DISABLED PEOPLE SOUTH AFRICA (DPSA)
FRAMEWORK PROPOSAL FOR CO-OPERATION BETWEEN DPSA AND SISTER ORGANISATIONS
IN THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Disabled People South Africa (DPSA) is an organisation of disabled people
that represents disabled people of all races and has a current membership
of over twenty five thousand disabled persons the majority of whom are in
rural areas and urban townships.
This framework proposal identifies the rationale for co-operation between
DPSA and its sister organisations in the developed countries, and proposes
concrete activities that could form the basis for such co-operation. We
are confident that after reading this presentation, you will identify
possible areas that we can co-operate.
B. RATIONALE FOR COOPERATION
The transitional process in South Africa has been beset with challenges not
only for the Government of National Unity but also for the civil society.
Whereas previous support to the civil society was based on strong
opposition to apartheid, the post-democratic support criteria is based on
whether development activities in South Africa are a priority when compared
to other countries in the developing countries.
Missing from the debate about support for organisations in South Africa is
the fact that the country has two different economies that have for more
than thirty years developed into two different directions.
Poverty and unemployment are closely linked.
It is generally acknowledged that an overwhelming majority of disabled
people (whether residing in rural or urban areas) are considered ultra-poor.
The dependence on disability pensions and remittances is particularly
strong in the rural and township areas, where nearly half of the poor
depend on remittances and social pensions as their primary source of income.
In South Africa, organisations of disabled people have been marginalised by
an increasing number of northern funding agencies. The main reasons for
this development vary from inadequate funding (as a result of increased
demand for resources) to preferences for other causes other than disability.
Bilateral funding agreements between South Africa and northern governments
do not include support to disability programmes in each specific sector
funded by foreign development assistance.
C. PROPOSAL FOR NETWORKING AND LINKAGES
Since 1994, DPSA has been exploring the possibility of linking up and
networking with counterpart organisations in developed countries. DPSA is
already working closely with organisations in Southern Africa through the
Southern Africa Federation of Disabled (SAFOD) and other international
disability networks.
The main reasons for the linkages and the creation of partnerships between
the northern organisations in the disability sector and DPSA are as follows:
* There is a common vision and understanding of disability issues,
trends and needs from a human rights perspective,
* The need to share information, knowledge and exchange views between
disabled people in South Africa and their counterparts in developed
countries,
* The need to maximise available opportunities presented by northern
governments in the form of international development assistance, and
* The need to establish people-to-people relationships through
exchange visits and learning experiences.
The creation of a sustainable long-term relationship between organisations
of disabled people in the developed countries and DPSA is a matter of top
priority. DPSA proposes that a phased co-operation agreement be established
between DPSA and organisations of disabled people in the northern countries.
Such an agreement will achieve the objectives of:
* Maximising the opportunities for development co-operation presented
by the existing government to government bilateral development co-operation
agreements.
* Enabling DPSA to benefit from the knowledge, skills, and expertise
of counterpart organisations in the developed countries.
* Facilitating the exchange of knowledge and learning experiences
related to disability programmes and
* Enhancing north-south co-operation on disability issues and
policies.
The proposed co-operation agreement should have the potential of generating
direct and spin-off benefits to organisations of disabled people in
Southern Africa particularly in Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, and
Botswana. The human rights approach to disability issues is in line with
the UN Standard Rules and other international policy instruments.
D. POSSIBLE AREAS OF CO-OPERATION
DPSA has planned a series of programmes that are aimed at addressing the
needs of its member self-help groups and ordinary disabled people.
These programmes present a unique opportunity for co-operation. We have
outlined the main objectives and planned activities for each programme in
the main campaign document, which is available on request. Each programme
has a detailed plan document and budget and we request an opportunity to
present this to you for your consideration. Details of the following
programmes are covered:
¨ Enterprise Development Programme (EDP)
¨ Disabled Women’s Development Programme (DWDP)
¨ Disabled Youth South Africa (DYSA)
¨ Membership and Policy Development Project (MPDP)
¨ National Training Programme (NTP)
¨ DPSA/Rural Extension Services (RES)
We are confident that after reading this summary, you will identify
possible areas that we can co-operate. DPSA invites your comments and
inputs in order to realise our objectives of networking, linkages, and
co-operation between your organisation and ours.
At DPSA’s end, please feel free to contact Andrew K. Dube Campaign
Organiser, on the following details (available 24 hours a day) during the
duration of this campaign:
Address: 7 East Bend Road, Beacon Bay, 5241 East London, South Africa
Telephone and Fax: +27 43- 748 6883, E-mail:[log in to unmask]
(Alternative Telephone number after hours): +2743-748 4180 (no fax)
Cellphone: 083 284 2232
DPSA’s National Secretariat and Secretary General, is based at:
2 St James Road, Southernwood, East London 5201 South Africa
Telephone: +2743-7431579 Fax: +2743-7229470
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
We look forward to receiving your response.
East London
South Africa September 2000.
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