ADD International

ADD International is an ally to the global disability movement. We partner with disability activists in Africa and Asia. What we do:

Supporting activists. We partner with disability activists in Africa and Asia to help them build powerful movements for change. Disability activists tell us the change they want to make and what they need to make it happen. Together we develop a tailored package of long term support to help activists access the tools, skills and resources they need to make change happen.
Building movements. We support organisations of disability activists to build strong and sustainable organisations that can have an ever increasing impact. We then help these groups connect with each other to build wider movements and we work with them to promote the rights of disabled people.
Influencing for change. We work with organisations of disabled activists to influence governments, international development actors and the private sector to design policies and services at a local and global level which take into account the needs of disabled people.

For more information: https://www.add.org.uk/about

Women and Girls with Disabilities (2018) Routes to Economic Empowerment (2018) Inclusive Education (2018) Eliminate Stigma and Discrimination (2018) Women and Girls with Disabilities (2018) Inclusive Education (2018) Inclusive Education (2018) Inclusive Education (2018) Eliminate Stigma and Discrimination (2018)

Women and Girls with Disabilities	Updates	Progress
Commitment year: 2018 We will work with governmental and non-governmental actors tackling violence against women and girls to highlight the additional risks faced by WAGWD, and the additional barriers they face to accessing support and services. We will work in partnership with these actors to support the development of policies, support services and prevention programmes which are inclusive of WAGWD, and which are based on the voice and experience of WAGWD themselves. Timeframe and/or implementation plan: We will work closely with women-led disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) and disabled women’s networks to lead primary prevention interventions targeting WAGWD, including the most vulnerable. We will build the capacity of self-help groups, caregivers, other family members, their communities, and key duty bearers to challenge inequitable social norms that tolerate violence and to more effectively identify and prevent violence against women and girls with disabilities in their communities. Submit update	Update in 2020 Addressing violence against women and girls with disabilities is a critical component of ADD International’s global advocacy and programmes in Tanzania and Cambodia. Significant progress was made to tackle gender-based violence through working in partnership with several women-led DPOs. An example of this is in Tanzania, where we worked alongside SHIVAWATA, the national DPO and the Voice of Women with Disabilities to implement a project focused on disability rights inclusion and gender ... Update in 2020 Addressing violence against women and girls with disabilities is a critical component of ADD International’s global advocacy and programmes in Tanzania and Cambodia. Significant progress was made to tackle gender-based violence through working in partnership with several women-led DPOs. An example of this is in Tanzania, where we worked alongside SHIVAWATA, the national DPO and the Voice of Women with Disabilities to implement a project focused on disability rights inclusion and gender equality. The project started in July 2019, focused on the empowerment of women and girls with disabilities and the reduction of gender-based violence. A recent review of the project found that the voices of women and girls with disabilities have become stronger as a result of links developed with key powerholders - local authorities, ministers, mainstream women organisations, media, UN Women, and development partners such as FCDO (formerly known as DFID) and Irish Aid. In Cambodia, ADD International works with women-led DPOs to prevent violence against women and girls with a disability and connect them to relevant service providers. As a result of this work, their knowledge and understanding increased on rights and they perceived reduced risk of violence. Women’s Support Groups are able to share strong messages to the community promoting a reduction of violence. Significantly, the number of cases of visible and invisible violence has decreased in the target areas. ADD took part in an IDA Facebook Live programme on Covid-19 response, to provide information on domestic abuse against women and girls with disabilities. Read more	Underway
Routes to Economic Empowerment	Updates	Progress
