The number of PWDs in some developing nations reaches 20% of the total population. In Ethiopia, data on disability is not adequately available. But according to the WHO (2011) estimation it reaches more than 17%. Accordingly, there are more than 20 million PWDs in Ethiopia. Disability is associated with aging in the developed nations, while it is a result of poverty and related issues, such as malnutrition, limited access to medical services, living in poor living conditions, infectious diseases, prenatal conditions, accidents, poor environmental sanitation, polluted water, family ignorance, communicable diseases, high prevalence of harmful traditional beliefs and practices. In most cases disability is perceived by the people as a Godly curse and PWDs are viewed as burdens to society, hence are denied even basic rights like access to education, health. Consequently, more than 95% of all persons with disabilities and their families in Ethiopia are living in extreme poverty (MOLSA, 2010).The public misunderstanding on the PWDs coupled with misconceptions on the causes lead PWDs to extreme marginalization, neglect and exclusion from every socioeconomic participation. To avert this public problem in the country, very few persons with disabilities, their families and friends come together and established some single disability focused organizations. In 1996, national associations come together and jointly established an umbrella cross disability network association currently named FEAPD to more intensify their efforts in more coordinated and collaborative way. FEAPD is a network of 26 single disability focused associations. It was re-registered as an Ethiopian Residents network association on 30 February 2010 per the country’s law bearing the registration number 1511. The federation is operating in addressing the very severe disability problems and worst life situations of persons with disabilities in Ethiopia in more coordinated and collaborative manner. Its member associations are:
1) Ethiopian National Association of the Deaf (ENAD)
2) Ethiopian National Association of Persons Affected by Leprosy (ENAPAL)
3) Ethiopian National Association on Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (ENAID)
4) Ethiopian National Association of the Deaf-Blind (ENADB)
5) Ethiopian National Association of the Blind (ENAB) and
6) National Development Association of Persons with physical Disabilities.
2. Vision:
FEAPD aspires to see a disability inclusive socio economic environment in Ethiopia.
3. Mission:
FEAPD has been established to help PWDs in averting disability related problems and improve their lives.
4. Objectives:
The objectives of FEAPD are to:
Enhance the public awareness on disability,
Reduce the disability information gaps in the country,
Enhance institutional capacities of DPOs and other stakeholders in addressing disability problems,
Build the capacities of persons with disabilities in improving their life situations,
Create linkage and alliances in addressing disability problems in Ethiopia,
Mobilize resources used to address disability problems in the country.
5. Organizational Structure and Sources of Support:
FEAPD has:
1) General assembly- that reviews the overall performance of the federation, elects members of the executive committee and endorses the strategic plan
2) Executive committee that gives policy directions, overall guidance to the executive office, and approves the plan of operations and budgets of the organization
3) Executing office that plans, coordinates, organizes and facilitates the implementation of activities of the federation. FEAPD has a well organized office, organizational policies & procedures, strategic plan, and implemented a number of successful projects with the support of ILO, Irish Aid, Threshold Association, World Bank, Action Aid, IDF, World Vision, CBM, British Embassy, FINDA, UNICEF, USAID and others during the last 15 years.
6. Major intervention areas
• Capacity building,
• awareness raising,
• Inclusive education
• HIV/AIDs/health
• Economic empowerment
• Resource mobilization,
• Conducting & supporting researches on disability,
• Women, children & youth development
• Environmental protection
