The first day of the Two-Day Intensive Training on Advocacy Engagement and Policy Influencing was an inspiring and transformative event, bringing together disability rights leaders, advocates, and stakeholders. This high-level capacity-building session was organized by the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) in collaboration with the Inclusive Friends Association (IFA), with support from SUOMI FINLAND and CBM Global Disability Inclusion.
Held under the theme “Empowering Voices, Influencing Policy, and Strengthening Disability Inclusion through Strategic Advocacy,” the engagement aimed to equip Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and their mentees with lived experiences. Participants were provided with practical tools to move beyond mere consultation roles, stepping into their rightful positions as influential architects of public policy.
A critical message echoed throughout the session: sustainable change requires more than dialogue—it demands strategic leverage, evidence-based engagement, and coordinated action.
As Oluwapamilerin Oluwajuyigbe, Programs and Operations Officer (Mental Health with Ditty), powerfully stated:
“Strategic advocacy is the backbone of sustainable disability inclusion. Policies do not change through goodwill alone; they evolve when informed voices engage systems with clarity, credible data, and effective negotiation leverage.”
Here Are a Few Captivating Points:
- Advocacy Is About Root Causes, Not Quick Fixes “There’s a reason why there’s food insecurity. There’s a reason why there’s insecurity in the land. There’s a reason why there are so many out-of-school children.” Real change begins when we stop treating symptoms and start confronting causes. “We are looking for the root cause and wanting to reach out to policy-makers who can address those root causes and cause lasting change.” Advocacy goes beyond charity; it challenges systems.
- Advocacy Creates Large-Scale, Sustainable Change “Instead of providing food for the person, you create a way or empower the person… a long-lasting way that the person can get enough food.” That is the difference between relief and reform. “Advocacy is not just for one person… it affects a group of people.” It’s not about isolated intervention; it’s about collective impact.
- Policies Do Exist, but Implementation is Key “We have really good policies, but these policies are not implemented.” This is where advocacy becomes essential—pushing policies to be altered, improved, or fully implemented.
- Understanding the Difference Between Advocacy and Lobbying “All lobbying is advocacy, but not all advocacy is lobbying.” Advocacy mobilizes the public, while lobbying targets decision-makers. Both aim at change, but advocacy is the broader force that drives it.
- Advocacy as a Bridge Advocacy acts as a bridge between problems and policy, between voices and power, and between today’s crisis and tomorrow’s solution. Lasting change is not accidental; it is advocated for.
Capturing the Moment
Throughout the day, several photos were taken to document key moments from the advocacy training led by JONAPWD. The images showcase participants deeply involved in capacity-building sessions. Among them are representatives from the deaf community, individuals with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities, and parents of persons with disabilities— all contributing meaningfully to the discussions.
As we forge ahead, it is crucial to remember that every voice matters in shaping a more inclusive future.
Stay tuned for Day 2, where we will continue to build on these critical discussions!
