Sponsored by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), MIUSA serves as a bridge to promote inclusion and bring together disability and development organizations. MIUSA has provided technical assistance and resources to disabled people’s organizations (DPOs) and development agencies worldwide through the Building an Inclusive Development Community (BIDC) project.

Phase 1:  Technical Assistance for U.S.-based Development Agencies
In the early stages of the BIDC project, MIUSA conducted a survey on inclusion of women with disabilities among InterAction member, U.S.-based development agencies. Based on the survey findings, MIUSA worked directly with five partner organizations - MercyCorps, American Friends Service Committee, Church World Service, Holt International Children’s Services, and Trickle Up. From headquarters to local field offices, MIUSA assisted partner organizations in implementing action plans and policies on gender and disability inclusion.

Phase 2: Country Specific Technical Assistance
Building on the success of MIUSA’s work with U.S.-based development agencies, MIUSA initiated a second phase of the project. This phase shifted focus to country specific, field-based technical assistance for USAID Missions and implementing partners, and DPOs.

In each country, MIUSA partners with a leading DPO to establish priorities, identify key stakeholders and coordinate field visits.  As part of MIUSA and USAID’s commitment to investing in local resources, MIUSA also conducts a small grants competition. The small grants support partnerships between DPOs and development agencies, and promote capacity-building for DPOs to participate in development.

Following MIUSA’s technical assistance field visits, disability organizations, development organizations and the USAID Missions in each country have taken significant steps towards a coordinated and comprehensive approach for inclusive development.

MIUSA's BIDC target countries:

Africa

• Mali
• Ethiopia

Europe

• Albania

Latin America

• Colombia
• Ecuador
• Guatemala

 Books, Publications, Resources

• MIUSA’s 658-page publication, Building an Inclusive Development Community, is a manual for including people with disabilities as part of the international development agenda.  Filled with expert opinions, techniques and guidelines, the book covers a diverse range of topics including domestic violence, micro finance, inclusive education, gender and disability, and disaster relief. Order a copy.

MIUSA’s free online publication, Moving Towards Inclusion: Stories of People with Disabilities in International Development, highlights success stories and lessons learned in the field about including people with disabilities in international development. Read Moving Towards Inclusion online.