Commitment year: 2018 Access to Decent Work We will support national governments, donors, multilaterals, development organisations, and private sectors in two countries where ADD International works in promoting greater economic inclusion of people with disabilities, particularly women with disabilities by creating awareness and assisting to develop strategies and programmes that expand employment opportunities, develop skills and entrepreneurship, and expand access to social protection for PWD in line with CRPD and SDGs by 2023. Timeframe and/or implementation plan Economic empowerment will be a key focus area of ADD International’s global and country level policy and influencing strategies over the next 5 years. We will work in partnership with DPOs, allies and in consortia with other organisations to expand access to livelihood and development opportunities and social protection programmes for PWD in the countries in which we work. Submit update	Update in 2020 Over the last 12 months, ADD International has been working on ensuring increased employment of persons with disabilities in Bangladesh and Uganda as part of the DFID (now known as FCDO) Inclusion Works in partnership with ten partner organisations including Sightsavers and IDA (https://inclusivefutures.org/work/). The project adopts an integrated approach working in partnership with DPOs to ensure employment opportunities in the private sector are ... Update in 2020 Over the last 12 months, ADD International has been working on ensuring increased employment of persons with disabilities in Bangladesh and Uganda as part of the DFID (now known as FCDO) Inclusion Works in partnership with ten partner organisations including Sightsavers and IDA (https://inclusivefutures.org/work/). The project adopts an integrated approach working in partnership with DPOs to ensure employment opportunities in the private sector are accessible, work with employers’ federations to build their members’ disability confidence, increase the skills of jobseekers through a range of initiatives. Other components of the project include making skill development and training centres accessible, and influence implementation of disability rights legislation and employment policies at national and international level – essentially changing the system to ensure more inclusive employment practices. Covid-19 has meant some activities in this project have been delayed but we are moving forward and making good progress in current circumstances. Read more	Underway
Inclusive Education	Updates	Progress
Commitment year: 2018 Capacity Building: Teachers and Staff We will support the capacity building of teachers and ToT to provide quality inclusive education for children with disabilities. Timeframe and/or implementation plan We will provide teacher training to focus on children, disability and girls’ rights and on the necessary adjustments to be fully inclusive. Child safeguarding including the specific risks faced by girls will be at the heart of these trainings. They will be followed by initiation to braille, sign language and lip reading. Teacher training will be supported by the procurement of adapted teaching and learning materials. Submit update	Update in 2020 Ensuring inclusive education is a key aspect of ADD’s programme work in Sudan and Tanzania. In Sudan, our work targets 13 schools, providing them with accessible teaching materials and training for teachers, to ensure they are better equipped to deal with different levels and types of disabilities. In addition, 3 resource rooms have been equipped to support teachers to facilitate lessons for children with disabilities. In Tanzania, ADD trained 263 teachers in inclusive practices and 60 heads on inclusive ... Update in 2020 Ensuring inclusive education is a key aspect of ADD’s programme work in Sudan and Tanzania. In Sudan, our work targets 13 schools, providing them with accessible teaching materials and training for teachers, to ensure they are better equipped to deal with different levels and types of disabilities. In addition, 3 resource rooms have been equipped to support teachers to facilitate lessons for children with disabilities. In Tanzania, ADD trained 263 teachers in inclusive practices and 60 heads on inclusive school development plans. In addition, 10 teachers have been trained as TOTs to improvise low-cost Teaching and Learning Materials. An independent evaluation found that ‘Overall the programme achieved a significant increase in the numbers of both girls and boys with disabilities enrolling in primary education.’ and ‘The project has provided some excellent initial training for which teachers are unanimously appreciative’ and ‘all those informants who had participated in the training ranked the experience as ‘very helpful’ [100%]’. Read more	Underway
Eliminate Stigma and Discrimination	Updates	Progress
Commitment year: 2018 Policy, Legislation and its Implementation We will further our work with DPOs to support the development and implementation of policies which promote the rights and inclusion of all PWD. Timeframe and/or implementation plan We will strengthen the capacity of DPOs to advocate for the adoption and implementation of policies to ensure accessibility for all types of disabilities. Through our policy and influencing work, we will seek to influence the practices of service providers, policy makers, academics, the private sector and civil society on accessibility to reflect national and international standards. We will also support DPOs to expand their role in implementing and monitoring of the Global Goals and the UNCPRD. Submit update	Update in 2020 ADD International approach is influencing global policies and local practice to eliminate stigma and discrimination in disability development. Based on the evidence presented by DPOs, ADD International submitted evidence to the UK's Government Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy to solicit a disability-inclusive UK Overseas Development Assistance (ODA). We submitted evidence