24 Disability Inclusion Facilitators certified in India, Malawi, and Mozambique
SPARK aims to put people with disabilities in the lead.
Together with the International Fund for Agircultural Development (IFAD), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Procasur , national partners and organisations of people with disabilities (OPDs), Light for the World is using systemic action learning approach to impact the lives of at least 7,000 people with disabilities through the SPARK programme.
Disability Inclusion Facilitators (DIFs) are trained to include people with disabilities in projects, livelihood and agricultural value chain programmes, as well as awareness raising on both community, local and national levels about the rights and needs of people with disabilities.
Find out more below about the DIF training and certifications, which took place in India, Mozambique, and Malawi in late 2023.
How does the certification process work?
DIFs undergo several months of training on disability inclusion, the rights of people with disabilities, as well as government procedures and barriers to inclusion. DIFs are mentored by Disability Inclusion Experts who accompany them while conducting professional activities and provide on the job training. Following their professional development period, DIFs are evaluated and certified.
After the training is complete, each of the DIF mentees is assessed, by a panel, based on the following three competency areas:
- Relationship builder
- Role model, trainer and advisor
- Broker and monitors
The panel is generally comprised of representatives from ILO, IFAD, government, or national authorities, and from OPDs and Light for the World. Each assessed DIF also had their mentor present, who provided additional feedback to the panel.
After certification, DIFs provide professional advice on understanding disability and improving its inclusion.
DIFs not certified can continue to work as trainees with their mentors until another round of evaluation takes place.
Disability Inclusion Facilitators assessed in India
In November, eight Disability Inclusion Facilitators (DIF) were assessed in Washim, Maharastra, India.
A day-long meeting took place, in which each DIF presented their work between April to November 2023 to an assessment panel. The panel was comprised of representatives from Maharashtra Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (MAVIM), the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Light for the World.
Out of eleven DIFs, eight were assessed. A total of two DIFs were certified as able to work independently and those who were not certified continue to work as trainees and until another round of evaluations will be held sometime between March and April 2024.
The certified DIFs were handed over their certificates in a celebration on 26 January 2024 during the Republic Day Celebrations ceremony.
Confidence building through inclusion training in Malawi
In Malawi the project* targets 1,750 people in the districts of Kasungu, Thyolo, Nkhata Bay and Chitipa, together with the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, as well as OPDs, including the Federation of Disability Organisations in Malawi (FEDOMA),
Five people with disabilities, from each of the target districts, were trained as DIFs.
From 16 to 27 November eighteen DIFs were assessed in the four target districts on their knowledge and skills around disability inclusion approaches and tools. The assessment panel was comprised of their mentors, local government members, and representatives from FEDOMA, ILO and Light for the World.
A total of twelve DIFs were newly certified, and those not certified will continue in the training programme, guided by their mentors.
*The SPARK project in Malawi is targeting three IFAD-funded programmes: Programme for Rural Irrigation and Development (PRIDE), Transforming Agriculture through Diversification and Entrepreneurship (TRADE) and Financial Access for Rural Markets, Smallholders and Enterprise Programme (FARMSE).
“Being part of the Disability Inclusion Academy has built not only my confidence to facilitate trainings for large groups of people, but also my recognition within my community that I can contribute meaningfully to the development of my community as a person with a disability.” – Alambeje Daniel, a newly certified DIF who works in the Thyolo district in Malawi.
Ten DIFs certified in Mozambique
In Mozambique DIF certifications took place throughout December in Niassa, Sofala and Inhambane provinces.
In Niassa, evaluations took place from 6 to 8 December and seven out of eight DIFs were assessed. One was certified, while the rest will continue with training.
From 11 to 14 December, the second session took place in Beira, with DIFs from Sofala and Inhambane. Out of 17 DIFs, nine were certified.
The evaluation process was led by Eric Wakoko, Disability Inclusion Advisor at Light for the World, with IFAD project managers, Forum of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities of Mozambique (FAMOD) representatives and mentors also involved.
The IFAD mid-year review team was also able to join the DIF certification session and expressed their satisfaction by the work done by SPARK through the Disability Inclusion Academies. It is a real honour and great praise for the whole team in Mozambique.
