3 Strategic priorities to shape post-2023 IDDC activities
Copenhagen, 9 May 2023. After 2 years in the making, IDDC members have adopted the IDDC Strategic Framework 2023+ at their General Assembly in Copenhagen.
At IDDC, our vision is a world that leaves no person with disabilities behind. For the past 25 years, this vision has driven our actions, and today, we are proud to announce the launch of the IDDC Strategic Framework 2023+, our roadmap to achieving this goal.
“The new strategy is an important milestone as it sets the vision for enhanced collaboration between IDDC members to advance disability rights and disability inclusion. Both in the field of advocacy, as well as programmatically. The strategy emphasizes the importance of collaborative approaches between members and with other human rights and development actors. Also, I am glad to see the intersectional lens adopted in the strategy, which is important in understanding vulnerabilities as well as in shaping policy advocacy messages to address these.” Erik Ackerman, Liliane Foundation
Our newly adopted Strategic Framework focuses on several key priorities to help us achieve our mission to promote disability-inclusive international development and humanitarian action in the Global South. First and foremost, we aim to leverage our expertise, profile, and access to identify key political structures to influence disability rights and implementation of the UN CRPD at the national, regional, and global levels. By doing so, we hope to create a world where people with disabilities are fully included and can enjoy their human rights.
But we cannot do this alone. That’s why our strategy also emphasises the importance of working in alliances and collaborating with our partners and organisations of persons with disabilities. We believe that working together can achieve more than we ever could alone. By focusing on collaborative approaches, we can complement the work of other organisations in the human rights field and non-traditional partners who support our objectives. This will help ensure our messages are integrated and amplified beyond our usual sphere of influence.
Perhaps the most important priority of IDDC Strategic Framework 2023+ is to focus on meaningful participation and engagement of organisations of persons with disabilities and persons with disabilities in our advocacy and program work. Persons with disabilities, their organisations and networks must play leading roles in decision-making that affects them. We, as a network, work collaboratively and in partnership with OPDs to bring about change as we believe that this is the key to creating a world that truly leaves no person with disabilities behind.
“The notion that persons with disabilities and their representative organisations must be at the front and centre of change as leaders is strong throughout the strategy, and this in my view is an important guiding principle for a network like IDDC. I am also very happy with the way the strategy looks beyond the 2030 agenda and how IDDC can advocate for a fully inclusive future global framework, while continuing to focus on current challenges and the implementation of the 2030 agenda.” Marit Sørheim, The Atlas Alliance
“In my perception, the new strategy 2023+ gives a clear direction on what IDDC wants to focus on in the coming years. The third priority regarding meaningful participation of persons with disabilities and OPDs I find especially important to action meaningful change in the disability sector.” Sybille Imhof, FAIRMED
Ensuring that everyone is included and treated fairly is possible. We can promote disability-inclusive international development and humanitarian action in the Global South by leveraging our expertise, working with other groups, and prioritising meaningful participation and engagement.
“I’m delighted that the IDDC membership has agreed the new strategy, which is forward looking and builds on the clear strengths of the network of collaboration, partnership and a common purpose. Thank you to all those who have contributed to what’s been an open and frank discussion over the past two years to bring us to this point. Now I’m looking forward to seeing it put into action!” Dom Haslam, IDDC Chair
So we invite you to join us in this important mission. Together, we can create a world that is more inclusive, more just, and more compassionate. A world that truly leaves no person with disabilities behind.
IDDC is a global network of civil society organisations gathering around a common vision: a world that leaves no persons with disabilities behind. For the past 25 years, this vision has driven our action, and our mission is to promote disability-inclusive international development and humanitarian action in the Global South. As a network, IDDC is fully committed to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and applies its principles in our actions. IDDC unites NGOs specialising in disability inclusion, mainstream humanitarian and development NGOs, organisations of people with disabilities (OPDs), and national and international networks. Through our members, we are active in around 150 countries worldwide.