Appendix 1 to Strategic Plan 2007-2011

Conclusions from EBU Cooperation Development Seminar
Madrid, October 20-22 2006

Introductory conclusions

In setting strategic goals, guidelines, designing programs or projects or otherwise taking actions within the cooperation area, it is essential to hinge arguments, rationale and reasoning on existing major international policy statements, strategic declarations or morally or legally binding international instruments that could support or defend the endeavours of the organizations of the blind. Examples of such documents of major importance are:

The UN standard Rules,

The Millennium goals,

The Paris declaration,

EU guidance notes, or policy papers and

The UN convention on the rights of disabled persons.


Conclusions related to the debate under the theme: "active participation of developing countries"

The concept of partnership as a necessary precondition for any durable and acceptable development cooperation was highlighted extensively. The concept includes such elements as:

Cooperative endeavour, sharing of goals and aspirations, working in unison, mutual reciprocity, an empowering process, where local people can take command, the gain of confidence enabling the beneficiaries to make own decisions, complete trust and understanding, accountability, joint actions in which profit and risks are shared.

Partnership and collaboration should be an end-goal and not just an intermediate means to reach the goals.

In designing and monitoring project outcomes, the fact that countries and conditions differ substantially entail that replication of models and methods cannot necessarily take place to the desired extent.

The concept of sustainability as a requirement for receiving development funding ought to be viewed broader than the usual concept of economic self-reliance after withdrawal. Rendering alleviation and improved opportunities and livelihood to say blind people in an area for a span of time might also get the tag of sustainable.

The concepts of inclusion and mainstreaming should, although valuable, be treated with caution as experience shows that inclusion only works if necessary specific facilities and services are available for blind people and especially blind children. Likewise, mainstreaming only becomes a valid concept, if the experts, the specific disability representatives are involved in propagation of knowledge, experience and involved in training and monitoring.

The issue of cross disability approaches was highlighted as experience shows that certain groups, amongst which the blind are to be found, hardly benefit from programs undertaken under such conditions.

Statistics as baseline data are often lacking which weaken the arguments of opwds.

Cross learning, training, awareness raising and setting certain precondition equal to observing cross cutting issues may stimulate governments to give issues important for the improvement of the lives of pwds priority.

Information training, means and improvement is imperative, including the availability of modern technologies used for information, communication and data processing.


Conclusions related to the theme "National "policies in international cooperation and the need for sectorial policies in favour of people with disabilities"

The strong correlation between poverty and disabilities was emphasized by key players at all levels. One of the main goals of cooperation work must be to fight poverty. Ways of breaking the vicious circle which becomes the composite effect of poverty and disability, should be done by

 educating politicians and other decision makers

 educating people

 building capacity at all levels in society

 enabling people to earn their own living.

The Goals shall be reached by true cooperation and not just by presenting pre-fabricated projects or programs and offering financial support. The knowledge and competence of the potential beneficiaries must be sought already in the stage of creating ideas for development work.

This approach calls for cooperation on both sides:

 On the donor's side cooperation must be guaranteed on two levels:

a) More coordination between NGOS and other organization supporting and financing projects in the developing countries

b) Consistent policies. This relates to the decision making level such as ministries and development agencies.

 On the recipient side:

a) A willingness to accept changing things

b) Willingness to take the responsibility for projects with due consideration to existing skills and competencies

c) Acceptance of the rules of the game (transparency, reliability, sustainability).

Collaboration with concerned end-users and the local organization is mandatory. This might cause initial problems because opwds in developing countries might not have the technical skills expected (for instance project management).

 Loss of resources could occur because of too complicated and bureaucratic formalities and too heavy administrative mechanisms.

Initiatives to broaden the financial opportunity base such as the establishment of the GPDD fund or other opportunities related to development banks were considered of the utmost importance.

Initiatives to bring together stakeholders in the field of development in order to exchange knowledge, best practices, share policy and strategy priorities are considered as of key importance, be it a conference like this one or initiatives to bring national development agencies together for such purposes.


