Workshop Report: The role of DPOs in International CooperationMonday 3rd of June 2019, 9.00- 17.30, Brussels

Facilitated by: Mark Harrison

ContentsWorkshop Report: The role of DPOs in International Cooperation..........................................1

Introduction..............................................................................................................................2

Context of Workshop................................................................................................................2

Disability and development cooperation – history, successes, challenges and opportunities..............................................................................................................................................3

Guidance Note......................................................................................................................3

The Workshop - Session 1 DPO to DPO cooperation.............................................................5

DPO – DPO Cooperation – What Worked and Why?..........................................................5

Lessons Learned..................................................................................................................6

The Workshop – Session 2 Opportunities for DPO- DPO cooperation....................................6

What are the opportunities for DPOs in Europe to work with DPOs in the Global South?...6

What values and principles should guide best practice?......................................................7

What is the unique role of DPOs in disability and development cooperation?.....................7

What is the role of Organisations for Disabled People and non-disabled allies?.................7

The Workshop – Session 3 – Challenges................................................................................8

What are the challenges for DPOs in Europe when working with DPOs in the Global South?..................................................................................................................................8

What are the keys to success?.............................................................................................9

How do we address equality and diversity issues?..............................................................9

The Workshop – Session 4- why and how to meaningfully involved DPOs in international cooperation............................................................................................................................10

Why and how donors, Government agencies, INGOs, disability NGOs should meaningfully involve and support DPOs in Europe to engage in disability and development cooperation in the South?......................................................................................................................10

Ways to include persons with disabilities/DPOs.................................................................11

What support, infrastructure, resources, and training do DPOs in Europe need to engage in disability and development cooperation?........................................................................11

Messages from today’s workshop..........................................................................................12

Next steps..............................................................................................................................14

Appendix 1 – CRPD Definitions of DPOs from General Comment 7....................................16

Appendix 2 – Workshop Agenda............................................................................................19

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Appendix 3 – List of Participants............................................................................................21

Appendix 4 – Letter to Participants........................................................................................23

IntroductionThis workshop was commissioned by EDF as an opportunity for representatives of individual organisations of disabled people (DPOs), networks and coalitions in Europe to shape the agenda for disability and development cooperation. EDF has recently adopted a new Strategy for International Cooperation titled “EDF in the World”, and one of its objectives is to promote the role of DPOs in International Cooperation. This year, EDF will produce a Guidance Note on the role of DPOs in International Cooperation and the purpose of this workshop was to discuss this topic in detail with EDF’s members and partners active in this field. The workshop enabled the meaningful involvement of DPOs and allies in Europe to share experiences of international cooperation – both good and bad practices – and draw out lessons for ourselves, our governments and international development donors and INGO communities.

The global legal framework has given extensive attention to the rights of persons with disabilities across the last two decades. This would not have happened without considerable efforts on the part of DPOs. Their rooted slogan “Nothing About Us Without Us” was used as a rallying cry to the UN CRPD declared in 2006 to motivate Governments to engage representative DPOs in development cooperation. Their voices and activism supporting the mainstreaming of their rights as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, achieving these goals is not possible without bringing disabled people into the heart of the development agenda. The UN CRPD requires Government’s to engage representatives of DPOs in development cooperation.

Funding for the workshop, research and Guidance Note was provided by Sightsavers as part of the DFID funded Disability Inclusive Development (DID) programme.

Context of WorkshopIn its strategy for International Cooperation ‘EDF in the World’, EDF aims to promote the engagement of DPOs in international cooperation. Their objective is that persons with disabilities and European DPOs are actively engaged in international cooperation, not just as beneficiaries but also as experts.

The CRPD Article 32 (international cooperation) outlines the measures states’ parties must take to fulfil their obligations regarding international cooperation.

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General Comment 7 on articles 4 (3) and 33 (3), relating to the consultation and involvement of persons with disabilities, clarifies what the CRPD Committee expects in terms of meaningful involvement of DPOs. DPOs have a similar nature around the world, as described in the General Comment, with different sizes and mandates, and different levels of resources. However, the capacity of peer-to-peer learning between DPOs should be enhanced.

