Working with organisations of people with disabilities

Stories | February 11, 2022

Sharing our learnings and next steps in time for the Global Disability Summit

CBM will make commitments to increase meaningful engagement of Organisations of People with Disabilities; strengthen disability inclusion in situations of crisis and conflict; and improve accessibility to inclusive health at the Global Disability Summit this month.

As part of the CBM Global Disability Inclusion federation, we are determined to bring about genuine change for people with disabilities and have developed our commitments to ensure accountability to people with disabilities, working in close partnership with the disability movement.

Our input to the GDS is informed by our new report, “We have a key role now”: Lessons learned from partnerships with organisations of persons with disabilities celebrating what is working well in our partnership approach and identifies measures to further strengthen our partnership with organisations of people with disabilities. It is offered as an example of what partnership can mean and as a contribution to the wider efforts of integrating organisations of people with disabilities into international cooperation. The report is the product of a detailed listening exercise with 32 organisations in 14 countries.

CBM Zimbabwe Emergency Response Team member Allen Chaitezvi with Ezekiel Rukuruva, 62, in his new wheelchair at his home in a food-insecure area of Chiredzi, Zimbabwe
Image: CBM Zimbabwe Emergency Response Team member Allen Chaitezvi with Ezekiel Rukuruva, 62, in his new wheelchair at his home in a food-insecure area of Chiredzi, Zimbabwe, on November 26, 2019. Ezekiel has received multiple benefits from CBM-partner Jairos Jiri Association, including a new wheelchair, two goats, chickens and access to community gardens.

The Global Disability Summit (GDS) is a once in four-year event to share experiences, ideas, and aspirations for development and humanitarian work that is inclusive of people with disabilities. This year the summit will run from February 16-17 and focus on building back a better and more inclusive world.  

To enable meaningful global participation, a number of regional ‘satellite summits’ are taking place in the lead-up to the GDS. The Pacific Satellite Summit, co-hosted by Australia, New Zealand, Pacific Island Forum Secretariat; and Pacific Disability Forum, will elevate the Pacific voice at the GDS, raising awareness of the unique context and experiences of people with disabilities in the region. It will seek an active and central role for people with disabilities in development and provide an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to, and mobilise support for, disability inclusion in the Pacific. 

Read about what we found and what we have committed to

CBM Australia works with OPDs as we advise other development organisations on how to better address disability inclusion in their programs. We support OPDs through our community-based programs overseas – in countries like Nigeria, Cameroon, Indonesia, Nepal and the Philippines. We also work with OPDs on high-level advocacy issues. This report offers an example of what partnership can mean and as a contribution to the wider efforts of integrating organisations of people with disabilities into international cooperation.

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