The international consensus reached at the UN summit in New York over the weekend represented a milestone: the first time that a global development agenda has acknowledged the needs of people with disabilities. This promises to improve the lives of 1 billion people, many of who are among the poorest on the planet.
International governments have now committed to promote educational and employment inclusion for everyone by 2030 – and to provide the disability-friendly work environments, training, schools and other resources that are necessary for this to be achieved.
Leonard Cheshire Disability has been working to address this inequality for decades. Our charity works globally to help people with disabilities live independently, support their families and contribute to their communities.
In Zimbabwe, for example, we are supporting 1,600 job seekers with disabilities to start their own business.
Eustine Manjovha, a 35-year-old with a physical disability caused by polio, is one of those who came to hear of our livelihoods project in the southern African nation. After some initial careers guidance, we arranged for her to take part in a training scheme to develop the skills needed to manufacture a range of electrical gadgets. She is now getting a monthly income via this scheme.
“I will now own my house and be able to work without begging from others,” she says. “This has brought me so much happiness.”
Training has been given to Eustine’s compatriots in electronics, plumbing, small animal husbandry, detergent manufacture and other skills that will help them to establish their own sustainable businesses.
Leonard Cheshire Disability tests models of inclusion like these in Zimbabwe to pave the way for larger programmes by local and national governments.
David Cameron repeated the UK government’s commitment to “leave no one behind” at the UN Summit this weekend where the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were agreed. The UK must now urge others to follow its leadership; to secure a thriving economy by scaling up proven models of inclusion.
A very good place to start would be for the UK to convene a high-level donor meeting. At this, international governments, foundations, multilateral organisations and civil society could plan and commit the necessary time, resources and energy to deliver practical change for people with disabilities.
It will be equally essential for the data collected to measure progress towards achieving the 2015-2030 goals to reflect the ambition of this new global development agenda. The Leonard Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Research Centre is helping to shape global thinking on how to monitor the SDGs. The Centre’s Professor Nora Groce says the SDGs “offer hope for millions”. This is true, however the steps taken this weekend merely represent a beginning.
We need the UK government and others to get to work to implement programmes and secure funding that will achieve inclusivity for all. If not, our best opportunity yet to ensure people with disabilities are counted and count will be missed.
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