The Danish Disability Fund

The Danish Disability Fund

1. Cover page

J.no. ( to be filled by DPOD)
HP

capacity building & networking

(up to 200.000DKK.)

Applied for (please tick):
Capacity building
South-South exchange
International network
x
Intervention title: / Strategic workshop in African Union of the Blind
Applicant Danish organisation (financial responsible) / Danish Association of the Blind (DAB)
Other Danish partner(s), if any:
Local partner organisation(s): / African Union of the Blind (AFUB)
Country(-ies): / Countrys BNI per capita:
Intervention commencement date:
23.March 2015 / Intervention completion date:
23. June 2015 / Total number of months:
3 months
Contact person for the intervention:Name: Susanne Koch Andersen
Email address:
Telephone nr.:+45 21716797
Amount requested from the Danish Disability Fund: DKK 166.999 / Annual intervention cost:
(Total amount requested divided by number of years)DKK 667.996
Is this a re-submission? (i.e. a revised application, which has previously been submitted)
[ x ] No
[ ] Yes, previous date of application:
Is this a:
[ ] A new intervention?
[ ] An intervention in extension of an interventionpreviously supported by DPOD, Danida or others?
In which language should the response letter from the Danish Disability Fund be written (choose one):
[ ] Danish
[ x ] English
Summary of the intervention: Denne netværksaktivitet har til hovedformål at støtte opbygningen af kapacitet i African Union of the Blind (AFUB) som er den ene af seks regioner under Verdens Blindunion. Kapaciteten forventes opbygget gennem udviklingen af en strategi indenfor organisatorisk ledelse, samt en strategi indenfor fundraising. Den centrale aktivitet i ansøgningen er gennemførslen af en strategisk workshop for AFUBs bestyrelse og ansatte i Congo-Brazzaville den 23.-28. marts 2015. På workshoppen forventes det at udviklingen af stratgierne påbegyndes, og at en plan for den endelige færdiggørelse af strategierne bliver udarbejdet. Eksterne facilitatorer fra den internationale blindebevægelse vil lede diskussionerne, og ressourceperson fra Nordisk Bistandskomite og Verdens Blindeunions bistandskomite vil sikre at strategier er på linje med internationale stratgier, samt at diskussionerne på workshoppen efterfølgende forankres i disse fora.
Date / Person responsible (signature)
Place / Person responsible and position (block letters)

2. Application text

A. THE PARTNERS(indicative length 1 ½ pages)

A.1 The Danish organisation:

Danish Association of the Blind (DAB) is an organization of people with a visual impairment (both blind and partially sighted) established in 1911. The organization has developed from a loose network of persons with a visual impairment to a strong and well-acknowledged disability organization in the Danish civil society with approximately 9,000 members. DAB works for equal rights and inclusion of its members in all areas of society.

DAB has worked with development projects in Africa and Asia since the early 1990’s and the work is guided by DAB’s strategy and action plan for development work agreed upon by its executive committee (2014-2018). DAB’s work is based on a rights-based approach to development and addresses the needs of blind people as a matter of right and not privilege. Accordingly, DAB’s strategy is based on principles of rights, democracy, local ownership, gender equality and building networks. Besides funding part of the administration of the development work, DAB sets aside 1% of the organisation’s yearly income for development work. The development work is monitored by DAB’s Development Committee consisting of board members and appointed members of DAB.DAB as an organisation has considerable experience to share with organisations in the South in areas such as blindness issues, organisational development, lobbying and advocacy and membership drive. Furthermore, DAB has developed annual learning strategies to improve its own capacity within the development field.

