The We Are Able project aims to help people with disabilities (PWDs) in six areas in Gedarif state, Sudan: Alfashaga, Algoreisha, Eastern Galabat, Western Galabat, Gala Alnahil, and Gedarif municipality. The project is funded by the Foreign Ministry of the Netherlands and carried out by a consoritum of international organizations—VNGI, THA, ZOA, ADF, and See You Foundation. VNGI and THA are responsible for building government capacities and local inclusion.
The Local Inclusion Agenda (LIA) is a planning tool used to gather priorities for including people with disabilities in a comprehensive plan for each locality. It is based on four key ideas: equality, solidarity, autonomy, and participation, along with three commitments: awareness, accessibility, and interaction. The priorities and activities of the LIA cover six life domains: education & development, housing, employment & income, free time, transportation, and health & welfare. In the targeted localities, six LIA plans were developed through a participatory process involving local officials, organizations representing people with disabilities (OPDs), and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). This included workshops, discussions, and interviews over five days in each locality. The development of the LIA followed the principle of "nothing about us without us," involving people with disabilities at every stage until final endorsement. A total of 183 people participated in the LIA development across the 6 localities. These included 98 government officials, 61 persons with disabilities and 24 CSO representatives.
The LIA plans include priorities on food security and livelihood by outlining specific activities and financial resources to achieve these goals within the local community for the inclusion of people with disabilities.
The goals included in the LIA plan are to be achieved by 2024 and 2025. The plans were officially approved in a ceremony at the Gedarif Government Secretariat, attended by government officials, representatives from state council of PWDs, OPDs, CSOs, and members of the "We Are Able" consortium and its local partners. The plans are now owned and implemented by local authorities (LAs) and OPDs, with support from VNGI and the consortium.