DIVUSENI – WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES IN DEVELOPMENT

A passionate woman 1957 - Disability Activist 1976 - A biometrician 1982 - 1997

› Malkerns Research Station A policy developer 1997 -2005

› The Presidency of South Africa

A mother › 1985 Mpendulo› 1989 Thando

A business woman 2008 - › DIVUSENI

DIVUSENI is a woman owned consulting, trading & investment company

DIVUSENI is constituted of women with disabilities

› African Access18 Subsidiaries

WHO AM I?

Investments for African Women

Trustee & Board Member:ADD, DEC, DWDE, LC, TMDT

A development consultant

POLICY AS A TOOL FOR INCLUSIVE

DEVELOPMENT Policy development at the

Presidency› As an ENABLER for development

› Lay basis and guidelines for development

› Challenge is in the IMPLEMENTATION

ACTS DEVELOPED

• NATIONAL CONSTITUTION

• PROMOTION OF EQUALITY AND PREVENTION OF UNFAIR DISCRIMINATION ACT

ACTS DEVELOPED

• Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act – BB/BEE

• Preferential Procurement Act• EMPLOYMENT EQUITY ACT

POLICIES DEVELOPED

Integrated National Disability Strategy

Codes of Good Practice TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE GUIDELINES

ON THE EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

SECTOR CHARTERS

AGRICULTUREFORESTRYHEALTHPHARMACEUTICALHOSPITAL

MINING

GOOD PRACTICE MODELS

Current work environment Great Scorecard BEE company – benefits/credentials

› Black › Female› Persons with Disabilities

Organisational Development & Change Management

Program Design, Monitoring and Evaluation

Policy Development & Implementation

Training & Capacity Building

Disability Mainstreaming Strategic Media &

Communication Services Research› Policy Analysis› Project Evaluation› Mainstreaming Disability

Government Departments International

Organisations e.g. DFID, DPOD

Regional Organisations e.g. SAFOD

WE TAKE PRIDE IN OUR DISABILITIES

WE CELEBRATE OUR DIVERSITY

To move women with disabilities out of the stereotype of being limited in their achievements and activities to heights, which they can reach using their potential.

DIVUSENI offers services in the field of: Disability mainstreaming Organisational Development and Change

Management Programme Design, Monitoring and Evaluation Training and Capacity Building Strategic Media and Communication Services Policy Development and Implementation

There is evidence based research that proves that where women play an active role in the development of their communities; then those communities thrive successfully› To educate a woman is to educate a nation› Women share their success meaningfully

Therefore we believe that given the opportunities: Women with disabilities also inherently have that perspective of being catalysts of development› This drives our conviction that women with

disabilities are great strategic partners in development

There is NO world for disabled persons

Therefore INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT IS THE ONLY MEANINGFUL ROUTE TO FOLLOW FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

We believe that by enabling women with disabilities to actively participate in consulting, trading and investments› We contribute to inclusive development› We enable women with disabilities to take

up leadership position› We enable women with disabilities to

realise their potential

› We enable women with disabilities to regain their rightful place as full citizens in their communities

› We enable women with disabilities to regain their dignity amongst their communities; particularly amongst their families

Women with disabilities given the opportunities are able to participate & contribute in development

It starts with their OWN development DIVUSENI allows for this as the woman

take responsibility of their OWN lives DIVUSENI women LIFT THEMSELVES

UP!

These are provided by communities› Families, local support groups,

religious groups, training institutions, etc

These are provided by governments: national, local, district, etc

These are provided by international development agencies:› E.g. GPDD, UN, DFID, USAID

These are provided by the financial services sector particularly banks› The WORLD BANK has a very important

role to play› Local banks› Regional banks

These are provided by organisations of/and disabled people› DPI› SAFOD

Lack of good quality education Lack of access to training Lack of information Lack of a coordinated approach

to SUSTAINALBE development

Current Economic meltdown

Lack of commitment to business› “help-handout” syndrome› Missionary support› Government support› Entitlement syndrome

Lack of access to resources: particularly financial resources, which allow for capital investment

Lack of collateral support, which results in women with disabilities being unable to access formal financial support

In a world with so much inequality, it is difficult to use one’s success as evidence that success is possible

Hard work and dedication pays off› Success stories

DIVUSENI – Mining partnerships SWAHOMBE – Miss Confidence

STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES

RESEARCH EXCHANGE PROGRAMS –

SHARING DEVELOPING STRATEGIC

PARTNERSHIPS TRAINING & CAPACITY BUILDING LOBBYING & ACTIVISM

REASONS FOR RESEARCH

Need to quantify the challenges identified› Very well known BUT they need to be

quantified Areas of economic and social

protection

The Data will enable the “enablers” to move reports into action

PROPOSED RESEARCH AREAS Mainstreaming disability Given the current outlook on the global environment, which shows that in the near future life will be depleted of basic resources:› A focus on environmental issues as they

relate to women with disabilities is crucial Areas of environmental degradation

Areas of sustainable agricultural and effective survival strategies for women with disabilities

HIV/AIDS Reproductive health Economic empowerment strategies

PROPOSED RESEARCH AREAS Mainstreaming disability

Policy and legislation Education Working with Government Violence and disability

PROPOSED RESEARCH AREAS Mainstreaming disability

Relationship between Poverty and Vulnerable groups

Transport as an enabler of Development

Prevention of disability

PROPOSED RESEARCH AREAS Mainstreaming disability

Strengthening the disability debate

Development and DPO aid – review of policies

Humanitarian situations – conflict and disability

How the research is utilized to enable women with disabilities to benefit from the research

Ensure that research can be effectively utilized at every level of development

E.g. research in economic empowerment will identify what activities can be action oriented with specific identified outputs

E.g. employment should focus on what strategies to be established to ensure that it happens and what protocols to be followed.

Need to ensure that outcomes of research is applicable to delivery and can be used MEANINGFULLY

CONSULTATIONS: Convene regional consultative forums bringing organizations of disabled women, together with experts in the field - where women with disabilities who have the expertise and experience from respective regional areas would have an opportunity to discuss ways in which support could be directed at women.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Research as outlined above

Activism – on-going and targeted approach

Training & Capacity Building› E.g. How women with disabilities through

their organizations can be supported to help them to understand/unpack the ICRDP [Convention}

› To have the articles domesticated to enable women with disabilities to ensure they play an active role in their implementation for their benefit.

I THANK YOU

JSP MATSEBULAManaging DirectorDIVUSENI: Consulting, Trading & InvestmentsTel/Fax: +27-12 - 803 - 0015 (Int.)Fax: +27- 866-619230 (Int.)Cell: +27 - 82 - 373 - 3902 (Int.)Mailing/Physical Address: 229 Roos Street, Meyerspark, Pretoria, 0184, South AfricaWebsite: www.divuseni.co.za