AWDP-Bangladesh

Resource Mobilization Roundtable for DPOs in Bangladesh

Action on Disability and Development (ADD) organized a National Roundtable on ‘Donors’ Support to DPOs in Bangladesh’ at BIAM Auditorium on 12 July 2009.

A good number of representatives from Disabled Peoples’ Organizations (DPOs) and leaders with disabilities from around the country participated in the discussion. This discussion was unique in a sense that it created an opportunity for direct sharing of small NGOs, DPOs and grassroots organizations with the representatives of three donor agencies DRF, ABILIS and ADD.

It was a very useful and time-worthy effort by ADD on the eve of DRF Grant Making Announcement. This discussion session included information sharing on resource mobilization for DPOs in Bangladesh and capacity building. Michael Szpurluk Programme Officer of Disability Rights Fund (DRF), USA, Jibon William Gomes, Facilitator of Abilis Foundation in Bangladesh and Sirazul Huq, Monitoring Coordinator of ADD shared valuable information during this discussion. On the eve of Second Round Grant Making Announcement of 2009, the presence of DRF Representative Michael Szpurluk in this discussion was significant. He shared the key issues of grant application process for Disability Rights Fund (DRF) and responded questions from the audience while Jibon William Gomes from ABILIS Foundation and Sirazul Huq from ADD shared pros and cons of resource mobilization for DPOs and its challenges in Bangladesh.

Michael Szpurluk Programme Officer of Disability Rights Fund (DRF), USA, Jibon William Gomes, Facilitator of Abilis Foundation in Bangladesh and Sirazul Huq, Monitoring Coordinator of ADD shared valuable information during this discussion. On the eve of Second Round Grant Making Announcement of 2009, the presence of DRF Representative Michael Szpurluk was significant. He shared many important issues on grant application process of Disability Rights Fund (DRF) and responded questions from the audience while Jibon William Gomes from ABILIS Foundation and Sirazul Huq from ADD shared pros and cons of resource mobilization for DPOs and its challenges in Bangladesh. Michael informed that the DRF Call for Proposal will be opened on 15 July 2009 and ends on 15 September 2009. He mentioned DRF provides funding as well as technical support to the applicants and strictly follows the time line. All relevant information will available on DRF website. He requested ADD to facilitate interested organizations in this regard.

The Honorable Minister, Ministry of Social Welfare, Government of Bangladesh Enamul Haq Mostafa Shahid MP was the Chief Guest of the program while ASM Mosharraf Hossain, Country Director, ADD presided over the discussion. The Chief Guest in his speech emphasized on donor support to disabled peoples’ organizations and to disseminate proper information on resource mobilization, rights and development to people with disabilities and all relevant stakeholders. He mentioned that the government is keen to take special measures for employment of people with disabilities. It has already doubled the budget for the development of the people with disabilities in the fiscal year 2009-10. He also urged for a public private partnership and coordinated efforts for a meaningful advancement of people with disabilities in Bangladesh.

ASM Mosharraf Hossain, Country Director, ADD and Chair of this session stressed on a participatory process of development including drafting of the law for people with disabilities in Bangladesh. Association for the Welfare of the Disabled People (AWDP), on behalf of its members and Executive Council conveys it’s thanks to ADD management to organize such an useful and time-worthy initiative when DRF representative Michael Szpurluk was on a monitoring visit to Bangladesh.