Nothing About Us Without Us – Participatory Audits

What Humanitarian Need Is Being Addressed?

Humanitarian needs to be addressed are those arising from conflict driven internal displacement of older people and persons with disabilities. An ethnic based conflict has been affecting the Oromia region as well as the adjacent Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region (SNNP) region, since 2018.   Due to conflict the areas have faced major devastation to infrastructure and service provision reducing their capacity to cope with COVID-19.  Furthermore the area suffers from recurring drought due to climate change induced problems. Due to focus of the government and other NGOs being on the conflict resolution the area has not received attention on funding on Covid-19 response.

What Is The Innovative Solution And How Will It Improve Existing Humanitarian Practice?

Persons with disabilities and older people will actively audit the humanitarian practices, and generate their contextualized strategies. Platforms will be created to support learning and innovative solutions to improve existing humanitarian practices.

Expected Outcomes

Barriers that hinder the meaningful participation of older people and persons with disabilities in humanitarian context will be identified through this project. Locally contextualized and tailored strategies will be designed to remove the barriers through the active and meaningful participation of older people and persons with disabilities. This will enable OPAs and OPDs to have their voices heard, increase their capacity and be able to access humanitarian support where necessary.

Nothing About Us Without Us Project

Tearfund, in collaboration with Ethiopian Guenet Church Development & Welfare Organisation (EGCDWO) created the Nothing About Us Without Us Project in Shashamene Ethiopia.  The project used inclusive methodologies to empower Older People’s Associations (OPA) and Associations of People with Disabilities (OPD) to conduct audits of humanitarian practices. Through the project, OPAs and OPDs developed an inclusive humanitarian response strategy which is being used as an advocacy tool to sustain the process started through this project.  OPA and APDs in collaboration with NGOs and CBOs of Shashemene town established a joint OP and PWD Inclusive Humanitarian Response Strategy Ratification Committee, through this committee they will advocate for its ratification.

These videos help bring to life the impact of the project on the local community and those involved for the first time in influencing humanitarian decisions that affect their lives.

Project Overview

Audit

Self-help groups

Case study