Disability and Development Partners

31/03/2026

A final newsletter: farewell from DDP, March 2026 https://ddpuk.org/final-spring-newsletter-2026/

30/03/2026

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2026/mar/30/prosthetics-brothers-creating-innovative-artificial-limbs-for-africans

When Ubokobong Amanam lost his fingers in an accident he teamed up with his brother John, a special effects artist, to design a prosthetic that suited him – now they run a thriving business

27/03/2026

By the end of February 2026, our partners at Fwdn Nepal had ensured that 37 self-help group (SHG) members- 21 women and 16 men – had been provided with livelihood support, so they could invest in income-generation activities.

Training workshops have also been held on small business development and marketing, to help the participants maximize their returns from self-employment in areas such as growing vegetables and other crops, small grocery shops, and rearing goats, cows or poultry.

Other activities include making and selling incense, handicrafts like tailoring and cushion-making; a home printing press, shops selling mobile phone accessories, dairy products or meat. One person is running a beauty parlour and another growing flowers.

Some people have already seen their income improve, and we are hopeful that every SHG member will see a boost to their finances in the coming months, to carry on after the project comes to an end.

“Of all the disabled people in the area,” said one participant, “55 of us are extremely glad to have had this support from FWDN and DDP. We will do our best to make a decent living.”

It is rewarding to know that FWDN’s hard work over the last 7 months has had real practical benefits for disabled people and their households in Kageshwori Manohara.

27/03/2026

Some of the participants in our project with Fwdn Nepal for Disability, Inclusion and Livelihoods needed some extra support to be able to take part fully. Since December 2025, FWDN has helped seven people by supplying or referring them for devices and other kinds of assistance, including walkers, a white cane, and educational support.

“Referral support has a great help,” said one participant. “Many of us come from lower-class families with financial challenges, and we sometimes have problems meeting even our basic needs. So by making daily life easier this support has helped us a lot.”

27/03/2026

Anish reflects on the Public Service Preparation course he took, organized by Forward Looking Nepal in partnership with DDP UK, as a successful step towards obtaining a teaching licence and career in education. Good luck, Anish ji! You already sound like a teacher, with a strong, authoritative tone.

Anish reflects on the Public Service Preparation course he took, organized by Forward Looking Nepal in partnership with DDP UK, as a successful step towards ...

27/03/2026

Saurav hopes to find a post in Nepal's civil service, and to give himself the best chance of success in a competitive field, he enrolled on a Public Service Preparation course organized by Forward Looking in partnership with DDP UK. We wish him every success.

Saurav hopes to find a post in Nepal's civil service, and to give himself the best chance of success in a competitive field, he enrolled on a Public Service ...

27/03/2026

Sami took a Public Service Preparation course organized by Forward Looking Nepal in partnership with DDP UK, view a view to embarking upon a teaching career. All the best for the future, Sami ji!

Sami took a Public Service Preparation course organized by Forward Looking Nepal in partnership with DDP UK, view a view to embarking upon a teaching career....

27/03/2026

Mohan has taken steps towards finding a job in Nepal's banking sector, having taken the opportunity to join a Public Service Preparation course organized by Forward Looking, in partnership with DDP UK. We wish Mohan all the very best for the next stage.

Mohan has taken steps towards finding a job in Nepal's banking sector, having taken the opportunity to join a Public Service Preparation course organized by ...

27/03/2026

When the new Trump administration shut down the US Agency for International Development in 2025, our partners at Forward Looking (FL) were halfway through a USAID-funded training programme for young people with disabilities preparing for jobs in Nepal’s public sector, including the civil service, banking, teaching, and school administration.

Neither FL nor DDP was prepared to let the final group of 17 young people down, so we used DDP’s own reserves to make sure the Public Service Commission (PSC) course could take place. 11 of the participants have visual impairments, five are physically disabled, and one person has hearing and speaking disabilities. Many classes were online, and some took place in further education institutions.

The PSC course provided valuable knowledge and skills the participants will need in public service roles. Trainees reported increased confidence in their professional abilities and felt better prepared to apply for government positions, sit competitive Lok Sewa Aayog exams and do demanding jobs. They also improved their communication skills and proficiency in both Nepali and English.

Since they finished the course, two trainees have gone on to pass teaching license exams, one has passed their Banking exam, one has secured a teaching position at Sarad Ma Vi School, and several trainees successfully passed papers I and II of the Officer Level course.

Listen (above) to what some of the participants had to say. Thanks to Forward Looking for all your efforts to equalize opportunities for young people in Nepal.

27/03/2026

Since the Autumn, as part of our Disability Inclusion and Livelihoods project, Fwdn Nepal has established five self-help groups (SHGs) for disabled people and family members in the municipality of Kageshwori Manohara, on the edge of Kathmandu.

The groups meet each month in their respective wards, and these meetings have become an important forum for the members to discuss, plan for income-generation and to monitor their progress. They also make monthly group savings, and the collected funds can be used for small loans to support and expand their businesses.

FWDN’s social mobilizer Ambika regularly attends, too, providing guidance, encouragement and support, and helping to enhance the participants’ understanding of disability issues and inclusion.

The SHGs have gradually developed the capacity to conduct their meetings independently: preparing meeting minutes, managing the agenda and group activities, demonstrating the growing organizational and leadership skills which will be beneficial for the groups’ long-term sustainability. Several SHGs have already been registered, and others are in the process.

In the words of one SHG leader: “We come regularly to the SHG meetings and do monthly savings, discuss many points and go home with new learning every time. We also get to talk with our members, which is really good thing. In just a few months we have established real bonds.”

25/03/2026

Our partners coordinate and collaborate with local government to develop a sense of local partnership and ownership, and to involve Ward and Municipality representatives in efforts for the economic empowerment and inclusion of disabled people in their areas. Self-help groups (SHGs) offer local people a collective voice for self-advocacy, and provide the authorities with an interlocutor and a sustainable model for community development.

FWDN has convened two steering committee meetings so far, in December 2025 and February 2026, and there will be one more to hand responsibility for nurturing the groups to the local authorities.

The Deputy Mayor of Kageshwori Manohara Municipality, Ms Shanta Thapa, was joined by other officials including the Chief Executive Officer, Ward Chairs, the head of the Women and Children Department, and representatives of disability organizations, local disabled people, Fwdn Nepal and DHRC.

They discussed roles and responsibilities, how to tackle challenges and enhance collaboration between the Municipality and disabled people’s organizations. Municipal leaders also expressed their commitment to supporting the SHGs in future, to promote sustainable livelihood opportunities and disability inclusion.

30/12/2025