to the UK IDC inquiry on Covid-19 highlighting the particular challenges experienced by people with ... Update in 2020 ADD International approach is influencing global policies and local practice to eliminate stigma and discrimination in disability development. Based on the evidence presented by DPOs, ADD International submitted evidence to the UK's Government Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy to solicit a disability-inclusive UK Overseas Development Assistance (ODA). We submitted evidence to the UK IDC inquiry on Covid-19 highlighting the particular challenges experienced by people with disabilities and the role of DPOs in responding to and supporting them. And to the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) inquiry recommending the UK ODA would be inclusive so that persons with disabilities are not left behind. Some examples of DPOs, partners of ADD International made contributions in influencing policies are: DPOs in Tanzania participated in the voluntary national review (VNR) of SDG implementation, and Country Director of ADD International took part in the UN High-Level Political Forum. Women activists with disabilities were able to successfully influence the Ministry of Health of Tanzania to provide correct information on Covid-19, washing hands, and social distancing. In Bangladesh, persons with disabilities got access to allowances allocated for the Covid19. Read more	Underway
Women and Girls with Disabilities	Updates	Progress
Commitment year: 2018 We will work with our DPO partners to build their understanding of gender issues, and to introduce measures to be more inclusive of WAGWD, and to promote the voice and participation of WAGWD in the disability movement. Timeframe and/or implementation plan: We will build the capacity of our DPO partners on gender inclusion (assessment, training, accompaniment) over the next 3 years and establish and provide support to women-led organisations within the disability movement (women’s groups within mainstream DPOs/ Associations of Women with Disabilities). Submit update	Update in 2020 ADD International is supporting women activists with disabilities to understand gender equality and facilitated two women to take part in the 25th review of the Beijing Platform for Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPfA). ADD International consulted with women and girls with disabilities in Asia and Africa and developed the policy recommendation paper titled 'Voice of Southern Women with Disabilities for Gender Equality' as a contribution to the 25th review of BDPfA" for presenting at the 64th ... Update in 2020 ADD International is supporting women activists with disabilities to understand gender equality and facilitated two women to take part in the 25th review of the Beijing Platform for Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPfA). ADD International consulted with women and girls with disabilities in Asia and Africa and developed the policy recommendation paper titled 'Voice of Southern Women with Disabilities for Gender Equality' as a contribution to the 25th review of BDPfA" for presenting at the 64th UN Commission on the Status of Women. In Cambodia, ADD has deepened partnerships with four Women with Disability Forums and assisted five-women-led DPOs/networks to develop their organizational capacity development plans and the project's annual operational plan for 2020. Women-led DPO networks were supported to review their organizational capacity to fulfil their vision, mission, and strategy. These organizations now have concrete plans of action to empower their members through active implementation of awareness-raising activities and to support them through engaging people from the community. In Tanzania, women leaders with disabilities attended a TV programme to create awareness on the intersectionality of disability and gender as well as on the importance of protecting women with disabilities from gender-based violence. They advocated for women and girls' rights, encouraged NGOs to discuss the issues of women with disabilities and to join the platform of women with disabilities in Tanzania. Read more	Underway
Inclusive Education	Updates	Progress
Commitment year: 2018 Stereotypes, Attitudes and Behaviours We will support persons with disabilities in Africa and Asia to engage with their communities and carry out awareness raising campaigns which dispel myths and challenge negative beliefs around disability and attitudes towards PWD, particularly the most marginalised. Timeframe and/or implementation plan: ADD will enhance DPOs’ capacity to raise awareness of families and the community, particularly the most marginalised such as CWD, WAGWD and those with psychosocial disability and mental health issues. We will champion for inclusive policies that address challenges facing these groups. This will be complemented by our policy and influencing work, where we will use evidence and learning from our work on the ground to advocate for effective approaches in changing stereotypes, attitudes and behaviours. Submit update		Underway
Inclusive Education	Updates	Progress
