COSP16 side-event: Meaningful Engagement of OPDs: Inclusive processes for reaching under-represented groups of persons with disabilities in programming
While there has been a significant improvement in the inclusion of organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) in both disability-specific and mainstream programming in recent years, this increase in meaningful engagement has not benefited the disability movement equally. Underrepresented groups, including OPDs representing people with intellectual disabilities, people with psychosocial disabilities, and people with deafblindness, still continue to be excluded from both access to official development assistance (ODA) and from programming partnerships. Funders, INGOs, and other actors have an opportunity to move the needle on the inclusion of underrepresented groups in development programming by taking steps to implement tested inclusive practices in their work. Organisations including the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC), Inclusion International, and Humanity & Inclusion have developed innovative practices and programme strategies that ensure that underrepresented groups of people with disabilities and the organisations that represent them are meaningfully included.
The objectives of the side event are:
- To share examples of inclusive practices that meaningfully include people with intellectual disabilities, people with psychosocial disabilities, people with deafblindness, and other underrepresented groups.
- To provide a platform for organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) and their development partners to share their experiences of meaningful engagement and partnership.
- To create a dialogue on best practices for meaningful engagement of underrepresented groups.
- To present challenges and solutions to ensure meaningful engagement of underrepresented groups.
- To provide actionable recommendations on inclusive practices for meaningful engagement.
Agenda
| Time (EST) | Speaker | Content | Speaking Time |
| 9:45am | Dom Haslam, Moderator (IDDC) | Welcome, Housekeeping, Framing the Conversation, Introducing Panelists | 5 minutes |
| 9:50am | Jose Viera, International Disability Alliance | Opening Remarks – Why is meaningful engagement of underrepresented groups important? | 5 Minutes |
| 9:55am | Panelist 1 – Esma Gumberidze, Member of IDDC OPD Steering Group | Presentation on:
– What does OPD involvement in developing the IDDC’s Guidance Note on OPD Engagement look like? – What does the IDDC do to make sure that OPDs are being meaningfully included in developing the note |
5 minutes |
| 10:00am | Panelist 2 – TBC, Inclusion International | Presentation on:
– How can the Listen Include Respect Guidelines help organisations include people with intellectual disabilities?- What could other organisations learn from the Listen Include Respect guidelines? – How can the Listen Include Respect guidelines be used in project partnerships? |
5 minutes |
| 10:05am | Panelist 3 – Rose Umetesi, Pan African Network of People with Psychosocial Disabilities (HI Partner) | Presentation on:
– What does your OPD’s partnership with HI look like? – What does HI do to meaningfully include your OPD as an equal partner? – What could other organisations learn from the inclusive partnership you have with HI? |
5 minutes |
| 10:10am | Panelist 4 – KP Adhikari, NDFN (Sense International Partner) | Presentation on:
– What does your OPD’s partnership with Sense International on the DID project look like? – What does Sense International do to meaningfully include your OPD as an equal partner? – What could other organisations learn from the inclusive partnership you have with Sense? |
5 minutes |
| 10:15am | Panelist 5 – Mary Ataaba, (CBM Global Partner) | Presentation on:
– What does your OPD’s partnership with CBM Global look like? – What does CBM do to meaningfully include your OPD as an equal partner?- What could other organisations learn from the inclusive partnership you have with CBM? |
5 minutes |
| 10:20am | Panelist 6 – Daniel Ruben, Indigenous Youth Organisation (ADD Partner) | Presentation on:
– What does your OPD’s partnership with ADD look like? – What does ADD do to meaningfully include your OPD as an equal partner? – What could other organisations learn from the inclusive partnership you have with ADD? |
5 minutes |
| 10:25am | Q&A | Discussion + Questions from the Audience | 25 minutes |
| 10:50am | FCDO Representative, TBC | Closing Remarks | 5 minutes |