The Coalition of Associations of Persons with Disabilities of Burkina Faso launches a project to promote the CRPD in local institutions

On 27 May, the Coalition of Associations of Persons with Disabilities (CNAPH), one of the three national organisations/federations, benefiting of the grants’ scheme for Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) of Bridging the Gap in Burkina Faso, launched the project “Promoting an inclusive development in the central region on the bases of article 4 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD)” at an event held at the Pensioners’ Home Antoine NANGA in Ouagadougou.

The event was attended by the representative of the National Intersectoral Council for the Protection and Promotion of Persons with Disability (SP/COMUD/Handicap), Heads of districts’ elementary schools, the Head of the University Hospital of Bogodogo, the representative of the Mayor’s office and representatives from organisations of persons with disabilities.

The project Bridging the Gap and its implementation agency of the project in Burkina Faso, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), were represented by Mme Adiara Dao, who remembered the central role of the OPDs in the adoption of the Convention. All necessary COVID-19 prevention measures (masks, gel and physical distancing) were taken to ensure the safety of participants.

Over nine months, this project will conduct advocacy activities to promote the CRPD and local laws and decrees for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in local institutions so that Ouagadougou‘s plans can take into account the needs of persons with disabilities.

The activities included in this project are three exchange meetings on article 4 of the CRPD; four participatory workshops to identify needs and develop strategies to take OPDs into account in the provision of public services; the production of 200 educational summary documents and 450 information posters for awareness-raising; four technical orientation sessions with eighteen municipalities, eighteen basic education districts and eighteen heads of medical centres and social action services; two bodies to plan and validate the stages and results of the project; three animation sessions; and four awareness-raising sessions.

In order to strengthen its skills for better project implementation, the Coalition will work with FEBAH (Federation of Burkina Faso of Association of Persons with Disability) and UNAFEHB (National Union of Women with Disability) and will use the expertise of the technicians of the Ministry of Women, National Solidarity, the Family and Humanitarian Action.