From 12 to 14 March 2018, IDA members and partners gathered in London, hosted by Inclusion International, for the initial technical workshop of IDA's Education Flagship project. The Education Flagship is a part of a DFID-funded project and aims to develop a DPO-led, evidence-based consensus perspective on how best to achieve SDG 4 and CRPD Article 24 for all children with disabilities by 2030.
This workshop initiated a process which aims to provide a perspective from organisations of persons with disabilities (DPO) on how to frame the implementation of SDG4 in compliance with CRPD Article 24. IDA together with IDDC partners and education experts engaged into discussions about the challenges and possible entry points to translate principles and commitments into possible policy scenarios to ensure access to quality, equitable inclusive education for all children with disabilities by 2030. The group agreed on a way forward towards producing a global report by 2020, including evidence from the analysis of possible scenarios in at least two low and middle income countries. The report will inform the way international donors and agencies support the implementation of SDG4 and will support advocacy towards greater attention and resources for the inclusion of children with disabilities.
Ahead of the UK Global Disability Summit, the workshop included a session on upcoming opportunities to increase and influence funding for inclusive education, where participants exchanged with Ian Attfiled, DFID Senior Education Advisor and Dorothy Makin, Policy Officer at DFID Disability Inclusion Team.