Inclusive Livelihoods

A vast majority of persons with disabilities and their families live in rural areas where access to basic services is limited. In Ethiopia, an estimated 95 percent of all persons with disabilities live in poverty. Many depend on family support and begging for their existence. A study in the Oromia region found that 55 percent of the surveyed persons with disabilities depend on family, neighbors, and friends for their living, while the rest generate meager income through self-employment, begging, and providing housemaid services (CARDOS-2007). Also, it has been noted that persons with disabilities have fewer job opportunities, despite the fact that some have acquired appropriate training and skills through their own efforts and the assistance of government and humanitarian organizations. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that disability exclusion from the labor market comes at a national cost of 3 to 7 percent of GDP. Fortunately, there is an increasing realization among employers that promoting workplace diversity is good for business. Reasonable workplace adjustments and supportive policies are often less expensive than perceived and can also benefit workers without disabilities as they promote more inclusive work environments.

Program  Focus Areas

INCLUSIVE FORMAL SECTOR EMPLOYMENT

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE: Increased employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in targeted public and private sectors by 2023

INCLUSIVE FINANCIAL SERVICES

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE: Increased number of persons with disabilities participating in savings and credit associations (SCAs) and having access to local savings and credit services by 2023

ETHIOPIAN BUSINESS AND DISABILITY NETWORK (EBDN)

The Ethiopian Business and Disability Network (EBDN) was initiated by ECDD to promote formal sector employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. The EBDN addresses disability as a diversity issue from a private-sector perspective. The EBDN fosters the development of a workforce culture that is respectful and inclusive, promoting the hiring, retention, and professional development of women and men with disabilities. The EBDN is a member of the ILO Global Business and Disability Network (GBDN).

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE: EBDN becomes self-sustaining, with an increased number of companies and organizations that are EBDN members, providing employment opportunities for persons with disabilities