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ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PWDs are usually faced with the challenge of accessing programmes that address their economic needs such as loans, information, improved agricultural inputs as well as strengthening their skills and competences in managing viable economic enterprises. This is partly due to limited knowledge about available opportunities, limited skills, stigma and discrimination associated with disabilities and inadequate representation on key decision making bodies at national and local levels. This program area focuses on improving livelihood of PWDs through empowerment in terms of skills and competencies in managing viable income generating activities (IGAs) as well as empowering PWD households to be able to meet their basic needs. The programme area advocates for inclusion of PWDs on economic empowerments programs (e.g. NAADS, PMA e.t.c) to enable them utilize available opportunities and increase their participation hence improve their economic capabilities. It further caters for persons with disabilities in Northern Uganda who have been made more vulnerable as a result of the war. Although the government of Uganda and the private sector has endeavoured to address the plight of affected people in Northern region, the PWDs have often remained powerless, excluded and marginalized in accessing support. The marginalisation of PWDs in Northern Uganda is not only a violation of human rights but in effect a social problem which if not solved will hinder a full and inclusive rehabilitation process in the North. Some of the key problems faced by PWDs in the war affected in Northern Uganda include; limited access to basic food, shelter and water; poor access to basic services such as education and health, inadequate mobility capacity and assistive devices, stigma and discrimination, lack of integration and involvement of PWDs in local government and NGO budgeting and planning and lack of awareness among PWDs about basic rights and lack of mobilization of PWDs The programme supports NDPOs and DUs through strengthening their capacity in IGAs and resource mobilization skills which are passed on to the PWDs they serve. Lastly, the program lobbies for disability friendly guidelines for such programs so as to increase access of PWDs to the programs. This component aims at promoting equitable and sustainable participation of PWDs in the formal and informal employement sectors. The intervention invilves making PWDs productive, building their enterpreneurship skills, accessing credit and lobbying for job placement
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