Mercy Corps works amid disasters, conflicts, chronic poverty and instability to unleash the potential of people who can win against nearly impossible odds. Since 1979, Mercy Corps has provided $1.3 billion in assistance to people in 100 nations. Supported by headquarters offices in North America, Europe and Asia, the agency's unified global programs employ 3,400 staff worldwide and reach nearly 14.4 million people in more than 35 countries.

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Contact the Mission

USAID/Mongolia
P.O. Box 1021
Ulaanbaatar-13
MONGOLIA
Phone: 976-11-312390
Fax: 976-11-310440
Email the Mission

May 2009

Fostering an Inclusive Environment for the Disabled (FIELD)

Mercy Corps
www.mercycorps.org.mn

People With Disabilities (PWDs) Needs Assessment Report. The PWDs Needs Assessment Report was completed and posted on the Mercy Corps website in May so that interested stakeholders—including PWDs, local Civil Society Organizations, Disabled People's Organizations (DPOs), the general public and businesses—could access the report and build awareness of PWD needs in target aimags. In addition, hard copies of the report were distributed to DPOs that worked on the assessment process, and public organizations including the Social Welfare Department, Health Department and Social Policy Departments in target aimags.

DPO capacity assessment in Arkhangai, Dundgobi and Uvurkhangai aimags. To complete the Capacity Assessment process in the aimags, 11 DPOs and an informal disability group finished work on re-definition of their organization goals, missions, values, annual activity plans, constraints and accelerators through participatory processes involving all members. Local DPOs clarified their foundational documentation and identified more clearly the constraints and accelerators affecting their work. As a result, the organizational development levels of DPOs in the three target aimags were defined:

Five DPOs have reached the Second Level (organization operations initiated/start-up);
Three DPOs are in transition from the First to Second Level (identification and definition of organization goal, mission and values);
Two DPOs have not even reached the First Level, which means they have begun to meet but are not yet officially constituted and have only limited activities.

As part of further capacity building, Mercy Corps will develop training modules for each DPO to improve their capacity in the legal environment and operational skills, enabling them to work independently for the benefit of local PWDs.

Training on Infrastructure Accessibility and Inclusive Education. Training on Infrastructure Accessibility and Inclusive Education was conducted for local DPOs, PWDs and Government officials on 7-18 May in the three target aimags by external consultants. The inclusive education sessions were held by Battuya, a senior scientist from the Educational Institute, and the accessible building sessions were held by trainers from the Mongolian Wheelchair Users Association which is a member of the Task Force.

In total, 109 people, (38 male, 71 female) participated in the training sessions including PWDs, DPOs, PWD caregivers, CSOs, decision makers and representatives from local public organizations including the Social Policy Department, Social Welfare, Professional Inspection Agency, Aimag Architectural Department, Education & Cultural Department, secondary schools managers and local businesses.

Participants were given detailed knowledge on principles, concepts and the current legal situation in Mongolia as pertains to inclusive education, and discussed comparisons of the current situation and best practices in other countries. Participants also learned the main concepts underlying the UN Convention on Human Rights of PWDs, and accessibility concepts under the Universal Design Module. They were given practical advice and tools for creating accessible environments in aimag buildings; talked about current Mongolian legislation relating to accessibility provision for PWDs; and discussed practical ways to measure the accessibility of infrastructure.

In the final part of the training, Mercy Corps assisted in setting up a local team to conduct a baseline survey, consisting of PWDs, PWD care givers, DPOs and Public Organization representatives in each aimag. The local team will conduct a baseline survey on accessibility, inclusive education and concerns raised by PWDs in accordance with guideline developed by Mercy Corps.

Future Events

Completion of baseline survey in the aimags;
Training on UN Convention and Social Model of Disability in the aimags;
Mentoring and the provision of technical assistance for DPOs on organization capacity building;
Participation and Advocacy training for PWDs and DPOs in the aimags;
Issue Call for Proposal for small grants at the aimag level.