The Federation of Disability Organizations in Malawi (FEDOMA) says individuals with disabilities in Malawi continue to face significant challenges in accessing employment, particularly in the business sector, due to unfavorable business environments.
These remarks were made in Lilongwe during the opening of a four-day Disability Rights Fund Grantee meeting aimed at advancing disability rights.
In an interview with MIJ Online, Boniface Massa, Board Chairperson for FEDOMA, said many persons with disabilities who seek employment are engaged in businesses, therefore it is crucial to create a conducive environment for their operations.
“The workshop is very critical for us as FEDOMA, in particular being an umbrella body for organizations of persons with disabilities, the focus is to build capacity but also collaborations among organizations and how we work with the government.” said Massa.
Massa also stressed the need for continuous investment in the capacity of organizations and individuals with disabilities.
Meanwhile, Chrissy Zimba, Program Officer at the Disability Rights Advocacy Fund for Malawi, emphasized the significance of the gathering, noting that “the disability movement is the least funded sector in unleashing and promoting diversity in the disability movement.”
Zimba added that the meeting will provide grantees with the opportunity to network, share lessons, and discuss best practices in advocacy.
“Since the Disability Rights Fund started funding Malawi, we have given over 3 million United States dollars to various organizations of persons with disabilities in Malawi, and we have worked on different advocacy areas focusing on the development of inclusive education,” said Zimba.
Additionally, George Chiusiwa, Director General of the Malawi Council for Disability Affairs, added that this platform will provide the government with an opportunity to learn from various stakeholders in addressing the challenges highlighted by FEDOMA.