EDF believes that the role of DPOs in international cooperation is not understood well enough by many governments, development, or humanitarian agencies, development NGOs, and DPOs in general. Whereas there is a range of good practice demonstrating DPO involvement at all levels of development cooperation, from grass roots to policy, it is not well documented. We are sometimes told that DPOs cannot be involved because they do not have the operational capacity to ‘do development’.

EDF proposes to bridge this knowledge gap. This workshop explored ways in which all the stakeholders can support the engagement of DPOs in disability and development cooperation.

Disability and development cooperation – history, successes, challenges and opportunitiesThere is a long history of European DPOs’ involvement in development cooperation with DPOs in the global South. The workshop explored the history, experiences and lessons from this work and the following is a record of the rich learning taken from these activities. This is an authentic account based on a diverse range of experiences across the continent. There is a real contrast between the relatively well resourced and strategic engagement of DPOs in Scandinavia to the project led approaches in Italy and Spain. While this is the case, the reported good practice of the latter stated that the financial instability is not the greatest challenge that they face but rather, their inability to sustain their resources and, in some positions, to plan their future activities. The experiences of DPOs in the Baltic States working with some of the Eastern countries of the former Soviet Union were shared. In the UK, which has a significant commitment to disability and development cooperation, DPOs have experienced exclusion from development cooperation dialogue and implementation; across Europe, the engagement of DPOs is more patchy and inconsistent with significant good practices in the Nordic countries and Spain- this will be elaborated more in the forthcoming Guidance Note.

Guidance Note The following record from the workshop forms one part of a Guidance Note drawn from DPOs and allies’ experiences of DPO to DPO cooperation between Europe and the global South. The guidance note is based on the experience of European DPOs and their partners. Based on EDF and its members’ experiences, it is not limited to the role of European DPOs, but aims to give guidance in general of the unique role

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that DPOs can and do play - as representatives of persons with disabilities in all their diversity, in Europe and partners countries, at the national, regional and international level. The guidance note is targeted at development agencies and development organisations, in order to illustrate to them why and how they should meaningfully involve DPOs in their international cooperation work.

It is intended to also be a ‘call to action’, to inspire stakeholders who are committed to disability inclusion to make this a priority for their work.

For a definition of DPOs please see the description from the CRPD general comment 7, to be found in Appendix 1.

UN CRPD Article 32 - International Cooperation

 1. States Parties recognize the importance of international cooperation and its promotion, in support of national efforts for the realization of the purpose and objectives of the present Convention, and will undertake appropriate and effective measures in this regard, between and among States and, as appropriate, in partnership with relevant international and regional organizations and civil society, in particular organizations of persons with disabilities. Such measures could include, inter alia:

a) Ensuring that international cooperation, including international development programmes, is inclusive of and accessible to persons with disabilities;

b) Facilitating and supporting capacity-building, including through the exchange and sharing of information, experiences, training programmes and best practices;

c) Facilitating cooperation in research and access to scientific and technical knowledge;

d) Providing, as appropriate, technical and economic assistance, including by facilitating access to and sharing of accessible and assistive technologies, and through the transfer of technologies.

2. The provisions of this article are without prejudice to the obligations of each State Party to fulfil its obligations under the present Convention.

General Comment 7 – Why DPOs Must Be Involved in Disability and Development Cooperation

1. When deciding upon and implementing international cooperation (art. 32), a close partnership, cooperation and involvement of persons with disabilities, through DPOs/OPDs, is crucial to adopt development policies that are in line with the Convention. This means including its principles and values in all international cooperation policies, programmes, and initiatives, and mainstreaming the rights and views of persons with disabilities in implementing and national monitoring in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as the Sendai

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Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030. DPOs/OPDs should be consulted and involved at every level of development, implementation and monitoring of international cooperation plans, programmes and projects. (emphasis added)

The Workshop - Session 1 DPO to DPO cooperationThe workshop began with participants explaining why DPO to DPO cooperation between Europe and the Global South is so important in achieving the SDGs and how it can be achieved. The duty is on European Governments and development agencies to engage and resource their domestic DPOs to work with their sister organisations in the Global South:

DPO – DPO Cooperation – What Worked and Why? Projects which directly build capacity of the DPOs to meet the needs of their

members – through strengthening DPOs so individuals see the value of membership/joining a DPO, which increases membership, and therefore legitimacy

