This is an AHRC-funded research network led by Prof. Dan Jackson (PI), Dr. Catalin Brylla (Co-I), Mike Sunderland (Co-), Filippo Trevisan (CoI-I) and Blaise Murphet (Project Manager). The full project website can be found here.
Working through Action on Disability and Development’s (ADD) Young Leaders programme and utilising the knowledge, expertise and networks of our partners, this project equips a new generation of disability activists in East Africa with the tools, skills, and resources required to build powerful movements for change. This centres around a programme of knowledge exchange between:
- young East African disability activists working in Tanzania and Uganda
- researchers and academics from across the world
- international campaigning organisations and organisations of persons with disabilities
The programme enables disability activists to:
- influence governments, international development actors, and the private sector to adopt practices and design policies and services, at a local, national, and global level, which consider the needs of disabled people
- challenge the stigma of disability through developing public voice and influencing media outlets to increase and improve the representation of disabled people.
Through networking we fuse academic research with practice in the fields of disability studies, political science, policy, education, advocacy, communication, arts and media, creating a network that is research-informed, but also action-oriented. Importantly, we map existing models of East African disability advocacy, help document emergent ones, and capture lived experiences in this area. These are then put into conversation with existing knowledge of disability advocacy research to advance knowledge. Further, we share practices and strengthen the collective voice, to create a visibility and circular dynamic to create change.
The project includes the following activities:
- A four-day Festival of Disability Advocacy (day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4) featuring capacity building and knowledge exchange workshops to connect international partners with grassroots disability activists in East Africa. Held in April 2023, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
- A programme of online knowledge exchange and networking events led by disability activists, academics, international campaigning organisations, and organisations of persons with disabilities.
- The development of a series of advocacy campaigns, led by youth disability activists with support from the network, that advance disability rights and challenge stigma in East Africa.
- Informed by the previous activities, the development of training materials, case studies and campaigning toolkits that can be used by disability activists across the world.
- The establishment of an interdisciplinary and international network for the study and practice of disability advocacy.
These activities aim to promote cross-cultural exchange and partnership between disability advocates, academics and other key stakeholders. Thus, while the initial focus is on the East Africa region, through the networking events and campaigns we will share knowledge, approaches and experience and connect these to broader global networks.
For more information, visit the project’s website.