Finnish funded Disability Specific Projects

The Finnish Development Policy is committed to UN Millennium development goals, rights-based approach, equal participation of women and men and promoting rights of groups that are easily marginalised, including people with disabilities (PWD). There are about 50 on-going projects focusing specially on disability issues. Main Finnish actors are Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) and other types of Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs). Total number of actors varies annually, being about 25. The average project size is 60 000 € per year. The total annual volume of 2,5 million euros provided by The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

PROJECT CATEGORIES

Organisational Development (Projects focusing on capacity building of DPOs
Awareness and Advocacy (Projects aiming at improving human rights of disabled people: campaigning, lobbying, collaboration with media, empowerment of disabled people)
Accessibility (Projects aiming at overcoming barriers; development of sign language, Braille production, prosthesis production, wheelchairs, other technical and mobility aids)
Rehabilitation (Projects focusing on rehabilitation and Community Based Rehabilitation, CBR)
Income Generation (Projects focusing on skills provision, vocational training, marketing, skills to run small enterprises, micro loans)
Education (Projects targeting to basic education, inclusive education, special needs education)

CONDITIONS OF DISABILITY SPECIFIC PROJECT

Rights-based Approach
Disabled people as beneficiaries and stakeholders
Expertise on disability issues
Participation of Disabled people actively in planning, implementation and decision making

COMPONENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT IN NGO SECTOR:

Partnership
Relevance in general
Sustainability

PARTNERSHIP (between project partners in North and South)

Commitment of both partner organisations
Clear responsibilities and roles of the partner organizations
Relevant capacity and competency on project management and administration skills of both organizations
Partnership based on trust

RELEVANCE IN GENERAL

Measurable and realistic objectives
Activities and budget based on the plans and objectives
Concrete and active participation of stakeholders throughout the project
Activities planned and adjusted to the local environment (avoiding structures creating dependency on foreign funding)
Continuous monitoring and learning

SUSTAINABILITY

Concrete and realistic engagements to secure sustainability
The true commitment of the partner organisation (s)
Operational structures based on the local environment, objectives and needs
Impact of the intervention remains