DPO to DPO partnership – based on same values and shared lived experience National DPO Umbrella organisation in global North to National DPO federation

in the Global South Long term mutual, trustful partnerships Value of professional DEVCO organisations partnering with DPOs European Network on Independent Living (ENIL) exchange with DPOs in South –

success- but costs/impact considered low by donors- these are hard to finance DPOs working with similar groups in South – single/cross impairment When persons with disabilities and DPOs active subjects not passive objects Working with the national organisations and grassroots DPOs Works better when DPOs set the agenda and objectives not the funders Direct funding to DPOs NGOs helping DPOs make the cooperation applications for funding Funding to the umbrella DPO as a grant manager Variety of size and scale of funding based on capacity of DPOs- it is ideal when a

range of support mechanisms are possible Small scale funds to stimulate small DPOs to engage Norway Association of Disabled (NAD) Youth 2 Youth Initiative Malawi NAD – membership solidarity, activist engagement activities Builds the legitimacy of the aid programme to the public Thematic cooperation – employment, services, etc – in policies, politics, projects Transferring the tools Danish People’s Organisation Denmark (DPOD) – inviting Ministers to

organisation to see activities and build their knowledge-

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Danish Association of the Blind (DAB) – film on their work in Myanmar shown to all DPOD members so they get exposure to this work

CBM – work with DFAT (Australia’s Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade) linking with DPOs e.g., direct funding to Pacific Forum of Disabled People over long term

Lessons Learned Tokenistic approaches to involve DPOs in programme implementation do not

work Expectations on project deliverables (may) move priorities/focus – can be

overwhelming Support offered not matching support wanted – importance of

coproduction/participative design with upstream engagement of DPOs in North and South- sometimes donors or international actors already approach DPOs with a clear idea of what they want to fund, and DPOs must align to get funds

Disability specific indicators are important Caution on supporting disability specific /impairment specific DPO and not

including supporting the federation

The Workshop – Session 2 Opportunities for DPO- DPO cooperation

What are the opportunities for DPOs in Europe to work with DPOs in the Global South?

Use international treaties, political/policy frameworks such as the CRPD, SDGs, Leave

No-one Behind, EU Africa strategy

EDF - regional structures like EDF exist to advocate to other regional integration

organisations (peer to peer possibilities)

Disability priority in development cooperation/SDGs

Key connection between 80 million disabled people in Europe with 800 million persons

with disabilities in global South based on shared lived experience

DPOs in Europe engaging with mainstream NGOs to implement projects with country

based DPOs

Peer support – North/South, South/North, South/South and in-country

Mutual learning, knowledge, experience – experts by experience

European DPOs have unique experience and practice to offer to create sustainable and

lasting development/change

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Mobilise advocacy for disability rights in North and South

DPOs are stronger if joined in networks

Create advisory/development arm for European governments to engage with and to

deliver projects in South e.g. Abilis in Finland

What values and principles should guide best practice? Nothing about us, without us

Solidarity and reciprocity

Peer to peer support

Participatory approach – innovation

Coproduction/co-design – be seen as professional

Inclusive, across impairments, gender, age, etc.

Lived experience – from disabled people’s eyes/perspectives

Equity/mutuality with DPOs from South

Mutual respect

What is the unique role of DPOs in disability and development cooperation? Added value – lived experience

Respectful – human rights approach

Sharing experiences of campaigning/advocating for inclusion/equal rights

Peer advocacy

Sustainability – reach in own communities based on self-advocacy/direction

Persons with disabilities/DPOs created UN CRPD

Creating innovation from lived experience

What is the role of Organisations for Disabled People and non-disabled allies?The role of INGOs and disability specific organisations that are not run and

controlled by persons with disabilities was examined by participants. Some examples

of good practice are emerging (which can be elaborated more in the Guidance Note).

Help with due diligence – sharing documents, policies, approaches, etc. Resources and contacts Door opening and local contacts Augment DPO voices on CRPD compliant policies Support, not replace

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Use entry points with governments to urge them to engage in meaningful dialogue with DPOs

Community Based Rehabilitation – allies in promoting equal rights – parents/carers – empowered

Give power beyond consultation Connector- using their contacts and networks to engage DPOs with international

organisations, government etc Invite DPOs into programmes to participate meaningfully Provision of reason results in funding for access, reasonable accommodation,

etc.

