The DiCoP Training of Trainers (ToT) for Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) focused on strengthening participants’ understanding of how to establish and develop Disability-Inclusive Communities of Practice (DiCoPs). Participants also reviewed the ToT objectives, with emphasis on their transition from workshop participants to prospective trainers and facilitators.

Understanding Disability-Inclusive Communities of Practice

Participants explored the fundamentals of DiCoPs, including their definition, purpose, principles, characteristics and boundaries.

Particular attention was given to meaningful participation by persons with disabilities and OPDs, with discussions focusing on voice, influence, leadership, accessibility and reasonable accommodation.

Building Inclusive DiCoPs

Participants worked through the process of establishing a DiCoP, covering context analysis, purpose, membership, stakeholder mapping and mobilisation.

The sessions also examined governance and roles, including leadership, facilitation, membership responsibilities and accountability. Inclusive design was further explored through consideration of accessibility, gender, different disability constituencies and safeguards for participation.

Turning Knowledge into Practice

Through a regional practicum, participants developed initial DiCoP structures suited to their respective contexts. The practical exercise provided an opportunity to apply the concepts and principles discussed during the training.

A reflection session captured key learning and questions ahead of the final module, which will focus on management, facilitation and roll-out.

The MAP-Wezesha Mtoto activity is implemented by SHIVYAWATA in partnership with BIT — Beyond Inclusion.

Why This Matters

Disability-Inclusive Communities of Practice can create spaces for shared learning, collaboration and collective action. Ensuring that these spaces are accessible and that persons with disabilities and OPDs have meaningful voice, influence and leadership is central to building inclusive approaches that respond to diverse experiences and priorities.

SHIVYAWATA officially opened the Disability-Inclusive Communities of Practice (DiCoP) workshop for Partner Organisations (POs) and Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) on 2 September 2026 in Dodoma under the MAP-Wezesha Mtoto initiative.

The opening sessions provided an opportunity for an official welcome, leadership introductions and remarks that set the tone for partnership, shared learning and disability-inclusive action.

Reflecting on Progress and Strengthening Collective Advocacy

Participants reviewed progress in implementing the National Advocacy Strategy, reflecting on achievements, challenges, lessons learned and remaining gaps.

The discussions then moved from reflection towards identifying priority collective actions. This process reinforced the importance of coordinated advocacy informed and led by the voices and experiences of persons with disabilities.

By bringing Partner Organisations and OPDs together, the workshop created space for participants to exchange experiences, strengthen collaboration and identify shared priorities for advancing disability inclusion.

Strengthening Collaboration and Opportunities for Collective Action

The afternoon sessions focused on the IMARISHA Grant Application Clinic, where participants worked on grant applications, clarified outstanding issues and explored opportunities for zonal co-creation and co-applications.

The session provided an opportunity for participants to consider how collaboration can strengthen access to opportunities and support collective action across different areas.

The day concluded with the “Why DiCoP?” session, which explored the relationship between advocacy, collaboration and inclusion while establishing a shared understanding of the rationale behind Disability-Inclusive Communities of Practice.

A final reflection prepared participants for the Training of Trainers programme, scheduled to begin the following day.

Building Disability-Inclusive Communities of Practice

The workshop represents an important step in strengthening collaboration among organisations working to advance disability inclusion. Through shared learning, coordinated advocacy and collective action, DiCoP provides a platform for Partner Organisations and OPDs to work together around common priorities.

SHIVYAWATA brought together representatives from Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) for a workshop to review and validate data collection tools for the Inclusion for Climate Resilience in Tanzania and Zimbabwe project.

The workshop provided an opportunity for participants to critically review the proposed baseline and mapping tools, discuss the relevance of the questions and provide recommendations to ensure that the tools adequately capture the experiences, needs and priorities of persons with disabilities in relation to climate change and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

The discussions also helped strengthen the tools to ensure that the information collected during the field exercise will generate meaningful evidence on disability inclusion, climate resilience, access to services, participation, institutional responses and opportunities for advocacy.

The valuable contributions of OPD representatives will help ensure that the baseline and mapping exercise is participatory, disability-inclusive and grounded in the realities of persons with disabilities.

This represents an important step towards generating evidence that can support stronger advocacy for inclusive climate policies, Disaster Risk Reduction and resilient communities where persons with disabilities are meaningfully included.