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World Disability Day: Considering Disability in Development

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Although nobody expects to become disabled, it can happen any day, without warning. Disability affects nearly everybody at some point in their lives. The prevalence of disability in the world grew from 10% of the population in the 1970s to 15% in 2011. The current world population of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) is estimated at over one billion people, with higher prevalence rates in less developed countries (World Report on Disability, 2011). However, PWDs have remained invisible in most development programs, even though addressing disability issues from a development perspective can provide many social and economic benefits. Disability is thus a cross-cutting issue in all community development programs and should be given special consideration if we are to succeed in our work.

A guest blog by Rehema Namarome, Community Solutions Leader from Uganda

Reflections of a Voter

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Reflections of a Voter in Liberia's presidential elections October 2011

The streets of Monrovia were bustling at 6:30 that morning. Though Monrovians are early risers, this was unusual for a holiday morning. But of course this was an unusual holiday - October 11, 2011, Election Day. 

Good Development Starts with Good Listening

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While regional expertise will always be key to implementing successful, sensitive programming, I believe good development starts with good listening — which is something dynamic organizations like IREX can do anywhere in the world. 

My friends are never surprised to hear I have a business trip coming up – some even refer to me as a “traveling frog,” or “lyagushka puteshestvennitsya,” after a character in a popular Russian children’s story. Because of my field experience and program portfolio, I’m usually headed somewhere I can use my Russian. So my friends were understandably confused when I mentioned I was planning a trip to assess the basic education sector in Uganda: “Why Africa?”

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