The Workshop – Session 3 – Challenges

What are the challenges for DPOs in Europe when working with DPOs in the Global South?Participants examined the complexities and challenges for DPOs in Europe when

engaging with their counterparts in the global South. There was a diversity of

experience to draw on to enable the discussion:

Development cooperation is not easy in general – e.g. infrastructure, knowledge,

standards, language, culture, sustainability

DPOs may not have capacity to be grant holders but should be partners and

have a meaningful role

Need to be clear about roles in partnership projects

Finding good INGO partners – respecting the role of DPOs – needs to be clear

for partnership working

Lack of time/resources/capacity of DPOs in Europe to engage in development

cooperation

Understanding culturally appropriate approaches with DPOs in context and

systems in the South

Knowledge of disability movement in South – who is who? Who to work with? Get

information from difference sources, build partnership over long period.

Understand political environment.

Funding to engage, build capacity

Activating membership and thinking outside the box

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Not being aware of the project and initiatives conducted by DPOs and coalitions

in the Global South

Do not have a clear needs assessment or required support by DPOs from the

Global South, which will result in either repeating the same initiative conducted by

others or wasting resources that could be used to support other DPOs

What are the keys to success? Commit DPO leadership to long-term engagement

Challenging stereotypes

Bringing together experience of campaigners from both North and South

Manage expectations/promises – focus on making a success of smaller projects

first, and commit resources appropriately

Joint ownership and trust

Engage wider membership in Southern DPOs

Learn from each other

Plan time to work out how to work together

Potential allies can remove divisions if they are committed to equal partnership

and do know DPO movement

Learn from experience on building organisations/movements within DPO

movement

Sometimes start small – don’t over-reach

Bigger development organisations can support DPOs by sub-granting/making

accessible small funds but on DPO priorities

How do we address equality and diversity issues? Ensure Northern DPOs are representative/diverse

Develop common understandings of equality/diversity

Provide accessible means for everybody to participate

Be aware of difference/privileges to see who is not represented

See diversity as multi-dimensional – impairment, gender, age, rural/urban, etc.

Develop understanding of intersectionality

Go the extra mile to reach groups not represented

Develop formal co-operations with specific and under-represented groups

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The Workshop – Session 4- why and how to meaningfully involved DPOs in international cooperation

Why and how donors, Government agencies, INGOs, disability NGOs should meaningfully involve and support DPOs in Europe to engage in disability and development cooperation in the South?

Participants drew on their experiences as well as European and UN policy

frameworks, outlined above to map how and why upstream engagement and co-

production with DPOs across Europe is so important in disability and development

cooperation:

Solidarity

Collective experience

Help increase public support of overseas development aid

Coherent approach to CRPD

Implement European Disability Strategy section on International Cooperation

Legitimacy

Global application of inclusive development

Equality obligations/legislative coherence

Particular expertise

Accountability (mechanisms)

Innovation

DPOs lobby for development assistance that is inclusive

DPOs both South and North to be involved in evaluation/evaluating interventions

Incentivise greater inclusion

Explicit inclusion in objectives and strategies of policies and programmes

Genuine partnerships

Appropriate funding envelopes and mechanisms

Engagement throughout the cycle – not use DPOs as ‘bid candy’ then abandon

Coordination and sharing experiences

Including human resources with disability expertise and respective designation in

sector teams

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Ways to include persons with disabilities/DPOs Include specific DPO lots and envelopes in disability and development

programmes

DPOs and activists should be involved during all project design stages, starting

from writing the proposal all the way through implementation. Their voice must

be heard during any policy consultation process.

Objectives/deliverables – specific on DPOs

Indicators and data

Disability equality training for people joining the sector delivered by DPOs

Pool of experts by experience

Model partnership agreements between INGOs and DPOs

What support, infrastructure, resources, and training do DPOs in Europe need to engage in disability and development cooperation? Positive discrimination

Demand real participation – budgets, delivery, targets, capacity

Identify donor champions

Real partnerships and alliances that benefit DPOs

Support with tools, guidance documents, etc.

