Annual Report 2024
In this Annual Report, we inform you about the project, progress and participants of We are Able! in 2024.
TABLE OF CONTENT
// Introduction We are Able! PAGE 2-3
// The story of Musab Abdul Rahim in Sudan PAGE 4
// 2024 in Facts and Figures PAGE 5
// The story of Micheal Opiyo in Uganda PAGE 6
// Key Challenges PAGE 7
// Results per country PAGE 7-9
// People we serve PAGE 10-11
Our Mission
We are Able! works towards disability inclusive food security by fostering enabling environments in six fragile and conflict-affected countries in Africa.
Three pathways
To achieve this mission, three paths are taken:
Pathway 1:
Community mobilization and raising awareness among citizens
Pathway 2:
Strengthening Organisations of People with Disabilities (OPDs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)
Pathway 3:
Engagement of local and national public authorities into a dialogue on the food security of persons with disabilities through Lobby and Advocacy
Theory of Change
This leads to a situation where men, women and youth with disabilities organized in resilient and capable OPDs/CSOs are capable of conducting effective Lobby and Advocacy and actively engage with (in)formal public authorities and other relevant stakeholders to influence laws, policies norms and practices for improved food security for all.
Ethiopia South Sudan Burundi
Uganda DR Congo Sudan
A journey of empowerment and inclusion
Musab Abdul Rahim, a young entrepreneur and community leader from Gedaref, Sudan, was born with a physical disability but never let it define his path. His life changed when he joined the We are Able! programme through the Union of Persons with Disabilities. The focus on capacity-building inspired him, especially after attending a 2021 workshop on entrepreneurship. Motivated and determined, Musab launched a catering business, initially serving meals at WaA! events.
With support from WaA! and local authorities, who waived his license fees due to disability, Musab opened Cafeteria Wad Al-Qatar. Today, it caters to major companies like Mercy Corps and NRC, providing jobs for others and improving Musab’s financial stability.
Musab’s success extends beyond economic empowerment. He successfully advocated with Bank of Khartoum to open private gates for people with disabilities and lobbied the Ministry of Social Welfare to move meetings to accessible venues.
Musab holds leadership roles in multiple community organisations and supports displaced persons with disabilities, advancing inclusion through civil society. His journey with the WaA! program is a testament to the transformative power of knowledge, economic empowerment, engagement of civil society and public authorities, and social inclusion. His story illustrates how targeted support, and training can enable persons with disabilities to overcome barriers, achieve economic independence, and become influential advocates for their communities.
The story of Musab Abdul Rahim in Sudan
Overview 2024: Facts and Figures
The We are Able! programme completed four years, making notable progress across several countries in promoting disability inclusion, particularly in governance, food security and livelihoods, and social services.
Annual Meeting
Annual project meetings are vital for tracking progress, aligning stakeholders, addressing challenges, and ensuring accountability, enabling timely adjustments and strategic planning for sustainable impact and successful project outcomes.
The WaA! meeting in Kampala focused on advancing power of shifts to Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) via roadmaps, budget reallocation, capacity building, and Mid Term Evaluation (MTE) recommendations like consortium work and policy ratification. Also, establishing sustainability and exit strategies with clear communication, institutional strengthening, and advocacy, for example, the support of the National Union of Persons with Disabilities in Uganda (NUDIPU) to unions and Nwoya District’s Food and Nutrition Security Ordinance in the country.
A total of 187.298 individuals participated in the project and the total of indirect beneficiaries is estimated at 1.860.000.
Shift of Power
In each country, the focus on Shift of Power was increased to bring together OPDs and local governments for more inclusive decision-making processes on disability inclusion within the project areas.
Some 2024 Highlights:
• OPDs played a crucial role in advocating for policy change, particularly around inclusive food security, and have participated in decision-making at meetings of the CPSC and CAB. Their involvement has strengthened both their organisational and financial management capacities, organising monitoring sessions in collaboration with WaA! teams and other stakeholders to contribute to successful advocacy efforts.
• Strong collaboration between WaA! and OPDs ensured successful implementation of activities and empowerment of persons with disabilities through advocacy efforts aimed at influencing policies for inclusive food security.
• WaA! transferred funds directly to OPDs in the six countries, empowering them to implement advocacy activities towards local and national governments and support initiatives for the empowerment of persons with disabilities.
A journey to self-reliance: a multi-pathway transformation
Micheal Opiyo, a 40-year-old married man with a hearing impairment from Agonga village in Koch Goma sub-county, Nwoya district in Uganda, once faced severe hardship. “We could only have one meal a day, had no livelihood opportunities, and struggled with paying school fees for my children. Now, I pay all the school fees with ease, and my life has completely changed through the We are Able! (WaA!) programme,” he shared.
In August 2022, Micheal joined Kacel Watwero iSAVE, a self-help group, where he gained financial literacy, business skills, and training in Integrated Farm Plan (PIP). With a small loan, he launched a piggery business that grew steadily, improving his family’s food security and income.
