Alliances for an Inclusive Society: World Bank Promotes Inclusive Development in Latin American Countries

One tangible contribution to the education and training of persons with disabilities is found in the Alliances for an Inclusive Society project. The purpose of this effort is "to promote collaboration among governments, the civil society and international organizations for including disability related elements in the programs and strategies of the United Nations Millennium Declaration." This project was presented during a workshop held in Managua, Nicaragua, May 14 - 16, 2004.

This project, which will extend to several Latin American regions, mainly focuses on general public policies (health, education, employment, housing, childhood and youth, as well as other areas like infrastructure and social security) needing improvement in each of our countries. Needs may be assessed and addressed both with local resources and the support of international financial institutions.

During the Seminar held in Managua, Nicaragua, the World Bank officials said that: "though recognizing the importance of disability groups, their support will be part of a more general coverage to other traditionally excluded groups, needing development strategies and programs."

As representative of Colombia, I supported such explanation and shared with the group how in my country disability public policies are been developed. With this approach, persons with disabilities have participated in the changes undertaken by several local governments, including the Municipality of Bogotá, including the District Development Plan "Bogotá Without Indifference 2004-2007" (Bogotá sin Indiferencia 2004-2007).

With respect to the field of disability, the objective is to provide education and training resources to strengthen persons with disabilities and to aid in improving their living conditions.

Participants and trainers

There were representatives from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. This Seminar was made possible thanks to the financial contribution from Japan to the World Bank, coordinated with Disabled People' International of Japan and the Foundation for Latin America of the Spanish Organization of the Blind (Fundación para América Latina de la Organización de Ciegos de España).

Mr. Ricardo Silveira represented the World Bank, Yolanda Muñoz González represented the Inter-American Development Bank, Taisuke Miyamoto represented DPI-Japan, and some members of the Canadian Association for Community Living also participated.

The purpose of these workshops was " to provide training so persons with disabilities may become custodians or "sentries" regarding the developing policies and programs that should be available to them and their families. By sentry we mean, persons who are making sure that dispositions and measures needed for equal opportunities and inclusion are planned for and undertaken locally and nationally."

The exposition team was made up by the following disability and inclusion specialists: Rosangela Berman Bieler, Project Director, Ricardo Silveira, Mary Essex, Luis Fernando Astorga, Sergio Meresman, and Mario Siede. These last persons served as consultants for the Workshop and the project in general.

Inclusive development

During his presentation, "An Agenda for Development and Combating Poverty in Latin America", Dr. Ricardo Silveira explained: "Inclusive Development means that we value the contribution made by each person within a process we call development. It means that there is no room for discrimination. It means, instead, that differences are recognized and diversity becomes an advantage."

Regarding the World Bank commitment toward persons with disabilities, Dr. Silveira recalled the following words of its President, James D. Wolfensohn: "The World Bank will continue to foster inclusive development among its member countries and its partners. Development is mainly inclusion: to bring into society those persons who have never been part of it... Unless we achieve the inclusion of persons with disability within the development efforts, it will be impossible to reduce world poverty by half before the year 2015. The inclusion of children with disabilities in primary education is part of the larger set of United Nations Goals for the Millennium, approved on September 2000, by 180 world leaders."

The process is developing

The idea is to expand this project in Latin America and Caribbean the countries. The purpose of this activity in Nicaragua was to present a working methodology and tools for promoting Inclusive Development. Those who were invited were chosen because of their leadership and experience with the social movement of persons with disabilities.

Now, we should organize similar seminars, like the Managua Workshop, but with local participants from the countries selected, and the adaptations suggested by them. The purpose will be to promote the Inclusive Development, the concept and a general methodology. Representatives of major organizations of persons with disabilities are the first to be invited, together with the media, government official and people associated with planning and executing policies and programs pertinent to disability, development, and human rights, and agencies thereof.

A subsequent activity was held in July, 2004 in Brasilia, Brazil.

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