Conclusions related to the theme "international humanitarian organizations and their contribution to the improvement of the life conditions of visually impaired persons"

Several of the humanitarian organizations that presented their work and priorities at this conference, had previously been devoted to charity work, ways of thinking where a health-based concept of disability had been predominant. Over time these organizations have evolved to become involved in social action, more rights-based work, reaching to an increased extent people with disabilities and willing to address the specific problems of amongst other, people with a visual impairment if properly sensitized. It is important to use the expertise, resources, well developed structures and administrative potentialities to have work done in countries where they operate. This calls for proper coordination, information, involvement and partnership in twinning the resources with the expertise of the relevant DPOS.

Organizations in developing and industrialized countries have to be proactive and outspoken when lobbying for specific actions, prioritization and interventions to take account of the needs of visually impaired persons in emergency, disaster situations and also within a field such as, for instance, having access to appropriate pharmaceutical products and treatment at an affordable price.


Conclusions related to the theme "the role of Development NGOS within the field of blindness in international cooperation policies"

The gap between organizations of and for the blind has decreased considerably during the recent years and greater collaboration and cooperation between various agencies and organizations now take place both bilaterally and in consortia.

The need for developing human resources is a key task which should jointly be undertaken by North ngos and other organizations that, in view of their remit and goals, would have knowledge and capacity to assist in such work (such as training professionals, staff, health persons, leaders etc.)

More active network creation, and the building alliances, should be promoted and become an integral part of organizational strategies, not only with organizations solely working within the field of blindness, but also with other useful entities and international organizations.

There is an ongoing trend that international organizations do not want to be directly involved in projects implementation, but rather work closely with local partners to create sustainability and overcome weaknesses within the local sector.

Likewise, there is a strong trend towards mainstreaming as a means of solving needs and challenges within the civil society. This entails that often the talk about disability will take shape in the broader sense. Even if today's reality is applying the mainstreaming methodology, which could inspire other organizations to become involved in disability work, it is necessary to also ensure strong organizations of the blind on the scene and ensuring the utilization of the expertise existing within the target group.

There is a need for South-South exchange of experience, best practices, methods and ensure that available resources (knowledge, tools, equipment) are mapped carefully and utilized to the maximum and with the largest synergy effect.

Advocacy is a considered the prime method to achieve necessary results in all fields and areas pertaining to visually impaired people, wherever in the world. This includes such activities towards large NGOS which we wish to take onboard the work benefiting the blind around the world and prior to beginning such work. Advocacy must be used and methods for training should be developed and supported, because, in the end, decision makers at any level have to acknowledge the existence of the need, and problems to be taken serious and addressed.


Conclusion related to the theme "The Blind Union in the European Union as a key player in the development of international development policies"

Whatever work NGOS within the blind movement or elsewhere within the ngo sector might undertake, the responsibilities should not be forgotten of national governments to support work to improve the opportunities for blind persons, respecting human rights, including marginalized groups in sectorial work. Although marginalized groups might be mentioned in overall programs, proclamations and declarations, the spotlight must constantly remain on the work, priorities, allocation of funds and utilization of expertise within the disability movement to reach a state of improved opportunities and further respect of disabled persons.

The specific needs of VI girls and women are and should be a main issue in any development cooperation. This group being doubled disadvantaged, it is necessary at all times to make special provisions that specifically address this area firmly and appropriately.


Partnerships :
When seeking partnerships, while there are no decisive and given criteria, an outset would be geographic, linguistic and historic criteria. However, the general issue should be the interest towards blind and partially sighted persons as spelled out in the work and specific bodies of the EBU and WBU. Also the criteria of other organizations with which we might consider to enter into partnership, must be respected.

The trend goes towards not just choosing organizations of the blind as partners, but opening up towards various types of partners such as public and private organizations and other CSOS. This is necessary to overcome the weaknesses of our organizations and guarantee the sustainability of any project (create basis for the future).


Selection of development cooperation issues :
How can we provide social services in developing countries and how can we develop human resources and advocacy skills.

Ultimately this should lead to mainstreaming disability issues and bringing them on the national agendas of governments in developing countries. Mainstreaming means taking disability issues onboard and, simultaneously, including the expertise and presence of pwds in all phases of the processes from design to implementation.


Information isses :
There is a great necessity to be proactive to make other organizations aware of our needs and to demonstrate to them the specificities of people with visual impairment.