Development cooperation

The Finnish Association of People with Physical Disabilities is a part of an international movement of people with disabilities. The target of the movement is the implementation of human rights of people with disabilities and achieving equal opportunities for disabled people in Finland and abroad.

The FPD has development cooperation projects in Zambia.  In addition to that, the FPD plans to widen the cooperation to Ethiopia. The projects are funded mainly with the support to civil society organisations’ development cooperation granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.

The FPD has two projects with a Zambian sister organisation ZNAPD – Zambia National Association of Persons with Physical Disabilities. The project aims at bettering the organisational sustainability of ZNAPD and participation in community life, and improving the food security of ZNAPD members. As well, the project seeks to reduce the dependence of ZNAPD members from their family members.

The second project with ZNAPD is a farming project in Ngwena river. The purpose of it is to create a more stable basis to the economy of ZNAPD and reduce the dependence from outsider donors. Farming project also employs people with and without disabilities in the region of Lufwanyama.

In addition to projects with ZNAPD, the FPD also cooperates with Zambian Disacare wheelchair centre. The activities of the centre include building and  preparation of mobility aids.
The project supports production of mobility aids and develops new income generative activities.