Performance Report 2nd Quarter 2009: Building an Inclusive Development Community project

The project's primary goal is to promote inclusive development by providing technical assistance and capacity building to organizations working on disability issues in developing countries. In the second quarter of 2009, Mobility International USA (MIUSA) conducted introductory field visits to Colombia and Ethiopia, two new countries targeted by the project. The visits aimed to learn about the situation of people with disabilities in these countries, meet with disability organizations and stakeholders, and identify potential areas for technical assistance and capacity building. In Colombia, MIUSA met with 12 DPOs, 6 USAID implementing partners, and 2 other stakeholders, while in Ethiopia, they met with 7 DPOs, 7 USAID implementing partners, and 3 other stakeholders. MIUSA also drafted BIDC action plans for technical assistance and training in both countries, which will be shared with senior staff at the USAID Mission. Follow-on communication was provided to USAID implementing partners and DPOs via email and phone, providing them with relevant inclusive development resources and discussing technical assistance needs in more depth. In addition to the field visits, MIUSA maintained regular communication with U.S. DPO collaborators, including Disability Rights Education Defense Fund, Mental Disability Rights International, the U.S. International Council on Disability, and the World Institute on Disability. MIUSA provided regular BIDC updates via email, individual phone calls, and a conference call, and shared results of field visits with U.S. DPO collaborators to explore opportunities for future partnerships. MIUSA also initiated communications with USAID/Jordan and established dates for an introductory field visit to Jordan, scheduled for August 15-21, 2009. The project's progress was monitored through the use of indicators, including the number of people trained, served, and organizations strengthened. However, due to the nature of the project's activities, some indicators could not be reported for the second quarter. The Building an Inclusive Development Community project aims to promote inclusive development by providing technical assistance and capacity building to organizations working on disability issues in developing countries. The project's progress in the second quarter of 2009 was marked by the conduct of introductory field visits to Colombia and Ethiopia, the drafting of BIDC action plans, and the maintenance of regular communication with U.S. DPO collaborators. MIUSA's work in the second quarter of 2009 laid the groundwork for future project activities, including the implementation of technical assistance and capacity building programs in Colombia and Ethiopia. The project's focus on promoting inclusive development and increasing participation by people with disabilities in US-based international development programs is critical to achieving the goals of the project. The project's geographic focus is on developing countries, with a specific emphasis on Colombia, Ethiopia, and Jordan. The project's timeframes are quarterly, with a focus on achieving specific goals and objectives within each quarter. The project's recommendations for future activities include the implementation of technical assistance and capacity building programs in Colombia and Ethiopia, as well as the continuation of regular communication with U.S. DPO collaborators.