What is
SPARK
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has made significant strides in promoting disability inclusion and is making an effort to be better equipped in mainstreaming disability and delivering inclusivity in its rural development programs.
Light for the World has formed a consortium with the International Labour Organisation and Procasur to support IFAD on achieving Disability Inclusive Rural Transformation through the SPARK program.
The SPARK program uses a systemic action learning approach to impact the lives of at least 7,000 persons with disabilities in Burkina Faso, India, Mozambique, and Malawi. This approach will enable them to become fully engaged in the economic activities of selected agricultural and pastoral value chains.
The program will also raise awareness on the potential and needs of persons with disabilities among people in their communities as well as other stakeholders including civil society organizations, governments, and private sector actors.
The SPARK program uses a systemic action learning approach to impact the lives of at least 7,000 persons with disabilities in Burkina Faso, India, Mozambique, and Malawi.
Note that: other countries outside the four listed above can still utilize the help desk function.
SPARK's
approach
Persons with disabilities in the lead
A selected group of persons with disabilities are trained as Disability Inclusion Facilitators (DIFs) to provide professional advice on understanding disability and how to make disability inclusion work in IFAD projects and their stakeholders.
Disability inclusive programming
DIFs build the capacity of IFAD program and implementing staff on how to include people with disabilities in the various livelihood/agricultural value chain programs
Build capacity of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs)
Working closely with OPDs to be able to effectively represent the needs of their membership and offer technical expertise on disability inclusion beyond the current scope and life of the SPARK program.
Innovation labs & co-creation spaces
Develop and test approaches to support effective disability inclusion in rural development programs.
Action Learning
Continuously adapt interventions for maximum efficiency and impact; regularly document and communicate stories of change and lessons learned for the benefit of future IFAD programs
Contact
SPARK Disability Inclusion Help Desk
This website has been produced with the financial assistance of IFAD. The findings, opinions, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IFAD, its Executive Board, its Members, or any Member State they represent. IFAD does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colours, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgement on the part of IFAD concerning the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries.
