- Disability Rights
The East Africa Disability Fund awards £2.1 million of funding to six organisations
£2.1 million worth of funding recently awarded to voluntary sector organisations ADD International, CBM, Light for the World, Motivation, Sense International and Sightsavers, through the East Africa Disability Fund will help support disabled people in Tanzania and Uganda to develop skills and access resources. The disability inclusion specialists will focus on enabling people to improve their livelihoods – and develop the strengths of individuals they work with to help them design and deliver a positive change for themselves and their community.
Big Lottery Fund, which distributes this funding from the National Lottery, has worked with experts and other funders such as the Department for International Development (DFID), BOND and Comic Relief to develop its new international funding approach.
To maximise the impact of National Lottery funding and build upon its learning, this year, Big Lottery Fund’s international funding will concentrate on supporting disabled people in a small number of countries. It anticipates allocating around £4 million of funding for 2018/19 and its core focus will be on empowering people to shape solutions on issues which are important to them. Through this programme, the Fund aims to inspire civil society with ideas from communities around the world and the lessons they have learned.
Underlining the common commitment of all the voluntary sector organizations involved, Tom Shakespeare, UK Chairman of Light for the World, said:“ We believe in partnerships and joining forces to achieve the same goal: leaving no one behind. Together with Big Lottery Fund and the other international and local partners involved, we look forward to working alongside people with disabilities in Uganda and Tanzania, so they can lead more independent and fulfilling lives.”
