Advocacy in education

What do we mean by advocacy?

Handicap International advocates for the right to inclusion of disabled children in national education policies and practice. Advocacy can mean different things to different individuals and communities. For Handicap International, advocacy work in education is understood in the following ways:

• A planned process, often looking at one key issue or policy position
• Influencing positive changes in society
• Proposing recommendations for policies and practices that will reduce the causes of poverty and disadvantage
• Opening up a space for public discussion on key issues
• Supporting individuals or groups to make their voice heard

HI’s work in the field of advocacy is underpinned by international and national frameworks on education (Education For All goals), disability (UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, article 24) and development (Millennium Development Goals), and its extensive experience at local level with education partners in 15 different countries.

Handicap International is active in education advocacy on three main levels: international, national and local. HI’s strategy in advocacy is to create links between the levels promoting clear and consistent messaging around inclusion and disability.

At international level Handicap International is a member of various education networks. The following two are involved in advocacy work.

1. The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) is a network of NGOs, teachers unions and civil society groups which promotes education as a basic human right. Recent work has included lobbying G8 governments to increase commitment to international aid for education; the publication of a report which takes a critical look at the UK government’s aid disbursement for education, and active participation at national level in the Global Action Week, which takes place every year.
2. The education working group of the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC) has a membership of largely European-based INGOs, however, the group has a broader remit to advocate for the right to education for all at international level. Activities to date have included work to influence donors on inclusive education (particularly the EU/EC, European Governments and UNESCO); support to the Fast Track Initiative (FTI) to include marginalised groups in mainstream basic education plans, strategies, systems and initiatives (with a particular focus on disabled children), and the development of cross organisational learning within IDDC to promote stronger joint advocacy.

At national level Handicap International works alongside national Ministries of Education, Health and Social Services and other education actors in our projects to ensure that policies and practice adhere to fundamental principles of inclusion, and are disability ‘responsive’. At national and local levels HI builds the capacity of Disabled People’s Organisations to advocate effectively on issues around inclusion in education.

At local level Handicap International supports disabled children and their families to engage in constructive advocacy with local communities and education authorities.