World Education Expands Disability Inclusion Efforts in Malawi with New USAID-Funded Initiative

Young women communicate in sign language at a DARE DREAMS program session. DARE DREAMS is an adapted version of the DREAMS program that delivers HIV and gender-based violence prevention services to young women with hearing impairments. Photo: Lusayo Banda, World Education.

World Education is thrilled to announce additional funding under the USAID-funded Ana Patsogolo Activity (APA) to enhance disability inclusion in Malawi. This funding will focus on promoting accountability among government and civil society actors to ensure inclusive health services for persons with disabilities (PWD).

We will implement the initiative in collaboration with key partners, including the Ministry of Gender, Community Development, and Social Work; the Ministry of Health; and the Malawi Council for Disability Affairs (MACODA), the parastatal organization responsible for driving disability inclusion across government structures. In addition, World Education will work closely with the Federation of Disability Organizations in Malawi (FEDOMA) to strengthen its network of organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) and enhance their ability to advocate for disability-inclusive health services, hold stakeholders accountable, and monitor progress at community, district, and national levels.

Addressing Intersectional Gaps in Health Access

Approximately 86 percent of PWD in Malawi live in underserved rural areas where health service provision is already strained. Barriers to accessible and inclusive health care are significant. The initiative seeks to address these challenges by bridging gaps in resources, data, and advocacy at all levels of the Malawian government service delivery system.

Building on Progressive Legislation

Malawi has made significant strides in disability inclusion, such as the February 2024 adoption of the Persons with Disabilities Act, which establishes a human rights-based approach to disability affairs. Despite these advances, operational challenges remain due to limited resources, data availability, and coordination across sectors.

Driving Systemic Change for Disability Inclusion

This activity will support MACODA to mainstream disability inclusion within the health care system, promote access to health information for PWD, upgrade MACODA’s registration and data collection systems, and strengthen FEDOMA’s District Disability Forums to institutionalize social accountability to prioritize the needs of PWD, especially children and youth.

A Legacy of Global Expertise

This initiative builds on World Education’s inclusion work under APA. For instance, the DARE DREAMS pilot innovation served adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) with hearing impairments by providing adapted and contextualized HIV and gender-based violence prevention services under APA’s AGYW DREAMS programming. Beyond Malawi, World Education possesses extensive experience in disability inclusion and system strengthening that draws on successful programs in countries like Laos and Nepal, including the Okard (“Opportunity”), LEARN, and Reading for All projects.

World Education is committed to ensuring that persons with disabilities in Malawi can access equitable health services and that stakeholders are equipped to champion inclusion at all levels.