The Tanzania Federation of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (SHIVYAWATA) brought together representatives of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) for a review and validation session of data-collection tools for the Inclusion for Climate Resilience in Tanzania and Zimbabwe project.
The session aimed to ensure that the tools to be used during the project’s baseline exercise are inclusive, relevant and reflective of the lived experiences of persons with different types of disabilities.
During the meeting, participants were introduced to the project and its focus on strengthening the resilience of persons with disabilities to climate change and ensuring their meaningful participation in climate change and disaster risk reduction (DRR) processes.
OPD representatives had an opportunity to review the data-collection tools and provide comments and recommendations based on their experiences and the realities faced by persons with disabilities in their communities.
The baseline and mapping exercise will generate important evidence on the current situation, including the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in relation to climate change and disasters, their participation in climate and DRR processes, and existing policies, programmes and opportunities for disability inclusion.
The information generated through the exercise will contribute to the project’s broader efforts to strengthen evidence-based advocacy and promote disability-inclusive climate policies and practices.
The participation of OPDs in reviewing the tools reflects the project’s commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities are not only beneficiaries, but active participants in shaping interventions that affect their lives.
“Nothing about persons with disabilities without the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities.”