite delicate issue. The motivation for good governance must come from within the organization to be other than just democracy on paper. Building leadership skills and training key persons on soft issues is time taking but worth it.

The assumption is that a democratically lead organization activates persons with disabilities which generates a stronger disability rights movement.

With this assumption, we highlight the power of the disability movement and, based on our long experience, the proven fact that every single person with a disability has the power to fight for the realization of their rights, if given the space and capacity for it. Working with organizations, we cannot directly reach the persons with disabilities, so we need to make sure that the organizations that represent them enable the power of persons with disabilities to surface. This also creates an enabling environment for the most vulnerable groups among the society of persons with disabilities, such as women, girls, persons with intellectual disabilities to both build their own movement and to join the general disability movement as equal members.

5. Programme Outcome 2: Advocacy for InclusionThe Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities calls for global cooperation between nations and DPOs to realize the rights of the persons with disabilities. The Convention states that persons with

DPOS AND THEIR STAKEHOLDERS ARE COMMITTED TO AND INCREASINGLY CAPABLE OF PROMOTING THE FULL REALIZATION OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (CRPD, Article 4).

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disabilities must benefit from international development programs and meaningfully participate in them. We aim to reach that by supporting our partners’ advocacy work and by advocating ourselves on national and international platforms.

The assumption is that a twin track approach of empowering persons with disabilities to act for their rights and of capacitating duty bearers to act for the rights of persons with

disabilities will lead to an inclusive world for all.

The assumption is backed up by the long evidence gathered during decades of work in Finland and globally on what brings the most sustainable results. Finnish member organizations have up to a hundred years of experience on advocacy and lobbying work for the rights of their members. Notable is that some of the advocacy work can be done as a joint effort of the disability movement while some advocacy work is, to a large extent, disability specific and needs concentrated efforts by that particular disability group’s organization. Plurality is the essence and a fundamental value of the disability movement. The Nothing about us without us slogan is a valid one also within the movement and is respected by us.

5.1 Output 2.1: Persons with Disabilities in partner countries are active human rights advocates at local, national or international level.

The Convention aims at full inclusion of persons with disabilities. The Southern DPOs use the Convention as a tool to advocate for inclusion in their own environment, either nationally or at local level. This work might be done directly towards responsible government bodies or towards mainstream NGOs and other non-governmental actors, such as companies. Partners also learn to act as disability inclusion experts and actively work together with mainstream NGOs and government bodies to promote disability inclusion.

The assumption is that persons with disabilities are the most important change makers that induce global changes in the living conditions of persons with disabilities.

This assumption touches the core of our work. There are many local, national and international organizations FOR persons with disabilities that do a good work in advancing the situation of persons with disabilities. Also, these days, many governmental and non-governmental organizations strive to make their development programmes disability inclusive, thus ensuring that persons with disabilities also benefit from development on the same terms with others. But neither of the above-mentioned pathways to development can replace the work that we do as organizations OF persons with disabilities in COOPERATION with our sister organizations OF persons with disabilities in the Global South. Active participation of persons with disabilities in all decision-making, especially in issues concerning them, is a core value of our work that we hold unquestionable. This unquestionability is backed up by the CRPD Preamble (o) that states that ‘the state parties to the convention, considering that persons with disabilities should have the opportunity to be actively

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involved in decision-making processes about policies and programmes, including those directly concerning them, have agreed as follows... ‘

5.2 Output 2.2: Mainstream NGOs include persons with disabilities in their programmes.

Mainstreaming disability issues into all development work allows persons with disabilities benefit from the same development as the rest of their communities. The CRPD preamble (g) emphasizes the importance of mainstreaming disability issues as an integral part of relevant strategies of sustainable development and Article 32 calls for state parties to ensure that international cooperation, including international development programmes, is inclusive of and accessible to persons with disabilities. To accelerate this, Disability Partnership Finland advocates the mainstreaming issues towards the decision makers and provides expert services to development NGOs and other actors to help them make their work disability inclusive.

