UN & SEED Trust Partner to Empower Persons Living with Disabilities

Dar es Salaam – For the first time in Tanzania, the United Nations has trained and certified persons living with disabilities on their role in implementing the Global Goals. In partnership with SEED Trust – an NGO working towards the social and economic empowerment of Tanzanians living with disabilities. 25 persons living with disabilities were certified as Global Goals Champions, which adds to the 1,500 of already trained champions. It gives them the license to be ambassadors of the SDGs to raise awareness and be part of the implementation of the Global Goals in their communities with a special focus on reaching other people living with disabilities. The certification of the 25 persons living with disabilities is part of the UN’s effort to leave no one behind as called for in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The new Global Goals Champions will campaign and advocate for solutions to challenges faced by persons living with a disability. They will focus on issues related to persons living with disabilities for four of the 17 Global Goals which are Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being, Goal 4: Quality Education, Goal 5: Gender equality, Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities.

Speaking on behalf of the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Alvaro Rodriguez, Ms. Hoyce Temu, UN Communications Specialist said, “The Global Goals are universal and inclusive - they call for everyone to get involved and this includes persons living with disabilities who are among the most marginalized. We, the UN, want persons living with disabilities to understand the Global Goals and to play an active role in their implementation.” She added that, “Working closely with the government and SEED Trust, we want these new Global Goals Champions to show that living with disabilities should not stop you from playing a role in Tanzania’s development.”

Emphasizing on the importance of including persons living with disabilities and their continued partnership with the UN, in development activities, Ms. Margaret Mkanga, the Executive Director for Seed Trust Tanzania and former Special seats MP for people with Disability said “People living with disabilities were instrumental in creating this transformational roadmap to a better future, now the hard work of real change lies directly ahead. Persons living with disabilities must be leaders; guiding the world achieving these goals for everyone. This journey demands our persistent and unwavering duty to hold our governments accountable to their own commitments! We cannot afford to be left behind again”

Note to Editors:

Earlier this year, the United Nations donated 1,000 copies of Global Goals factsheets which were printed in braille(a system of raised dots that can be read with the fingers by people with impaired vision) to Seed Trust Tanzania in an effort to reach persons with impaired vision. The training of the 25 new Global Goals Champions is a continuation of the UN’s partnership with SEED Trust which aims at achieving the social and economic empowerment of Tanzanians living with disabilities.

Seed Trust Tanzania is a disability organization in the country that works on defending and promoting the rights of people with disabilities (Men and Women) as well as increase access to social opportunities. This is demonstrated through their core areas of focus on advocacy, health, inclusive education, livelihood and community rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities in Tanzania.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that as of 2014 over almost 9 per cent Tanzanians were living with disabilities. The government mandates that 2 per cent of municipal budgets go towards supporting persons living with disabilities.