Building the Capacity of Ecuadorian DPOs
Grantee: National Federation of Ecuadorians with Physical Disabilities (FENEDIF)
Location: Quito, Ecuador
Grant Amount: $7,500
Project Dates: November 2007 - April 2008
Project Title: Technical Assistance and Best Practices in Inclusive Development
Project Details: MIUSA partnered with FENEDIF to establish priorities, identify key stakeholders and plan and coordinate field visits in Ecuador. With this capacity building grant, FENEDIF staff were able to provide technical assistance to USAID partner development agencies, local DPOs and regional DPOs in Ecuador, El Salvador and Guatemala. FENEDIF also provided technical assistance to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal to facilitate the right to vote for people with disabilities. FENEDIF also participated in a conference on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Results:
- Contacted DPOs in Guatemala, such as COPDIGUA and ASCATED, to provide training and support on labor insertion and the impact of defining public policy, especially in education, and the importance of serving PWDs in Guatemala.
- 100 members of civil society participated in conference the on Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by sharing their experiences on inclusion in their field of work.
- The New Ecuadorian Constitution was approved through national vote, which included the proposals of FENEDIF. The Vice President issued an Executive Order to declare the United Nations Convention on Disability a Government Policy and the President declared the disability sector in a "State of Emergency".
- Developed best practice tools and materials on inclusive development.
- Formed a group of youth with disabilities to promote inclusive development.
- Two members of the women’s commission of FENEDIF attended the First Regional Meeting of Women Leaders with Disabilities held in the Dominican Republic.