Training and guidance is provided to mainstream organizations on disability inclusion both in Finland and in the South. Training on disability mainstreaming will be provided to partners in the South capacitating them to act as experts and trainers on inclusion in the future.

The assumption is that third sector actors want full inclusion of persons with disabilities once they have the knowledge how it is achieved.

This assumption has been backed up by evidence in the recent years. The demand for mainstreaming knowledge among the third sector actors has grown with the onset of the human rights based approach, the ratification of the CRPD and the Agenda2030’s call not to leave anyone behind. Third sector actors want to reach persons with disabilities as one of the most vulnerable groups and in cooperation with organizations of persons with disabilities, they will also succeed.

5.3 Output 2.3: Policies and guidelines of Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland are disability inclusive.

Advocacy for disability mainstreaming in all sectors calls for true inclusion of persons with disabilities in all Finnish development efforts. Instead of providing disability specific support in few areas or writing disability issues off with a notion about cross cutting issues, we provide our expertise to the service of the Ministry to together make quality inclusion a mainstream issue. Thematic guidelines for disability mainstreaming, in cooperation with the Ministry, will be provided. Disability should also be a part of policy dialogue on all levels.

The assumption is that the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland takes Article 32 of the CRPD seriously, will implement the commitment and monitors disability inclusion in

practise.

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With this assumption, we challenge our main donor, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to work with us. We believe that the Ministry has a good intention to mainstream disability to make sure that none of the development interventions widen the gap between persons with disabilities and the non-disabled. Just as with the third sector described above, mainstreaming is best done in cooperation with organizations of persons with disabilities.

5.4 Output 2.4: Persons with disabilities are better represented in local, national and global organizations, networks and partnerships on disability & development and disability inclusion issues.

Advocacy towards and training with our national and international stakeholders will take place to encourage them to actively hire a growing number of persons with disabilities to work in positions related to development cooperation.

The assumption here is that disability rights work done by persons with disabilities has a special

quality that cannot be replicated.

The assumption highlights the Nothing about us without us principle so important to many human rights movements of the most vulnerable groups of societies. As the most vulnerable and most excluded members of their societies, persons with disabilities are often less educated than their non-disabled peers. Their theoretical knowledge might be less than that of non-disabled disability experts, but each person with a disability has a personal experience and

thus expertise of their disability that no theoretical knowledge can replace. Therefore, in

our work, the voice of persons with disabilities is the voice that is heard.

6. Programme Outcome 3: Education and Learning

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities calls for ensuring equal access for

Article 24 – Education: States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to education. With a view to realizing this right without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunity, States Parties shall ensure an inclusive education system at all levels and lifelong learning directed to: a) The full development of human potential and sense of dignity and self-worth, and the strengthening of respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and human diversity; b) The development by persons with disabilities of their personality, talents and creativity, as well as their mental and physical abilities, to their fullest potential; c) Enabling persons with disabilities to participate effectively in a free society.

SCHOOLS AND TRAINING CENTERS PROVIDE INCLUSIVE FORMAL AND NON-FORMAL EDUCATION TO CHILDREN, YOUTH AND ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES. (CRPD, Article 24).

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persons with disabilities to an inclusive education system. The right to education of persons with disabilities is an utterly important right on its own, but it is also a key factor to access other rights as well. Exclusion from education creates great barriers to persons with disabilities in reaching their individual potential and effectively participating in their communities. Exclusion limits employment opportunities and hinders participation in civic affairs later in life and increases dependency on others.

The assumption is that Finnish DPOs effectively use their special expertise in inclusive and special education and learning.

The assumption is again backed up by decades of experiences gathered by Finnish member organizations on developing the quality of disability specific and disability inclusive methods for their specific disability group. The Finnish member organizations have shared this special expertise with their sister organizations in the Global South, naturally analysing and based on the analysis of the local setting and accordingly, fitting the work to the local setting. This will continue and will also be made more visible in the future to make sure that our special value added is shown to the outside world as well.