DAB is affiliated with the European Blind Union as well as the World Blind Union, where DAB’s Vice-President chairs the WBU’s Development Committee coordinating policy issues and capacity building of blind organisations globally. DAB also collaborates with its Nordic sister organisations, and other disability organisations under the umbrella Disabled People’s Organisation, Denmark (DPOD) who also engage in development work. Currently, DAB employs four persons in the department for International Development Cooperation who work with development programs in Ghana, Rwanda, Laos, Mongolia and Myanmar. DAB collaborates with the organizations of the blind in the said countries within the areas of organizational development, lobbying and advocacy with the aim to build strong organizations that can support and assist their members.

A.2 Other Danish partners

A.3 The local partner organisation

The African Union of the Blind (AFUB)

The African Union of the Blind (AFUB) represents one of the six regional blocks of the World Blind Union (WBU). AFUB enjoys observer status with the African Union and is a continental umbrella union of organisations of/for blind and partially sighted persons in Africa. Currently the numerical strength of AFUB membership stands at 53 African countries with 60 national member organisations.

The mission of the AFUB is to strengthen member organisations and create unity of purpose among them through capacity building and advocacy in partnership with governments, international agencies and other stakeholders. Through this mission AFUB envisions a continent where blind and partially sighted persons enjoy equal rights, social inclusion and full participation. AFUB was founded in 1987 and was official registered as an international non-governmental organization in Kenyain 1988, where it enjoys semi-consulate status. Over the years AFUB has implemented a variety of projects with different partners.

AFUB is governed by the General Assembly, meeting every four years, which elects the Board and review policies of the Union. A secretariat headed by an Executive Director, takes care of daily management. The “table officers”, consisting of President, Vice-president and Executive director, are meeting regularly to review progress in implementing the policies of the Board and to make executive decisions. AFUBhas one sub-committee which is the Women’s Committee, whose chairperson also resides on the Board. The same applies to an honorary treasurer, and anyoutgoing AFUB President who has served only one term.

During the AFUB General Assembly of 2012 in Bangkok/Thailand, AFUB had its Constitution amended. One of the significant amendments was the downsizing of the Board and reduction of AFUB regions from six to five, namely West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, Southern Africa and North Africa.

A.4 The cooperative relationship and its prospects:

Is the cooperation between the Danish applicant and the local partner known by the Danish Disability Fund and described in another/other application(s) within the past 12 months?

Yes / x / HP 115-058Networking through African Forum 2014 and GA of AFUB
No

B. PREPARATION (indicative length 1 ½ pages)

B.1 Preparation of the intervention

The idea of the proposed intervention – AFUB executive meeting and strategic workshop - was fostered by the AFUB Board, with President Jace Nair as the lead person, as a way to identify new appropriate strategies for AFUB. The AFUB secretariat in Nairobi has taken active part in the practical planning and budgeting, and Mrs. Therese Kamango Ntoyo Loutekila, Vice-President of AFUB, has ensured financial support from the Congolese government. The present application is intended to “top up” the existing budget besides providing opportunity to strengthen strategic direction and outcome of the planned activities.

B.2 The context in which the intervention is implemented

As mentioned above, AFUB represents one of the regional blocks of WBU.The WBU Development Committee has – for its current term – set up six action points ranging from capacity building and organizational strengthening of member organizations, to umbrella (joint) organizational cooperation and issues related to disaster risk reduction.In order to ensure dynamics within the Committee and subsequent effect at regional level, an interactive exchange of practical experience and inputs on a more overarching level is very necessary. This includes close contact and collaboration with AFUB.

Since its creation in 1987, AFUB has developed into one of the indisputably most coherent and strong bodies of visually impaired persons covering an entire continent.AFUB is today the central hub of collection of good practices and useful methods, and often AFUB’s voice is heard loudly by politicians both at national and continental level. If a country’s civil society – including disability organizations – advocates strongly for a certain issue or solution of a dire need, the support of AFUB can often give the process energy and impetus.

On this background, collaboration with AFUB, as well as organizations of the blind in various African countries, has for more than two decades been a priority of DAB.

