1. How can we make disability research accessible in Africa
INTRODUCING THE AFRICAN NETWORK FOR EVIDENCE- TO -ACTION IN DISABILITY (AfriNEAD)
How can we make disability research accessible in Africa
Gubela Mji Centre for REHABILITATION STUDIES DEPARTMENT OF INTERDISCIPLINARY HEALTH SCIENCES 19th APRIL 2016

2. INTRODUCTION Strong link between disability and poverty
80% of disabled people reside in developing countries
Disability addressed within welfare / medical model system.
Disabled people sees disability as a social construct.
Birth of social model of disability
Birth of emancipatory disability research paradigm

3. EVOLUTION OF AFRINEAD Limited research evidence on disability
Available evidence questionable on impact on the lives of disabled people.
Questions have been raised regarding type and strength of research methods.
Challenge of translating research evidence from policy to practice.

4. EVOLUTION OF AFRINEAD cont.
Voices from both researchers and disabled people’s organizations. “ there is a danger that the research community – ejected with international ‘ Aid cash’ – may simply accumulate evidence without developing practical solutions to address the ways in which society can become more responsive, and inclusive of persons with disabilities.” “There is a need for a platform that is uniquely African that can translate new and existing disability research evidence into relevant and meaningful policy practice, advocacy and products. This platform must engage with all stakeholders.” Hence the birth of the African Network on Evidence - to - Action in disability (AfriNEAD).

5. AfriNEAD
Aim: To be a significant contributor and facilitator around disability research evidence in Africa by:
Facilitating knowledge translation
Drawing a broad presentation of stakeholders
Developing AfriNEAD research products
Facilitate and coordinate research dialogue
Share best evidence – to – action practice guidelines
Read for Africa
Bi-annual Regional Symposium (now tri-annual)
Disability – academic, Business, Government and Civil Society formation consortium (DABGC Consortium)

6. The IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS
The uneasy journey of becoming an African disability
Research network:
Consultation with management of the faculty of Health Sciences
Inputs from the Research support services of Stellenbosch University.
Merging with strategies of SU
Linking with other units that deal with disability
Linking with outside stakeholders: DPOs and
Regional and International partners
Linking with the Office on the Status of Disabled People (OSDP) and Ministries that deal with disabity issues and the Premier of the Western Cape.

7. AFRINEAD GUIDING PRINCIPLES
AfriNEAD is underpinned by:
Responsible open dialogue
Transparency
Human Rights
Ubuntu Principles
The need for research Evidence to realize the rights of disabled people in Africa
The ability to translate research evidence into practice.

8. OUTCOMES OF AFRINEAD 4 Bi-annual Symposia 2x in South Africa
And 2x in Zimbabwe and Malawi respectively
3rd conference is in Ghana in 2017 on the 7th -9th August
Strengthening relationship between CRS and DPOs
SAFOD in Southern Africa, African disability alliance/African Decade for PWDs and Disability Forum.
Development of clusters of disability researchers and disability research projects (APODD, Equitable, Data basis, research manuals for PWDs) and linking of both masters and PhD students and lately the google project.
Fostering of collaboration between academic units dealing with disability research.
Publications: AJOD journal.

9. AFriNEAD ACHIEVEMENTS
4 symposia were tabled in: 2007, 2009, 2011 & (2x in Cape Town and other 2 in Zimbabwe and Malawi).
500 people are affiliated with the network
A consortium of researchers has tabled approximately 5 major projects that each covered not less than 4 African countries.
AfriNEAD has AJOD that was initiated by the AfriNEAD, Centre for Rehabilitation Studies of Stellenbosch University and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana

10. THE AFRICAN JOURNAL FOR DISABILITY

11. CHALLENGES FACING AFRINEAD
Moving from storming phase to performing phase
Keeping to the philosophies of the Network but open to new ideas
Keeping membership glued within AfriNEAD
Allowing the symposia to move to other regions of Africa and developing AfriNEAD concept in other African regions
Developing research working groups in countries affiliated to AfriNEAD
Funding

12. CHALLENGES FACING AFRINEAD cont.
Some question arise whether AfriNEAD is about researcher or advocacy.
Slow turn of events
Size of the hosting mother
Being understood and adopted internally
Nature of AfriNEAD being just a Network.
Funding

13. Where to from here AfriNEAD
Exploring and navigating new frontiers:
Prepare for the next conference in Ghana in 2017
Introduce the WHO global GATE project to AfriNEAD country working groups
Work with partners in implementin Google project.
Strengthen country working groups
Strengthen affiliations with regional and international disability networks as well as global organs such as WHO, UNESCO and UN
Market AfriNEAD widely at grass root level
Generate funding to sustain the network

14. HOW AFRINEAD LINKS WITH THE GOOGLE PROJECT
Part of Management structure of the project.
Assist with development of tools for data gathering .
Develop tools for monitoring and evaluation and implement this process.
Part of the development and servicing of the website.
Ensure linking of the website with other websites that handles disability related information e.g. SAFOD, African Journal of Disability (AJOD) and AfriNEAD.
Together with SAFOD communicate project to AfriNEAD stakeholders and other disability networks and disability researchers.

15. THE AFRICAN NETWORK FOR EVIDENCE TO ACTION IN DISABILITY