Commitment year: 2018 Policy, Standards and Regulations We will model the implementation of national strategies on inclusive education through pilot projects in primary and pre-primary schools, using the learning and evidence to make recommendations to local and national governments on how to implement policies effectively. Timeframe and/or implementation plan We will work with our DPO partners to advocate for “what works” in the provision of inclusive education, engaging in planning and drafting of policies, dialogue and advocacy and budgeting processes. Submit update	Update in 2020 In Tanzania, ADD works with UKAID funded DID consortium to support systems change by establishing a common model of basic inclusive pre-primary and primary education in mainstream government schools, and galvanising significant progress in spreading its systematic implementation for all children with disabilities across Tanzania (https://inclusivefutures.org/projects-in-tanzania/). To support a collective and coordinated action among consortium ... Update in 2020 In Tanzania, ADD works with UKAID funded DID consortium to support systems change by establishing a common model of basic inclusive pre-primary and primary education in mainstream government schools, and galvanising significant progress in spreading its systematic implementation for all children with disabilities across Tanzania (https://inclusivefutures.org/projects-in-tanzania/). To support a collective and coordinated action among consortium members and stakeholders, Action Group on Inclusive Education in Tanzania (AGIE) is established. A desk review to establish what secondary data is available on the current situation of inclusive education in Tanzania (https://asksource.info/resources/pre-primary-and-primary-inclusive-education-tanzania-pppiet-foundation-phase-desk-review) as well as participatory field research to strengthen the evidence drawing on the lived experience of children with disabilities, their families, teachers and communities (https://asksource.info/resources/pre-primary-and-primary-inclusive-education-tanzania-pppiet-foundation-phase-report). A model is being drafted by the AGIE. In Sudan, the Inclusive Education Project targeting 13 schools as a model for the whole country, resulting in the Federal Ministry of Education allocating budget towards inclusive education. Read more	Underway
Inclusive Education	Updates	Progress
Commitment year: 2018 Additional Resources and Implementation ADD International will endeavour to advocate for and expand accessibility of educational facilities in 3 countries in Africa. Timeframe and/or implementation plan We will work with DPOs to improve physical accessibility in schools, including access to school yards, WASH facilities and resource rooms. We will broker links with organisations providing assistive devices such as wheelchairs. Recognising the intrinsic link between poverty and education, we will link parents with government and NGO social protection, IGA and livelihoods programmes. We will continue to advocate for accessibility of educational facilities in line with best practices at relevant fora. Submit update		Underway
Eliminate Stigma and Discrimination	Updates	Progress
Commitment year: 2018 Representation and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities ADD International commits to further strengthening the organisational capacity of over 100 DPOs in 5 countries of Africa and Asia so that they become sustainable and inclusive organisations that are effective in supporting PWD to access opportunities and in advocating for changes in attitudes, policy and practice. Timeframe and/or implementation plan Our global programme will be delivered in partnership with DPOs and contain a strong focus on capacity building (CB). This will include provision of technical support, providing strategic inputs such as equipment; accompaniment in project design, delivery and MEL; strategy development; and brokering links with organisations, powerholders and funders. We will work closely with DPOs so that PWD can play an active role in legislative, planning and service delivery processes and hold powerholders accountable. Submit update	Update in 2020 At ADD International, we strive for the participation and representation of persons with disabilities across all our country programmes. Our efforts in strengthening the capacity of DPOs have resulted in increased engagement of disability advocates in national and international forums, policy debates and decision-making processes, as well as increased inclusive access to and delivery of services. Women delegates with disabilities represented the women wing of Tanzania disability movement in the ... Update in 2020 At ADD International, we strive for the participation and representation of persons with disabilities across all our country programmes. Our efforts in strengthening the capacity of DPOs have resulted in increased engagement of disability advocates in national and international forums, policy debates and decision-making processes, as well as increased inclusive access to and delivery of services. Women delegates with disabilities represented the women wing of Tanzania disability movement in the African Regional Consultation on the 25th Review of Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Women leaders with disabilities who are associated with ADD’s advocacy work are running for office in the Parliament Election of Tanzania 2020. In Sudan, DPOs negotiated with the government and other stakeholders to set regulations supporting Inclusive Education and accessibility in education institutions. Read more	Underway