Ongoing
May 2025 -
Present
The Zambia Association on Employment for Persons with Disabilities (ZAEPD) is privileged to be part of the recently launched Five (5) year project dubbed “The Collective Action for Disability Rights (CADIR)” with support from the Norwegian Association of Disabled (NAD). The project is comprised of Eight (8) Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) operating together as a consortium with the primary focus on Inclusive Education, Human Rights Advocacy, Economic Empowerment, Organizational Development as well as Climate Action thematic areas.
The Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the CADIR project are namely, Norwegian Association of Disabled (NAD), Zambia Federation of Disability Organizations (ZAFOD), Disability Rights Watch (DRW), Zambia Association on Employment for Persons with Disabilities (ZAEPD), Archie Hinchcliffe Disability Intervention (AHDI), Zambia Association for Parents and Children with Disabilities (ZAPCD), Bauleni Special Needs Project (BSNP) and Papaya Kay Foundation (PKF). The colorful project launch was graced by Hon. Doreen Mwamba, the Minister of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS) and her presence at the event signified the Government of Republic of Zambia’s commitment towards uplifting the welfare of the persons with disabilities in the country. Present also at the launch were the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) the mother body agency, Directors from other Ministries and agencies like the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) and media houses who covered the event.
The CADIR project will run from 2025 to 2029, and will be implemented in Lusaka, Central, Southern, Copperbelt, Eastern and Western Provinces of Zambia by the partners. In that regard, the consortium has placed premium emphasis on collaborations among the partners in a bid to strengthen the lobby and advocacy work towards disability rights for persons with disabilities. Additionally, the CADIR project also encourages partners within the consortium to conduct co-joint activities especially in operation areas where they are present and reporting of activities will be done together through the joint Results Framework and other reporting template.
Talking of ZAEPD, the project will be implemented under three thematic areas which include Inclusive Education, Human Rights and Economic Empowerment and to be rolled out in the four (4) districts namely: Lusaka, Rufunsa, Zimba and Shibuyunji. The implementation of the activities in these areas will firstly begin with conducting courtesy calls with duty bearers like the District Commissioners, District Education Board Secretaries (DEBS), Council Secretaries, District Health Directors, Social Welfare, Traditional Leaders and Community Representatives, to mention but a few in a bid to register ZAEPD presence as per protocol and procedure. These relevant stakeholders in these districts will play a pivotal role during project implementation and ZAEPD looking forward for more collaboration so that persons with disabilities are included in the mainstream society without leaving anyone behind.
Some of the activities which ZAEPD will conduct include school visitations to identify learners with intellectual disabilities who are ready to undergo vocational skills training, TV and radio programs, Awareness activities through drama performances, Training of Lecturers and Teachers in Inclusive Education, Capacity building trainings of persons with disabilities in Human rights, Lobby and advocacy meetings to advocate for employment of graduates with intellectual and developmental disabilities to mention but a few of the activities.
It can be contended that the Collective Action for Disability Rights Project launch held at the Urban Hotel was a successful story especially having the Minister of Community Development and Social Services gracing the occasion. The highly attended launch presented the roadmap of the five (5) year project and also opportunity for the partners in the consortium to effectively collaborate with relevant stakeholders and foster collective action for disability rights so that no one is left behind in development. As ZAEPD, the implementation of the project is something the office is currently rolling out in a bid to contribute towards uplifting the welfare of persons with disabilities.
The Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the CADIR project are namely, Norwegian Association of Disabled (NAD), Zambia Federation of Disability Organizations (ZAFOD), Disability Rights Watch (DRW), Zambia Association on Employment for Persons with Disabilities (ZAEPD), Archie Hinchcliffe Disability Intervention (AHDI), Zambia Association for Parents and Children with Disabilities (ZAPCD), Bauleni Special Needs Project (BSNP) and Papaya Kay Foundation (PKF). The colorful project launch was graced by Hon. Doreen Mwamba, the Minister of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS) and her presence at the event signified the Government of Republic of Zambia’s commitment towards uplifting the welfare of the persons with disabilities in the country. Present also at the launch were the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) the mother body agency, Directors from other Ministries and agencies like the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) and media houses who covered the event.
The CADIR project will run from 2025 to 2029, and will be implemented in Lusaka, Central, Southern, Copperbelt, Eastern and Western Provinces of Zambia by the partners. In that regard, the consortium has placed premium emphasis on collaborations among the partners in a bid to strengthen the lobby and advocacy work towards disability rights for persons with disabilities. Additionally, the CADIR project also encourages partners within the consortium to conduct co-joint activities especially in operation areas where they are present and reporting of activities will be done together through the joint Results Framework and other reporting template.
Talking of ZAEPD, the project will be implemented under three thematic areas which include Inclusive Education, Human Rights and Economic Empowerment and to be rolled out in the four (4) districts namely: Lusaka, Rufunsa, Zimba and Shibuyunji. The implementation of the activities in these areas will firstly begin with conducting courtesy calls with duty bearers like the District Commissioners, District Education Board Secretaries (DEBS), Council Secretaries, District Health Directors, Social Welfare, Traditional Leaders and Community Representatives, to mention but a few in a bid to register ZAEPD presence as per protocol and procedure. These relevant stakeholders in these districts will play a pivotal role during project implementation and ZAEPD looking forward for more collaboration so that persons with disabilities are included in the mainstream society without leaving anyone behind.
Some of the activities which ZAEPD will conduct include school visitations to identify learners with intellectual disabilities who are ready to undergo vocational skills training, TV and radio programs, Awareness activities through drama performances, Training of Lecturers and Teachers in Inclusive Education, Capacity building trainings of persons with disabilities in Human rights, Lobby and advocacy meetings to advocate for employment of graduates with intellectual and developmental disabilities to mention but a few of the activities.
It can be contended that the Collective Action for Disability Rights Project launch held at the Urban Hotel was a successful story especially having the Minister of Community Development and Social Services gracing the occasion. The highly attended launch presented the roadmap of the five (5) year project and also opportunity for the partners in the consortium to effectively collaborate with relevant stakeholders and foster collective action for disability rights so that no one is left behind in development. As ZAEPD, the implementation of the project is something the office is currently rolling out in a bid to contribute towards uplifting the welfare of persons with disabilities.