A-PODD is a three year project funded by a €500,000 research grant from the Health Research Board/Irish Aid, which brings together a wide range of research partners. This research investigates the need for disability to be included on the agenda of national and international development initiatives. It aims to document and analyse the factors that contribute to realising the rights of disabled people, promote their health and well-being and release their economic potential, with government strategies aimed at poverty alleviation.
It focuses on how research evidence can be utilised to inform the policy environment (such as Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, Sector Wide Approaches), and development institutions (such as the IMF, World Bank and WHO).
The research also focuses on less formal local, community and grass-roots decision-making and inclusion efforts.
A-PODD will undertake four country-case studies:
Sierra Leone, a country emerging from conflict that resulted in many people being disabled;
Malawi and Uganda, the only two African countries that have Ministries for people with disabilities;
Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa, with significant geographical barriers and a highly dispersed population, presenting significant challenges to the inclusion of people with disability.
Disabled people in Africa constitute a valuable resource for economic growth, if this economic potential can be realised. Key to this is their access to healthcare, education and housing. In addition to promoting innovative redistribute policies, the project seeks to involve disabled people as part of the economic solution to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly poverty reduction.
Recently, the approach to disability has changed dramatically from a charitable, paternalistic and biomedically-based 'caring-for' approach. This approach recognises the human rights of disabled people and their need for advocacy and empowerment, in order to fully participate and be included in society.
A comparative analysis will inform the disability policy within the region. Factors which restrict or facilitate these policies will be identified along implementation pathways, as will local means and mechanisms of addressing them. Country reports will be discussed at a concluding workshop to which governments, civil society, donors, researchers and others will be invited. A code of best practice will be drawn up for Moving Evidence to Action on African Disability Policy.
