By IDA

 - August 13, 2020

August 13, 2020, Cotonou

From 13 to 15 August, the West Africa Federation of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (WAFOD) is holding the Capacity building workshop: reflections from Bridge CRPD-SDGs module 1. This is supported by Humanity and Inclusion (HI), with financial support from the European Union and technical support from the International Disability Alliance (IDA).

The workshop aims to reinforce the technical skills of persons with disabilities in the West Africa region - starting with Benin - for them to advocate within a human rights framework in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

It also aims to provide a practical experience for the new generation of trainers with disabilities in the West Africa French region that were participants in and are instrumentalizing the learnings from the West African French Bridge CRPD-SDGs cycle Module 1, which took place from 2 to 8 November 2019, in Niamey, Niger. On the 12 August, the facilitation team worked together, in order to ensure a smooth preparation, in particular, reviewing the curriculum and using tools of inclusive facilitation.

The workshop was opened by Mr Nassirou Domingo, President of the National Federation of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities of Benin (FAPHB), Ms Pamela FALOLA, Trainer FAPHB representing the team of facilitators and Mr Idriss Maiga, President of WAFOD. In their opening remarks, Mr Domingo reinforced the importance of each participant selected to be in the workshop and stressed their role to learn and to share with their peers at the FAPHB and their local organisations. Ms Falola exhorted all participants to be active and engaged to ensure a fruitful workshop. Mr Maiga thanked all partners for their support, particularly the FAPHB that was able to put in place the workshop at such short notice and under the challenging circumstances of the COVID19 pandemic. Mr Maiga also recalled the history and importance of the CRPD as well as how the Bridge CRPD-SDGs Initiative was brought to the West Africa French region to be delivered by French spoken facilitators persons with disabilities themselves.  

On that note, the facilitators reflected on the relevance of the workshop.  Ms Karimath Dohou pointed out that“Persons with disabilities face several barriers in Benin, particularly regarding meaningful inclusion in society, active participation in decision making processes, including in elections, as well as lacking opportunities to access work and employment”.

Image of the facilitators at the Capacity building workshop: reflections from Bridge CRPD-SDGs module 1

Image above: Image of the facilitators at the Capacity building workshop: reflections from Bridge CRPD-SDGs module 1

Regarding the workshop content, Mr Mahamadou Oumarou, the Bridge CRPD-SDGs lead Facilitator, explained that participants would  be introduced to the principles and key concepts of the CRPD and the links between the CRPD and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its SDGs. He further emphasized the importance of this opportunity, adding that it is also critical because participants will gain skills to master technical knowledge in order to advocate for their rights, with strong basis on the international human rights and development frameworks, as well as the WAFOD will leave in Benin a team of future facilitators that will be able to disseminate such frameworks to other people with disabilities in the country”. 

Audrey Assogoba stressed the importance of the workshop on strengthening the collaboration and network of persons with disabilities in Benin where participants and facilitators have the opportunity to share and to learn together.

Facilitators for the workshop include Ms Audrey Cica ASSOGOBA, CHRYSALIDE (Association pour l’Intégration des Personnes Handicapées Intellectuelles du Bénin), Ms Karimath DOHOU, Fédération des Associations des Personnes Handicapées du Benin (FAPHB), Ms Pamela FALOLA, FAPHB, Mr Mahamadou Oumarou (Bridge CRPD-SDGs lead facilitator) and Mr Idriss Maiga as expert resource person. All facilitators are alumni of the Bridge CRPD-SDGs Training Initiative. The team was also supported by Mr Moussa Souley and Mr Ibrahim Garba, both from the WAFOD technical team. The Bridge CRPD-SDGs Coordination has supported the workshop from a distance by way of technical assistance regarding curriculum and materials.