Humanity & Inclusion (formerly Handicap International)

Co-recipient of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize, Handicap International (HI) is an independent charity working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. The organisation works alongside disabled and vulnerable people to help meet their basic needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights. In 2015, HI supported 26 countries, two regional and four global programmes. Those projects covered a range of focus areas, including emergency relief, demining, rehabilitation and inclusive education. Regionally, these HI efforts were active across the Middle East, South America, South Asia, Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Through partnership with EAC, HI will focus on the most marginalised children, particularly those with disabilities, excluded from primary education in Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. The ‘Towards a Universal Access for Vulnerable Girls and Boys to a Quality Primary Education’ initiative will employ a two-pronged approach to project interventions aiming to help OOSC overcome the obstacles to their schooling. The project will: 1) establish multi-sector care for targeted children via strengthened links between stakeholders associated with school (health, education, social, community and parents); and 2) create ‘bridge’ mechanisms that offer education adapted to children’s specific needs and support the children’s inclusion in mainstream schools. Moreover, the project will build the capacities of key MOE staff to design inclusive education systems, make the current schooling models more inclusive and advocate to keep the issue of OOSC at the top of the regional agenda, especially in relation to children with disabilities.

The project’s sustainability strategy comprises working through demand and supply-side dynamics. In that sense, the HI initiative seeks to stimulate demand for countries to achieve EFA targets and build their capacity to implement the appropriate policy changes at institutional levels. Regarding demand, HI will mobilise parents, civil society organisations and parent associations to promote inclusion of all children. As for supply, HI will work with multiple stakeholders to identify the most cost-effective means to achieve inclusion and engage in dialogue with communities and education authorities to find durable solutions. Furthermore, the sustainability and continuity of project interventions will rest on undertaking measures that develop the skills and capacity of NGO and institutional partners to conduct and coordinate inclusive educational actions.

For more information about this EAC Implementing Partner, please visit the Handicap International website.