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The Southern Africa Federation of the Disabled (SAFOD) is a leading Southern African disability-focused network engaged in coordination of activities of Disabled Peoples Organisations (DPOs) in the Southern Africa region. The organisation was formed in 1986 by persons with disabilities as a federation of DPOs with a strong presence in 10 countries. In each of these countries, we coordinate our programs and activities through our national affiliates, as follows:
1. Federation of Organisations of Disabled People in Angola (FAPED);
2. Botswana Federation of Disabled People (BOFOD);
3. Lesotho National Federation of the Disabled (LNFOD);
4. Federation of Disability Organisations in Malawi (FEDOMA);
5. Forum of Associations of Disabled People in Mozambique (FAMOD);
6. National Federation of People with Disabilities in Namibia (NFPDN);
7. Disabled People South Africa (DPSA);
8. Federation of Organisations of Disabled People in Swaziland (FODSWA);
9. Zambia Federation of Disabled (ZAFOD); and
10. Federation of Organisations of Disabled People in Zimbabwe (FODPZ).
Our Mission
“To advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities as well as nurturing and strengthening its affiliates and other stakeholders in Southern Africa to ensure promotion of inclusive development and human rights for persons with disabilities.”
Our Slogan
SAFOD operates under the following motto: “Unlocking an inclusive society for persons with disabilities in Southern Africa.”
Our Vision
“An inclusive society where persons with disabilities are treated with dignity, respect and on the basis of equality.”
Our Work
In each of the 10 countries where we operate, our focus is mainly to strengthen the capacity of our affiliates so that they are able to effectively advocate for the rights of the persons with the disabilities in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD); lobby for inclusive policies and programs; and many other activities. SAFOD has successfully implemented activities and programs, delivering on its mission of strengthening DPOs in SAFOD member countries through training, research, coordination, information-sharing, promotion of human rights and stimulating persons with disabilities’ political and social development.
In November 2014, SAFOD held the Strategic Planning Retreat in South Africa as part of a consultative process to seek input into the new five-year Strategic Plan for 2016-2020, which is currently under review in preparation for the new 2021-2025 Strategic Plan.
The consultative process in 2014 led to the identification of the eight core programs implemented under the Strategic Plan for 2016-2020, as follows:
1. Southern Africa Capacity and Institutional Building Strategy (SA-CIBIS)
2. Southern Africa Program on Inclusive Policies, Legislation and Justice (SA-IPLJ)
3. Southern Africa Disability Research, Documentation & Learning Centre (SA-DRDLC)
4. The Southern Africa Program on Inclusive Access to Health Care Services (SA-PAIHCARE)
5. Southern Africa Disability Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Program (SA-DEEEP)
6. Southern Africa Disability and Gender Mainstreaming Program (SA-DGMP)
7. Southern Africa Inclusive Education Program (SA-IEP)
8. Southern Africa Development Program for Children and Youth with Disabilities (SA-DCYD)
How long has your Organisation been operational?
Since 1986
Is your Organisation a registered entity? If so, please list your registration details below for eg: NPO Number, PBO Number, NPC Number etc
Charity No. CR6505
Do you have a Wish List? If so, please post it below:
Including an accessible vehicle for our staff on a wheelchair and other mobility devices
Significant increase in access to affordable assistive technology for persons with disabilities, most significantly those in rural under-resound settings and Southern Africa
Where can we find your Organisation online? Please list links to your Website and Social Media Platforms here:
https://www.facebook.com/safod2014
https://www.linkedin.com/company/southern-africa-federation-of-the-disabled—safod
Which Cause achievement are you most proud of? Feel free to elaborate on why and include any links:
Funded by the Google Impact Challenge, we established a cause called the Assistive Technology Information Mapping (AT-Info-Map), a project (https://www.atinfomap.org/) that uses a mobile app (https://www.atinfomap.org/app.html) since March 2016 to map the availability of assistive technology in Southern Africa. The project has now grown rapidly to include an AT web database (https://assistivetechmap.org/), a regional AT Exhibition (https://www.saate.org/), and a series of national assistive technology (AT) awareness seminars, among other AT initiatives.