UNESCO and ILO to host regional multicounty training programme

The United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation Regional Office for Southern Africa (UNESCO ROSA) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Regional Office will host a joint UNPRPD multicounty induction training workshop for the respective UNPRPD project Advisory or Dialogue Committees on Ending Stigma and Discrimination, Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Marginalization of persons with Disabilities in Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe from 28 February to 4 March 2022. 

The induction training programme will empower the nominated regional advisory or dialogue committee members with knowledge on key disability inclusion concepts that will enable the smooth implementation of the regional project. 

This training workshop will also be used as an opportunity to remind the UNPRPD Project participants of the regional project’s main goal and focus areas of fighting the prejudices and stereotypes that currently prevent persons with disabilities from accessing skills development and employment opportunities in the region.

Attending the workshop will be members of the projects Advisory or Dialogue Committees from the 4 countries. This includes Government Ministries involved in disability rights and labour, Organization of persons with Disability (OPDs), Employers’ and workers Organizations, Technical and Vocation Training institutions, Human Rights Commissions, and Academia. Representatives from the National Commission for UNESCO, UN Resident Coordinator's Office (UNRCO) and UN Agencies, and the media from the 4 countries will join the training.

This very unique comprehensive training workshop will be using a blended format with face-to-face presence of each team in each country, and a joint connection via an online platform. An estimate of 100 participants is expected, mostly staff, with at least 20 participants in the physical meeting per country. 

This training programme comes after the realization that persons with disability in Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe continue to be left behind and remain a marginalized group in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and workspaces. 

As also shown in Interface of Disability, Gender and Culture in Zimbabwe Perspectives of Communities:  Abridged Summary Report the marginalization of persons with disabilities has resulted in several issues, including negative cultural and religious beliefs, and societal and institutional or systemic prejudices and stereotypes that still exist in societies. 

The United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD) Regional project will run for two years. It will support the 4 countries to jointly develop and test models and tools that can help Technical and Vocational and Education Training institutions (TVET), employers, employees, and employers’ organizations to collectively understand and address stigma and discrimination patterns that exist towards persons with disabilities.