Be clear in tenders/bids what’s needed in concrete terms to be a partner – costs,

resources, involvement, governance

Find ways to engage on technology that’s sustainable and affordable

Ensure sustainability – experience of organising a DPO a prerequisite

DPOs need to be supported/maintained domestically to be able to play a role

internationally in disability and development cooperation

To be trained on disability social model and UN CRPD

Mechanisms to advocate their rights with a reliance on UN CRPD, SDGs, and

other existing national and global frameworks

Exchanging visits between both DPOs in the Global North and the Global South

to share project outcomes and exchange experience

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Messages from today’s workshop

Messages for ourselves

Collaboration

Allocate budgets to DPOs as priority and find mechanisms for financing which

also support the building of DPOs’ own capacity

Keeping up contacts with DPOs which you have, that they do not disappear-

building and maintaining relationships over time

The importance of diversity, unity and networking

Universality of the lived experience and CRPD

Different backgrounds and perspectives are a reality

Creating time on EDF agendas and meetings, inviting DPOs from the South,

training, building this into the main work of EDF

Think long-term and mutual ownership

Diversifying contacts

Put ourselves out there- show ourselves as partners, try new things, be

courageous- apply for new things, show that we are a credible good partner in

development – with our own unique role

Strengthen domestic cooperation between NGOs and DPOs domestically in

Europe to be Improve accountability (in some countries there are disability and

development networks which include DPOs and non-DPOs but this is not the

norm right now

Look for concrete shared partnerships

Ensure international elements are included in our work on the CRPD, monitoring,

disability strategies, etc.

Messages for our governments

To be compliant with your own commitments under the CRPD and the SDGs.

You should engage with DPOs, build capacity

You need to understand the difference between organisations for and of persons

with disabilities

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If you are committed to the SDGs you need to take leaving no-one behind

seriously

Nothing about us without us

Look at the CRPD comprehensively- at the domestic and also international

dimensions together

All of your buildings and facilities need to be accessible so that you can welcome

and work with organisations of persons with disabilities, as well as events and

meetings

DPOs are part of civil society in general and all matters of development concern

them- but there is also a unique role for DPOs in all work on the CRPD

Messages for donors and development agencies

Here we have an example of how to do it- thank you and please share and

continue

If you truly want to build capacity of DPOs then do things differently- reach out

and discuss this topic with DPOs, invest in their capacity- avoid tokenism- co-

design and participation

In what you invest in bilateral and multilateral aid you should ensure that persons

with disabilities are fully included- you need to ask governments to do this in line

with their CRPD obligations

Work together in GLAD to build skills and approaches on disability inclusive

development

Do not embark on disability inclusive development without DPOs, the costs are

too high

Do not fund the export of bad practices from your country- outdated practices

such as segregation, coercive treatment, inaccessible infrastructures,

communications, ICT, etc.

All your staff should have a minimum of knowledge on the CRPD

Messages for International development organisations and disability NGOs

Engage with domestic DPOs in your home country

DPOs are capable partners to work, so work with them

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Employ persons with disabilities in your country and in your programmes

Go to DPOs to find out their priorities and invest in their capacity- in planning

projects together, ensure activities build the capacity of DPOs (including own

funds for this when needed)

Do not talk on behalf of persons with disabilities – advocate together but not on

behalf of

It will be important to have disability equality trainings for all staff

Do not invest in institutions, segregated facilities but in progressive, inclusive

community based, persons centred initiatives

Your organisation should also understand the full obligations of the CRPD, not

only Article 32, or 11

Next stepsThe participants, facilitator and EDF staff discussed immediate next steps and concluded:

DPOs from the South should be included in all the upcoming work in this area-

EDF will foresee this in future project applications

A focus needs to be on organisational capacity of DPOs everywhere- and

investing in capacity development through peer to peer exchange should be a

priority

Everyone agreed to have their emails shared and to receive comments on the

report

Those interested can join the EDF email expert group on International

Cooperation (managed by Marion.steff@edf-feph.org)

Mostafa Attia will follow-up individually with EDF members and participants to

document best practices for the upcoming Guidance Note- participants will also

get to review the guidance note

EDF needs to ensure this topic remains central to its work, to contribute to

strengthening the movement globally

Conclusions (for EDF)

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Based on the input from participants, including a number of EDF board members and members of our email expert group, this workshop verified the importance of EDF working on this topic, developing our knowledge base, and disseminating good practices on engagement of DPOs in International Cooperation. The next step is the Guidance note based on EDF and members’ experiences, but it is clear that this is just a first baseline of the kinds of cooperation which presently exists. More research and analysis will be needed to help advise DPOs, government agencies and other donors, the UN and international development organisations on how, and how not to engage with DPOs.