6.1 Output 3.1: Children and youth with disabilities can access an inclusive, quality and free primary education and secondary and tertiary education on an equal basis with others in the communities in which they live (CRPD, Article 24, 2b).

To promote inclusive education, the DPOs must have sufficient knowledge on educational issues themselves. The programme supports those DPOs who work with education issues to build their capacity regarding international and national education policies. Once sufficient knowledge on disability specific inclusion practices has been achieved, the DPOs are ready to provide responsible authorities with relevant knowledge and knowhow on the educational needs of children and youth with disabilities.

The assumption is that the programme inputs are sensitive to adapt to changes in the capacity of the duty bearers.

The assumption is addressed in our programme by strengthening support to monitoring and evaluation knowledge of our partners so that they remain or become agile and are quick to see the external opportunities and threats that arise in their working environment.

6.2 Output 3.2: Persons with disabilities have access to non-formal education

Most adults with disabilities have been declined access to education, are school drop-outs or have not received education in an accessible form. To improve the skills of

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those persons with disabilities, who are out of reach of formal education, DPOs work for improved access to non-formal education.

A twin-track approach is often used; for example, literacy classes and vocational skills training may be directed to persons with disabilities or the inclusion of persons with disabilities in mainstream non-formal education institutions may be promoted. To ensure sustainability of the output, establishing connection with relevant authorities or non-formal education service providers and building their capacity and motivation to fulfil their duties is also an essential part of the process.



6.3 Output 3.3: Deaf people have access to information in their own language.

Access to information in sign language is crucial for inclusion of deaf people into society. Indigenous sign languages are usually not known or recognised in the society, thus documenting and describing the language is the foundation for both building linguistic awareness among deaf people and for developing and advocating for services in sign language and interpreting services. This preparatory process often takes years and has therefore been recognized as a separate programme output to highlight the results of this deaf specific ground laying work.



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7. Programme Outcome 4: Work and LivelihoodDisability causes poverty and poverty causes disability. Persons with disabilities are globally among the poorest of the poor. Access to income earning opportunities is the main solution to cut this vicious cycle of poverty.

The right of persons with disabilities to work and livelihood is frequently denied. They face enormous attitudinal, physical and informational barriers to equal opportunities in the world of work resulting in financial dependency on their family members. The economic empowerment of persons with disabilities is the key to independent living and social inclusion.

The Partnership follows a twin track approach, one track allowing for disability specific programmes or initiatives aimed directly at persons with disabilities, while the other track seeks to ensure the inclusion of disabled persons in mainstream services and activities.

The assumption is that Finnish DPOs effectively use their special expertise of inclusive and special employment and livelihood.

The assumption is again backed up by decades of experiences gathered by Finnish member organizations on developing disability specific and disability inclusive vocational training and employment services for their specific disability group. The Finnish member organizations will, to a growing degree, share this knowledge with their sister organizations and based on that develop and pilot models that are fitted to the particular working environment.

7.1 Output 4.1: Persons with disabilities have effective access to general technical and vocational guidance programmes, placement services and vocational and continuing training (CRPD, Article 27d).

DPOs will collect information on the barriers that persons with disabilities are facing in accessing mainstream technical and vocational training institutions and advocate for changes. DPOs provide disability specific knowledge and knowhow to enhance inclusion of person with disabilities in the institutions’ programmes. This includes information on accessibility and teaching methods. Measures are taken to increase

Article 27: States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to work, on an equal basis with others; this includes the right to the opportunity to gain a living by work freely chosen or accepted in a labour market and work environment that is open, inclusive and accessible to persons with disabilities.

PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES HAVE A LIVELIHOOD AND CAN FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. (CRPD, Article 27).

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opportunities for persons with disabilities to gain work experience through on-the-job learning and placements.

The assumption is that the programme approach will internally shift from own service delivery to collaborative development of inclusive employment methods.

