Engaging with Disabled People’s Organizations in Development Cooperation

Implementing Partners: American Institute for Research (AIR)

DPO Partners: Including Blue Law and the Zambian Federation of Disability Organizations (ZAFOD)

Funding Period: September 2007 - August 2009

Funding Amount: $1,699,981

American Institute for Research (AIR) is implementing a program to develop pilot activities and advocacy strategies that will engage citizens with disabilities in international development cooperation.

This program builds on AIR’s existing activities in the field by 1) exploring best practices to meaningfully integrate people with disabilities into programmatic areas such as HIV/AIDS, disaster relief, democracy and governance, and education and 2) positioning disability organizations to develop working partnerships with other donors and organizations involved in their nation’s development.

The program also convenes working groups of disability leaders. The groups guide the specifics of the country programs and assist those programs in developing more effective interactions with international NGOs and the donor community.

This program is implemented in partnership with Blue Law International, a service-disabled, veteran-owned firm, which brings in internationally renowned experts in the various fields of disability and development.

AIR also designs and convenes training sessions for interested USAID staff and implementing partners to foster a greater understanding of strategies that can advance “inclusive development” both in the pilot countries and within USAID Washington.

To date, AIR has begun conducting work in Zambia in the area of HIV/AIDS, in Pakistan in the area of Inclusive Education, and in Mexico in the area of democracy and governance.