Appendix 1 – CRPD Definitions of DPOs from General Comment 7

1. Definition of ‘representative organisations’

1. The involvement and participation of persons with disabilities through “representative organisations” or in other words disabled persons organisations (DPOs)/organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), is inherent to both articles 4.3 and 33.3. For proper implementation, it is important for States parties and relevant stakeholders to know the definition and the types of organisations of persons with disabilities that often exist.

2. In this general comment the following definitions apply:

(a) Disabled persons organizations (DPOs)/ Organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs): those that are governed, led and directed by persons with disabilities, are comprised by a majority of persons with disabilities

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themselves, and thus are representative of persons with disabilities. Furthermore, a clear majority of their membership is recruited among persons with disabilities. Disabled persons organizations or organizations of persons with disabilities may have some characteristic aspects:

(b) Umbrella organization of persons with disabilities is a DPO/OPD that gathers, coordinates and represents the activities of a number of member organisations, preferably all of which are of persons with different impairments, which promote the accessibility for and inclusion of all persons with disabilities within a State party. As such, an umbrella DPO/OPD can and should ensure the participation of persons with all types of disabilities in the consultation, decision-making and monitoring processes.

(c) Cross disability organizations. Distinction should be made between umbrella organisations and cross-disability organisations. Cross-disability organizations are those organizations representing persons with different kinds of disabilities, while umbrella DPOs/OPDs represent a number of organizations which each represent one or more related disabilities. There is usually only one or perhaps two umbrella DPOs/OPDs in a given State party.

(d) Organizations of self-advocates are composed of and represent persons with intellectual disabilities, autistic persons or persons with psychosocial disabilities. Their establishment, with appropriate, sometimes extensive, support to express their opinions, is indispensable to guarantee their participation in decision-making, monitoring and implementation processes. Such support includes any necessary form of reasonable accommodation. While organizations of parents and relatives of persons requiring support have often played a role in providing such support, it is important to ensure that persons with disabilities are and remain in full control.

(e) Organizations of parents of children with disabilities are key to facilitating, promoting and securing the interests, autonomy and active participation of their children with disabilities and should be included in the consultation, decision-making and monitoring processes.

(f) Organizations of women with disabilities, ensuring the participation of women with disabilities, must also be considered a requisite in consultations addressing specific issues impacting exclusively or disproportionately on women with disabilities, as well as issues related to women in general, such as gender equality policies.

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The Difference between organisations ‘Of’ and ‘For’ Persons with Disabilities:

3. The Committee highlights the importance of distinguishing between organizations “of” persons with disabilities, which are composed of and controlled/led by persons with disabilities, and organizations “for” persons with disabilities, which are any organization established to provide service to and for persons with disabilities. Often, such service providers also take up an advocacy role on behalf of persons with disabilities. However, such practice may not be in line with the Convention because it can result in conflict of interests where these organizations end up advocating for their own gain rather than supporting DPOs/OPDs and their members. States parties should give priority to the views of DPOs/OPDs, composed of and led by persons with disabilities themselves, to ensure that their will and preferences are given priority.1

4. Distinction should also be made between DPOs/OPDs and civil society organizations (CSO). While DPOs/OPDs are part of civil society too, the term CSO in general refers to organisations that can but very often do not meet the definition as DPO/OPD within the Convention. CSOs are very closely related to NGOs and other bodies, including research organisations/institutes, organizations of service providers, families and other stakeholders outside of public and/or State entities who, among others, can have a role to play in monitoring the Convention. In general, neither CSOs nor NGOs should be considered to be DPOs/OPDs.

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Appendix 2 – Workshop Agenda

Workshop: The role of DPOs in International Cooperation

Monday 3rd of June 2019, 9.00- 17.30, Brussels

Speech-to-text and International Sign language is provided

Venue :Thon Hotel EURue de la Loi 75, Brussels, BelgiumRoom: Germany

Moderator: Mark Harrison: mark@socialaction.info EDF coordinator: Lucia D’Arino: lucia.darino@edf-feph.org

Agenda

08:30 – 09:00 Registration of participants

09:00 – 09:30 Introductions and opening remarks

Context– UN CRPD, articles and general comment

Disability and development cooperation – history, successes, challenges and opportunities

Guidance note – create together out of workshop and research/literature review based on our experiences

Workshop will be participative drawing on expertise in the room

09:30 – 11:00 Workshop session 1

Share examples of DPO – DPO Europe/Global South international disability and development cooperation

What worked, what didn’t and why?

