www.abilis.fi
Introduction of
Abilis Foundation
www.abilis.fi
Abilis Foundation
• Established in 1998
• Board of Directors consists of disabled
experts and activists (different backgrounds)
• Employs disabled persons – experts, both
in Finland and in the Global South
• Has an office in Helsinki with 9
permanent staff members
www.abilis.fi
Abilis Foundation
• Promotes equal rights and opportunities
for people with disabilities (PWDs)
• Supports and empowers PWDs living in
developing countries to act as full citizens
in the society
• Assists this easily marginalized and
minority group to work for human rights
and improvements of living conditions
www.abilis.fi
Principles of Abilis work (1/2)
• Support to DPOs in the Global South
• Building of the capacity of DPOs
• Funding for organizations that include disabled
people in their leadership
• During the entire project cycle, in planning,
implementation, reporting and evaluation, PWDs plays
the key role – they are not only beneficiaries
• Funding for small-scale reliable projects of
good quality, 500 - 10.000 € / year
www.abilis.fi
Principles of Abilis work (2/2)
• Main focus areas and themes are:
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Human rights of PWDs
UN Convention on the Rights of PWDs
Income generation (IG) of PWDs
Independent life and empowerment of PWDs
Status, education and IG of disabled girls and
women
• Living conditions of disabled children
www.abilis.fi
Grant making of Abilis
• Abilis is a donor agency  funding
development projects
• Open call for proposals where Southern
DPOs can send applications
• Situation in August 2011:
272 ongoing projects in 43 countries
About 68 % of the projects are in Abilis
Partner Countries
www.abilis.fi
Project application &
decision process
• Application form prepared by PWDs/DPOs
• Free format or Abilis application form
• Attachments required
• Applications are sent to Abilis office
 Analysis and resume of application by the Abilis staff
• Funding decision by the Abilis Board
Agreement or Rejection letter
Payments in three (3) instalments
Reporting format: Narrative and Financial report
www.abilis.fi
Types of ongoing projects
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Poverty reduction and income generation
Awareness raising and advocacy
CBR and other rehabilitation
Accessibility (including Sign Language,
Braille material)
• Organizational development
• Education (Inclusive education)
• HIV/AIDS & health issues related to PWDs
www.abilis.fi
Accessibility and education
www.abilis.fi
Income
Generating
Activity
www.abilis.fi
Home Care Service
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Vocational training to women
www.abilis.fi
Accessibility – ramp construction
www.abilis.fi
Poverty reduction –
livestock farming
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Awareness raising
Thank you!
www.abilis.fi