HI works to improve the vocational and economic inclusion of people with disabilities in Benin through awareness raising, training and advocacy. The programme supports the creation of inclusive businesses and develops guidance and financial support mechanisms to promote access to employment for people with disabilities. Our teams work with the authorities, companies and training centres to facilitate the participation of people with disabilities in the political debate and to support advocacy actions aimed at securing their inclusion in the world of work.
HI also works with the authorities and schools to ensure that children have access to education and that the inclusive approach is developed in Benin. The programme seeks to improve education policies and strategies at national level and ensures that teachers have the knowledge and skills required to provide quality teaching and support to all students. Teams also support the families of children with disabilities by organising consultations and referring children to care centres, according to their needs.
To ensure that the most vulnerable populations are taken into account, HI’s teams train humanitarian actors to analyse priority needs and improve the impact of the aid provided. The programme works with the other NGOs present in the country to ensure that they give greater consideration to the specific needs of certain populations, such as the people with disabilities, older people and women. HI is also developing logistical expertise that gives it a very precise understanding of the needs and vulnerabilities of populations. Armed with this knowledge, our teams advise humanitarian actors on setting up projects that promote the resilience of communities and their ability to recover on their own.
They also work with organisations of people with disabilities and civil society organisations that combat violence against women and girls, particularly those with disabilities, supporting them through training and the sharing of good practice to maximise the impact of their action.
Finally, HI’s programme is working with a demining training centre in Benin, the CPADD (Centre de perfectionnement aux actions post-conflictuelles de déminage et de dépollution). Training modules have been developed to improve the safety of stocks of conventional weapons and ammunition, thereby limiting the risk of accidental explosions, which claim hundreds of victims worldwide every year. Teams also work with government bodies on risk education, helping to design awareness-raising tools for all audiences and training staff in risk education.