What are the lessons we can learn?

11:00 - 11:30 Coffee Break

11:30 – 13:00 Workshop session 2

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What are the opportunities for DPOs in Europe to work with DPOs in the Global South?

What values and principles should guide best practice?

What is the unique role of DPOs in disability and development cooperation?

13:00 – 14:00 Lunch

14:00 – 15:30 Workshop session 3

What are the challenges for DPOs in Europe to work with DPOs in the Global South?

What are the keys to success ? – Do’s and Don’ts for engaging DPOs

How do we address equality and diversity issues?

15:30 – 16:00 Coffee Break

16:00 – 17:30 Workshop session 4

Why and how donors, Government agencies. INGOs, disability NGOs should meaningfully involve and support DPOs in Europe to engage in disability and development cooperation in the South? Examples of good/bad practice

What support, infrastructure, resources, training do DPOs in Europe need to engage in disability and development cooperation?

Messages from today’s workshop for: ourselves/DPOs, our Government’s, our Donors/development agencies, INGOs and disability NGOs

Evaluation and next steps

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Appendix 3 – List of Participants

Participants to the workshop were self-selected from within EDF’s Board, email expert group on international cooperation and through reaching out to DPOs with experience in this field through an open call for good practices on the EDF website.

Organisation Surname NameINTERNATIONAL DISABILITY ALLIANCE ARELLANO ANA LUCIAConsultant Attia MostafaCBM Axelsson CharlotteNorwegian Association of Disabled Bruce ElisabethEDF D'Arino Mancuso LuciaRete italiana disabilità e sviluppo RIDS Griffo GiampieroEuropean Network on Independent Living Hadad NadiaConsultant. Reclaiming Our Futures Alliance - International Committee Harrison MarkLight for the World Hull SarahCBM Keogh MaryDisabled People's Organisations Denmark - DPOD Kristensen Mette MüllerDisabled Peoples Organisations Denmark Løland MonicaEDF Naughton CatherineReclaiming Our Futures Alliance (International Committee) Olafimihan IyiolaDisabled People's Organisations Denmark Olesen ThorkildItalian Association Amici di Raoul Follereau - AIFO Ortali FrancescaWorld of Inclusion Ltd, Rieser RichardCommonwealth Disabled Peoples Forum Rieser RichardEDF Steff MarionEstonian Disabled Peoples Council Joost MeelisDisability Rights UK Mallik KamranEuropean Blind Union Cattani RodolfoEuropean Union of the Deaf Insolera HumbertoSightsavers Trimmel JohannesAbiis Tuomas Tuure

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Berger Velotype Turnage KimberlyEuropean Disability Forum Uldry MarineSign language interpreter Wagenaar GerdinandSign language interpreter Zeviar Lissa

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Appendix 4 – Letter to Participants

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for registering to participate in the EDF workshop: The role of DPOs in International Cooperation and I attach the agenda for the day. This is an exciting opportunity for us as representatives of DPOs in Europe to shape the agenda for disability and development cooperation and the meaningful involvement of DPOs from Europe and the global South.

The sustainable development goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved without bringing disabled people into the heart of the development agenda. The UN CRPD requires Government’s to engage representative organisations of disabled people (DPOs) in development cooperation. The workshop gives us the opportunity to share experiences - both good and bad practice and learn lessons. It will also enable us to look at the opportunities for DPOs in Europe to work with DPOs in the majority world.

One of the outputs from the workshop will be a Guidance Note which will be disseminated to donors, government agencies, INGOs and disability NGOs to encourage them to involve DPOs as equal partners in their disability and development work and meet their duties under the CRPD. It will also help DPOs find ways to engage in development cooperation and share their expertise and build partnerships with DPOs in the South.

The workshop will be participatory and will draw on your experiences. I would be grateful if you could bring examples and case studies from your countries to share.

I look forward to meeting and working with you on 3rd June.

Best wishes

Mark Harrison

Workshop facilitator

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