His journey to self-reliance powerfully shows how community mobilisation, strong OPDs/ CSOs and engaged public authorities can transform lives. Micheal emerged as a strong disability rights advocate, representing persons with hearing impairments in the Agonga Parish Association of Persons with Disabilities and working closely with NUDIPU, the Nwoya Disabled Person’s Union and the local government. These networks equipped him with advocacy skills and knowledge of disability-inclusive laws, strengthening his ability to support his community.
Micheal promoted disability inclusion in local economic programs and expanded his farming through government agricultural support. Micheal now cultivates multiple acres of crops, and in the second season alone, he expects to earn approximately 7 million Ugandan shillings (€ 1,691.02) from his produce, ensuring both food security and economic empowerment. “I didn’t know how to save money before, but now I have a good saving culture. We used to have only one meal a day, but now we have three,” he said proudly. “I never owned any livestock, but today I have goats, cows, poultry, and a thriving piggery business. I never knew persons with disabilities were valued like this. Thank you WaA! for changing my life.”
The story of Micheal Opiyo in Uganda
1
Key Challenges
Project outcomes in the six countries were affected by both human actions and natural causes. Three major contextual challenges emerged as a result.
The volatile security situation, particularly in Sudan, caused widespread displacement. It doubled the population in Gedaref, our implementing area, increasing the need for humanitarian support. The authorities were focused on security concerns rather than food security policies for persons with disabilities.
2
Some local OPDs were not registered, which limited their participation in lobby and advocacy. Also, the strong involvement of local authorities slowed down the process of transferring funds to OPDs, e.g. in DR Congo. Additionally, delays in action plan formulation and contract finalization impacted on the timely implementation of project activities.
3
High inflation rates and an overvalued Ethiopian Birr reduced household purchasing power, particularly for persons with disabilities in small businesses. In most countries, severe climate change and economic challenges led to failed harvests, which increased food insecurities for persons with disabilities.
Results per country
Burundi
In Burundi, OPDs collaborated with local authorities to actively shape community plans, enhancing local governance. The project strengthened the OPD confederation’s capacity, enabling effective advocacy and influence on inclusive food security policies.
DR Congo
Resulting in local decrees promoting inclusion, including access to land, employment, and food security, 25 OPDs in DR Congo engaged in advocacy through financial and technical support. These efforts emerged from partnerships between community structures and OPDs, leading to inclusive practices in agriculture and employment. Legal reforms progressed at both provincial and national levels, and inclusive governance measures were adopted, including appointing persons with disabilities to leadership roles.
South Sudan
A new Disability Bill advanced through South Sudan’s legislative processes, and a draft National Action Plan for implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) was developed. Continued advocacy efforts led to increased integration of disability issues at both national and local levels. OPDs gained representation in policy platforms, and inclusive disaster planning was incorporated into government response frameworks. Additionally, business training and coaching empowered OPDs and women with disabilities through targeted capacity-building initiatives.
Ethiopia
In Ethiopia, economic empowerment reached hundreds through savings groups, income-generating activities, and micro-grants for OPDs. Local authorities were trained, infrastructure improved, and employment opportunities expanded, supported by government enhanced advocacy, and collaboration with universities and media. The project promoted participatory decision-making, focusing on long-term community ownership and scaling disability-inclusive practices.
Sudan
Advocacy efforts in Sudan led to the securing of farmland, the appointment of disability focal persons, and strengthened institutional support. These achievements were complemented by inclusive emergency response committees and the development of a sign language dictionary on food security to enhance accessibility. Media campaigns contributed significantly to recognition of disability rights, leading to over 248 women with disabilities joining OPDs. OPD involvement in training, data collection, and project development resulted in strong collaborations and tangible livelihood improvements.
Uganda
Legal reforms, including new by-laws, addressed food security, while land mediation efforts benefited multiple persons with disabilities. Stakeholders collaborated to assess children for assistive devices, improve accessibility, and support iSAVE groups, which saved over UGX 403 million. These groups accessed government programs and grants, including GBVrelated financial support. In Uganda, changes in civil servant attitudes enabled 786 persons with disabilities to benefit from the Parish Development Model, supporting income-generating activities. Business grants supported 284 Gender-Based Violence (GBV) survivors, and five Disability Inclusion Facilitators (DIFs) were certified to advise OPDs.
People we serve
96.330
Female:
Total direct participants in 2024
187.298
The total number of people who benefited is estimated at 1.860.000. These indirect project participants are people who do not participate directly in the project but nevertheless benefit from it, for example through the implementation of policies or legislation. The exact number is hard to calculate. Estimations are based on the population numbers in the direct vicinity of the intervention areas.
Sudan SouthSudan
Congo Ethiopia
Uganda
Burundi
The large spread in number of participants reached per country can be explained by a combination of factors, of which the type of intervention and the intervention area are the most important.
* Participants without disabilities include family members, caretakers and other individuals within the target communities related to persons with disabilities that are affected socially or economically. Also public authorities, policy makers, cooperatives, Monetary Financial Institutions (MFIs), and religious leaders (targeted by our advocacy and disability mainstreaming) are part of this group.
Photo credits: Lieuwe de Jong - ZOA; Elske Koster - ZOA; Hiske Gude - ZOA; KlaasJan Baas - ZOA; Mohammed Gaafar - ADF; Fredrick Echeku