AFUB has however faced a series of problems since 2012, following substantially reduced funding by a number of donors, includingthe Nordic countries. The reduction of funding was not accompanied by a real exit strategy and left AFUB inadequately prepared for the situation. The problems have included amongst others: lack of control with financial management, frequent replacements for the position as Executive Director, and challenges in regard to a set of by-laws that did not serve their purpose. In an attempt to address these issues, AFUB has in the course of the last year, strengthened and upgraded the general management of the organisation, with the support of the Nordic Development Committee (NBK) which is a coordinating body between the Nordic blind organisations engaged in development work.

It is the wish of NBK as well as the WBU Development Committee to acknowledge and support this positive recent development by supporting the proposed AFUB executive meeting and strategic workshop in Congo Brazzaville. The output from the strategic workshop will be presented at the planned Extraordinary General Assembly planned to take place in conjunction with the African Forum 2015 in October 2015 in Uganda (cf. HP 115-058).

The President of AFUB, Jayaseelan Gopal Nair, is the main person responsible for the intervention. In DAB responsibility lies with John Heilbrunn, DAB Vice-President and Chair of WBU Development Committee.

C. DESCRIPTION OF THE INTERVENTION (indicative length 2 pages)

C.1 Target group

The primary target group consist of the AFUB leadership that will participate in the workshop:

1. From South Africa: President of AFUBJayaseelan Gopal Nair.
2. From Congo- Brazzaville: Vice-President Therese Kamango Ntoyo Loutekila
3. From Mauretania: Board member Mohamed Bouh Salem
4. From Ghana: Board member Yaw Ofori-Debra
5. From Kenya: Board member Fred Haga and Board Treasurer Martin Kieti, besides AFUB staff;Acting Executive Director Lucas Amoda, Dandy Mubima, Gladys Kemunto and Martin Okiyo.
6. From Cameroun: Board members Odette Juimo and Paul Tezanou.

The secondary target group consists of all AFUB member organisations and their respective membership who will benefit from enhanced strategic direction and strengthened organisational capacities of AFUB leadership and secretariat.

C.2 Objectives and success criteria

The overall objective of this international network activity is to ensure that AFUB functions as a strong capable umbrella organisation that is supporting national member organisations in their striving for the rights of blind and partially sighted persons in Africa:

1. By the end of the intervention, AFUB will have strengthened organisational capacity through the development of a strategic approach to the current financial and organisational challenges, guided by qualified facilitators and resource persons.
2. By the end of the intervention, the leadership of AFUB will have enhanced their role as legitimate and strong representatives of blind and partially sighted persons regionally and in their home countries through their active contribution to the strengthening of the strategic management of the organisation.
3. By the end of the intervention, AFUB’s strategic approaches will be anchored within relevant international fora such as WBU Development Committee and Nordic Development Committee thereby adding to mutual learning and understanding and constructive future collaboration.

The qualitative and quantitative success criteria are:

1.AFUB will have strengthened its role in promoting members’ rights through development of two appropriate strategies, based on input, discussions and inspiration generated during the workshop.

2.The strategies will be presented at the planned Extraordinary General Assembly which will take place in conjunction with the African Forum 2015 in October 2015 in Uganda, and ready for implementation subsequent to approval by the Assembly

3.The strategies will be discussed at upcoming meetings in WBU Development Committee and Nordic Development Committee, and feedback from these meetings is shared with AFUB leadership, for mutual learning and benefit.

4.The leadership of AFUB will have strengthened mutual exchange and understanding thereby enhancing learning and constructive cooperation.

5.AFUB will take an important step towards balancing its administrative set-up with a sustainable financial situation, including by making the organisation attractable to new donors by presenting convincing strategies for the direction of the organisations in the years to come.

6.The leadership of AFUB will have a strengthened and more sustainable platform from where they can engage with the African Union and the African Decade to the benefit of blind and partially sighted persons on the continent.

