Strengthening the Organizational Structures and Advocacy Capacities of the Mexican Disabled Persons Organizations

Implementing Partners: Consortium for Elections and Political Processes (CEPPS), National Democratic Institute (NDI)

DPO Partners: Citizens Observatory for Disability in Mexico; other DPOs determined through a competitive process

Funding Period: September 2008-September 2009

Funding Amount: $140,000

In Mexico, USAID is supporting the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in partnership with the Citizen Observatory for Disability (OCDM). The program works to protect the political rights of persons with disabilities by strengthening the ability of Mexican DPOs to conduct advocacy campaigns. These campaigns promote the recognition of the rights of disabled persons and work to improve people with disabilities' access to the electoral process.

Specifically, the NDI conducts a baseline assessment of the skill levels of DPOs' working in the area of democracy and governance, and then provides “guided practice” in capacity building.

The program also provides small grants to DPOs selected by consensus approval of OCDM and other DPO members.