1. Self Help Group Initiative towards Empowerment
2nd CBR World congress Kuala Lumpur
Presented by
Taslima Akter
CDD, Bangladesh
28 September 2016

2. About Bangladesh Located in South Asia
Recently declared as lower middle income country
Population million, density 1,252 per square mile
Lack of reliable disability related data

3. About CDD- In a nutshell…
Created in 1996 to build in-country capacity on disability-inclusion.
A team of 161 staff members where 12% staff are persons with disabilities.
Working in partnerships with around 300 NGOs, DPOs, Corporate & Government for a disability inclusive society by mainstreaming disability and promoting rehabilitation & empowerment.
Partnership with CBM since 1996.
Around 200 SHGs were formed with 3618 person with disabilities as members

4. Promotion of Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Bangladesh (PHRPBD)
Duration: 2010 to 2014 (phase-I) and 2015 to 2017 (phase-II)
Implementing by 12 partner NGOs in 11 districts covering 29 local government institutions;
108 SHGs were formed comprised of 1408 person with disabilities;
12 Apex bodies were formed with 192 person with disabilities.

5. Journey towards empowerment
Capacity building
training
Formation of
SHGs
Regular meetings
Advocacy and action plan
Collaboration and Networking
Documentation
Learning & sharing
Identification and counseling
Key Strategy

6. Focus on empowering women for leadership
12 Self Help groups of women with disabilities
40% women participation in all groups
40% women representation in the executive committee of the SHGs
50% female representation in all trainings
Awareness raising and training on gender equity
Gender equity of field staff of partner NGOs

7. Rights Based Approach Organization Empower Persons with
disabilities to claim their rights
Persons with
disabilities claim their rights
from duty bearers and
changes their lives
Duty Bearers fulfill
their obligations
towards right holders
CHANGES IN
Policies
Institutions
Attitudes
Budget Allocation
Participation
Equality
Inclusion
Influence duty bearers
to comply obligations

8. Major Intervention:
Capacity development of CDD & PNGO staff and person with disabilities
SHG formation and regular meeting

9. ….Major Intervention
Advocacy and awareness with different stakeholders
Provision of assistive devices and rehabilitation services

10. ….Major intervention
Capacity develop to improve communication on sign language, Braille
Social mobilization in case of violence against persons with disabilities

11. ….Major interventions
Facilitating Active participation and express independent opinion in open budget process at UPs
Inclusion in different standing committees of UPs

12. Key quantitative achievements:
108 SHGs were formed
95 Persons with disabilities are included in different local Govt. committees (Standing committees at UP, LGSP-ii etc…)
24 UPs have allocated budget for the development of persons with disabilities in fiscal year
236 Person with disabilities received training on Rights and Leadership
1305 person with disabilities are involved in self-employment, 148 persons with disabilities are employed in formal economic sector.

13. Key Changes:
Persons with disabilities are united and they are claiming their rights
The participation in the decision making process of their family and also in community is increasing.
SHG members are receiving recognition for their contribution in the society nationally and internationally.
Increased acceptance and dignity in the community

14. ….Key Changes Increased control over their own income and property
Increased participation of women with disabilities in family and community initiatives
SHGs developed as advocate groups for community

15. ….Key Changes
Collaboration with local government, SHGs and PNGOs have increased and joint initiatives are being taken for disability Inclusive development
Others persons with disabilities from the same community are forming SHGs following the example set by the existing groups

16. Major Challenges:
The local community and local government had limited understanding how disability issues can be mainstreamed and the role that can be played by the people with disabilities;
People with disabilities and their families expect short term & tangible changes; it is not always clear to them how they will benefit through sensitization and advocacy;
Most of the SHG members are living with poverty; their first expectation is receiving livelihood support, which at times causes impediments to focus actions on advocacy and rights promotion;
Participation of members with speech and hearing disability is less because of communication problems.

17. Learning:
Strong leadership and motivation of the SHG members is vital for the sustainability of the groups, a strong group can continue by themselves without that much of external support;
SHGs are being developed as a resource in the community. Not only them, but the other marginalized groups from community comes to SHGs to seek support for accessing different services and opportunities from government and other resources;
It is essential to ensure sign language training for effective inclusion of persons with hearing disability in the group’s activities;
Community participation and ownership is very essential for the sustainability of the development initiatives.

18. Story of Jahanara
Video will be added later

19. Conclusion:
SHGs/DPOs are the prerequisite element to promote empowerment of person with disabilities. Building strong collaboration between the government at local and national level is very crucial for the sustainability of the SHGs/DPOs.
“The time has come to build a society where the voices of the most marginalized are heard”.

20. Please contact to following address for more information
Thank you!
Please contact to following address for more information
&
CDD, Bangladesh