Overview
The Disability Rights Fund (DRF) is a multi-donor fund that operates as a pooled fund by combining the resources of multiple governmental and private donors. This enables donors to harmonise their efforts and provides them with an efficient way to reach organisations outside their normal scope.
Our support for the DRF
We have supported the DRF since its inception in 2008, first with a start-up grant and later with larger contributions to cover both re-granting and operational expenses. Our current grant of £1.3 million between 2010 and 2013 reinforces our commitment to the DRF and is expected to leverage further support on a scale of 1:4 (or equivalent of £5.8 million).
The impact of our support to DRF so far has been to increase the profile and engagement of disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) in civil society agendas in the countries where the fund is operational. This has included increasing the voice of excluded minorities within the disability movement. In recognition of the often very limited capacity of DPOs, much of the DRF’s grant-making has focused on ‘movement-building’ as a first step. During this grant period the DRF will focus on supporting advocacy and monitoring activities, thus increasing the proactive participation of DPOs in the advancement of the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.