Capacity and Pacific Disabled P eople’s O rganisations

1. Capacity and Pacific Disabled People’s Organisations August 2014 Pacific Disability Forum

2. Presenters Setareki Macanawai Pacific Disability Forum Deborah Rhodes and Robyn James Australia Pacific Islands Disability Support

3. Partner contributor Nelly Caleb Disability Promotion & Advocacy Association (DPA)

4. Purpose and structure of session • What is capacity? • Suggested principles for contributions to DPO capacity through research • 2008 workshop – partnership as a contribution to capacity • PDF and APIDS research – questions, and methodology • Findings • Film

5. Capacity – what is it? • Capability to commit and engage • Capability to carry out tasks • Capability to relate and to attract resources • Capability to adapt and self-renew • Capability to balance diversity and coherence Source: Baser and Morgan 2006

6. How to contribute to capacity Apply relevant principles: • Seek to understand cultural values in each context and their influence on capacity • Build trust and mutual respect • Recognise and value existing capacity • Focus and build on strengths in each context Apply principles to research in disability: • Include people with disabilities as researchers • Research collaboratively • Research for the benefit of participants • Make sure the messages are useful

7. 2008 Workshop

8. Reflection from Nelly Caleb from Vanuatu

9. Research title • Capacity Development for Effective and Efficient Disabled People’s Organisationsin Pacific Island Countries • Undertaken 2011-13

10. Research objectives • Synthesise existing research on capacity development pathways for DPOs • Provide opportunities for reflection and learning in DPOs about capacity • Identify issues affecting capacity of DPOs • Develop principles and themes for DPO’s own capacity development • Identify preferred approaches for partners who wish to contribute to DPO capacity

11. Research questions • What capacity do DPOs consider they have already? • What factors influence the current capacity of DPOs? • What has worked well in terms of capacity development processes undertaken by DPOs themselves to date?

12. Research Questions (2) • What are DPO priorities for future organizational capacity development? • What are effective and preferred approaches and tools for development partners to contribute to DPO capacity?

13. Research elements • A literature survey • which identified that no other strengths-based research had been undertaken of DPOs internationally and little information was publicly available about the capacity of DPOs in the Pacific or elsewhere • Visits to 12 countries, which included: • training of researchers • Interviews • group meetings • planning and report-back workshops

14. Participating countries • Cook Islands • Tonga • Samoa • Fiji • Kiribati • Tuvalu • Nauru • Vanuatu • Solomon Islands • PNG • FSM • Palau

15. Research products • Country reports and country summaries, including case studies • Pacific wide report

16. Process for each country • Preparations before visits – identification of DPO nominated researcher • At least one researcher from PDF and APIDS spent one week in-country with DPO • First day with research team • Series of workshops/interviews/meetings with DPO members • Interviews with other stakeholders • Report back and planning workshop with DPO members • Drafting and revision of country report

17. Findings – in four categories • DPOs’ priorities for their own capacity pathways • What DPOs would like to be able to meet their priorities • How DPOs would like their partners to contribute • Overall conclusions

18. 1. DPO priorities for their own capacity

19. DPO capacity priorities • Expand on commitment among people with disabilities • Strategic and action planning and ability to implement agreed plans • Opportunities to increase the practice of advocacy • Stronger networks, relationships and partnerships at local, national, regional and international levels • Increased skills and confidence to use existing skills among members and Board members • Increased and reliable funding for operating costs • Increased membership and access by members to the DPO and the DPO to members

20. Expand on commitment among people with disabilities

21. Strategic and action planning and ability to implement agreed plans

22. Opportunities to increase the practice of advocacy

23. Stronger networks, relationships and partnerships at local, national, regional and international levels

24. Increased skills and confidence to use existing skills among members and Board members

25. Increased and reliable funding for operating costs

26. Increased membership and access by members to the DPO and the DPO to members

27. 2. What DPOs would like as contributions to their capacity

28. Regular sources of funding for organisational operations and projects

29. Technical support, on specific issues identified by each DPO,

30. Volunteers, who are suitably qualified to provide relevant contributions and who have the personal qualities to work respectfully and collaboratively in DPOs

31. Funding for establishing and implementing exchange and mentoring programs within DPOs across the region and internationally

32. Funding for the organisation of in-country training in local languages

33. Provision of funds to purchase and maintain computers, software which supports accessibility for people with disabilities and training for members in the use of such systems.

34. 3. How development partners can contribute to DPO capacity

35. DPO plans and priorities should be the driver of objectives, activities and funding

36. A respectful partnership approach

37. Flexibility should be included in all processes

38. Both parties need to be able to discuss and be clear about expectations

39. 4. Overall conclusions

40. Increased capacity in recent years

41. DPO work complements other disability rights contributions

42. Importance of respectful DPO-Government partnerships

43. CRPD, among other things, is a tool for contributing to capacity

44. A Pacific definition of DPOs

45. DPO leadership is crucial

46. Balancing core priorities and others’ agendas

47. Networking and collaboration between Pacific DPOs and others

48. Optimism, motivation and enthusiasm – based on recognition of strengths

49. This is our agenda…….

50. Research team and participants in Luganville, Vanuatu