Strengthening disability inclusion accountability and coordination in Rwanda

The Programme

The capacity for joint development and effective implementation of disability inclusive policies, programs and interventions is still quite lacking, despite gradual improvements over the past years. The key challenges include limited participation of persons with disabilities in the planning processes of government programs as well as internet ions of UN agencies, even for those directly concerning persons with disabilities. Although national laws, policies and strategies protecting the rights of persons with disabilities are largely in existence, the low level of implementation of certain provisions keeps the vision of disability inclusion far from reach. The limited participation of OPDs in the planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of national programs often leads to sub-optimal representation of the views, needs, aspirations and challenges of persons with disabilities in the respective programs. The limited participation is a result of both low consultation of OPDs during planning processes and the low capacity of OPDs to contribute meaningfully and substantially towards planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of programs. Additionally, even with programs that specifically focus on persons with disabilities, the consideration of gender and vulnerable or marginalized groups of persons with disabilities – for example those with psychosocial disabilities – is quite minimal. Finally, accountability and ownership of disability inclusion programs is still weaker than desired.