This assumption is both an assumption and a slight programme level push for the projects to shift their working modality towards inclusive employment methods, as they have a much wider scope and can benefit a much larger number of persons with disabilities than traditional income generating activities.

7.2 Output 4.2: Persons with disabilities have increased opportunities for self-employment, entrepreneurship, the development of cooperatives and starting one's own business (CRPD, Article 27f).

Many mainstream livelihood and micro finance programs are not inclusive of people with a disability due to restrictive entry requirements related to the service providers’ doubt about skills and abilities of persons with disabilities. Our Southern partners are encouraged to address such barriers and promote disability inclusive, equitable self-employment and work opportunities.

Assumption is that the programme approach will internally shift from own service delivery to collaborative development of inclusive employment methods.

This assumption is both an assumption and a slight programme level push for the projects to shift their working modality towards inclusive employment methods, as they have a much wider scope and can benefit a much larger number of persons with disabilities than traditional income generating activities.

7.3 Output 4.3: Private and public sector internalize inclusive employment practices and employ staff with disabilities.

DPOS advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities for full access to livelihoods. The work will focus on promoting inclusive and non-discriminatory labour legislation. Persons with disabilities seeking information will supported by DPOS. Strategic partnership promoting inclusion of persons with disabilities in the employment market will be created.

Assumption is that the government and private sector are willing to fulfil the moral and legal obligations of provision of employment to persons with disabilities.

This assumption is addressed in our programme in the same way as with mainstreaming of disability in the third sector development programmes; by

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partnering and collaborating with organizations of persons with disabilities, the government and private sector will have no insurmountable difficulties in adjusting the work environment to be accessible for persons with different disabilities.

8. Programme Outcome 5: Gender Equality as a Crosscutting Outcome

Women and girls with disabilities face double discrimination in their communities and often they are also looked down upon by men with disabilities. This is shown also by CRPD’s several mentions to women and girls with disabilities. In our programme, promoting gender equality is given

special attention both at activity level and at the organizational level.

Assumption is that all partners have a rights-based approach to gender issues once their awareness has been awakened.

This assumption is similar to that of disability inclusion among the external stakeholders, only here it is an internal issue concerning the rights and inclusion of women. The assumption is addressed in our programme by creating culture sensitive ways to address the gender equality issues so that human rights based approach and for example its implications on the participation of the most vulnerable, in this case women and girls, will be ensured.

8.1 Crosscutting Output 5.1: DPOs take measures to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of women and girls with disabilities of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Gender issues are fairly well considered at beneficiary level. There is, however, still work to do regarding gender equality at organizational level. Promoting the participation of women and girls with disabilities in decision making and uprooting all gender related discriminatory work practices is the aim.

Assumption is that once rooted to the organizational level, gender equality is not an issue anymore.

With this assumption, we borrow the thinking from disability inclusion. Once the organization is gender sensitive and has monitoring mechanisms, gender is not an issue anymore.

GENDER BASED DISCRIMINATION IS ERADICATED IN THE WORK OF DPOS. (CRPD, Preamble (q), Article 3 (g), Article 6, Article 16 point 5).

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8.2 Crosscutting Output 5.2: Gender specific rights issues, such as gender based violence and sexual and reproductive health are recognized and DPOs take supportive measures for the rights promotion

Gender issues are rights issues as well. The HRBA calls for the protection of the most vulnerable groups and for the eradication of harmful practises. Women and girls with disabilities are notably among the most vulnerable and are subject to harmful practises. These are delicate issues but there is (an often silent) demand to address these issues, as they touch the fundamental core human rights of women with disabilities.

Assumption is that women with disabilities are the best experts of their own issues and know how to approach these sensitive issues.

This assumption falls under the Nothing about us without us category. Whatever is done towards this objective, will be planned by women with disabilities.

Programme Disability Partnership 2016-21 Web viewDevelopment Cooperation Programme of Disability Partnership Finland 2016-2021June 2017 Update. Index. 1.Summary3. 2 ... or anyone else,

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