C.3 Activities

Between 24 - 28 March the leadership of AFUB will meet in Congo Brazzaville for an executive meeting and a strategic workshop. The workshop will be focused on fundraising, implementation of UNCRPD and the Marrakesh Treaty, besides the development of strategic plan for the organisation (cf. programme in Annex C).

Qualified resource persons with extensive knowledge on disability and blindness issues as well as organisational development will act as facilitators of selected topics during the workshop:

-The fundraising workshop will be facilitated by Dr. William Rowland (former President of WBU).

-The workshop on UNCRPD and the Marrakesh Treaty will be facilitated by Dr. Victor Cordeiro, advocacy coordinator in WBU.

-The workshop on strategic planning will be facilitated by a South African consultant, Mr. Thomas Ongolo. Thomas Ongolo acted as Executive Director of AFUB from 1998 – 2003 and works today in African Disability Alliance. Thomas Ongolo will also be overall responsible for preparing the workshop as well as reporting on the outcome.

John Heilbrunn will be representing both WBU Development Committee and Nordic Development Committee during the meetings and function as a resource person drawing on many years’ engagement in international disability work.

Expenses for accommodation, meeting facilities, interpretation and local transport for the African delegates will be covered by the Congolese government. Expenses covering for Dr. William Rowland and Dr. Victor Cordeiro will be covered by WBU

C.4 Strategy

As outlined above the blind associations in Norway, Sweden and Denmark have all been supporting AFUB for shorter or longer periods within the last 30 years, thus the partnership between AFUB and the Nordic countries has generally been very close and fruitful over the years.

In light of the challenges experienced by AFUB over the latter years (refer above), the organisation has recently made strong efforts to tighten up their finances and administrative structure to make ends meet and size the organisation to available resources. On this renewed basis for further work, there is presently a well-founded need to address core issues through a process of strategic planning and prioritization within areas such as administrative effectiveness, membership services and loyalty, and political recognition by the African Union and the Decade Secretariat. The planned workshop in Congo Brazzaville is intended to address this need. In order to reinforce and further build the capacity of AFUB, knowledgeable and experienced facilitators will be guiding the discussions during the workshop. As mentioned above both Dr William Rowland, Dr Victor Cordeiro, and Mr. Thomas Ongolo have a long history as active members of the international blindness community, also within WBU.

Due to the long mutual history between AFUB and the Nordic countries, the Nordic Development Committee has a profound interest in following and contributing to the discussions during the workshop, including with a view to identifying possible areas of future cooperation. Despite the fact that Memorandums of Understandings never have been signed between AFUB and e.g. DAB, the organisations have a mutual strong feeling of partnership. The associations in Norway and Sweden are currently engaged in small scale project collaboration with AFUB and parallel to the strategic work with the AFUB leadership, these organisations are in the process of locating resources which can support the AFUB staff in terms of team building and other support interventions in recognition of the extra burden on staff over the past years.

Also to WBU, the importance of well-functioning regional bodies, including AFUB, cannot be under-estimated, since these provide the basis for democratic governance and running of the organisation. Further, it is through the regional bodies that WBU can follow the work of each national member organisation.

As above mentioned, John Heilbrunn will be representing both the WBU Development Committee and Nordic Development Committee during the workshop, where he will function as a resource person. Through his positions in the two committees, John Heilbrunn will ensure that the outcome of the strategic discussions is in line with general strategies of WBU, and he will be able to share best practices from other regions of the world. Furthermore he will ensure that the outcome of the workshop discussion subsequently will be shared with relevant stakeholders, so that AFUB priorities and lesson learned from the workshop may be anchored within the relevant international fora.

The expected output from the workshop consists of two strategies; one strategy related to financial and organisational management and one specifically related to fundraising. Whereas the consultant Thomas Ongolo will be responsible for the writing up of the first strategy, it will be the responsibility of the President of AFUB, Jayaseelan Gopal Nair, to ensure that both strategies are taken forward and finalized before the Extraordinary General Assembly in October 2015 in Uganda.