Inclusive Education for Learners with Disabilities is an area of significant need globally and complements USAID Disability Strategy (http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PDABQ63 1. pdf).
There is high demand for Inclusive Education programming among relevant ministries as most countries in the
world have now ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and are reforming education policies to reflect legal mandates under Article 24 on Education.
In addition, focusing on Inclusive Education presents USAID with an opportunity to lead on Sustainable Development Goal Four’s promise of Education for All.
Furthermore, this focused approach will allow the Disability Funding Program to support more robust and longer-term projects and foster greater learning in the area of Inclusive Education that may benefit Agency programming overall.
This funding intends to support a program that is focused on getting children and youth with disabilities into formal, public education settings at the primary and secondary grade levels, helping them to stay in school, and supporting their learning with an emphasis on achieving better learning outcomes.
The funding will prioritize a program aimed at including students with a diverse array of disabilities (intellectual, psychosocial, developmental, sensorial, physical) in the mainstream education system.
The funding may also consider supporting a program that targets better learning outcomes for specific cohorts of students in public or private educational settings and/or a specific aspect of learning such as early grade reading.
Large-scale construction-related activity will not be prioritized; however, minor refurbishing of existing facilities (i.e.
making toilets accessible, installing ramps) may be considered and must comply with USAID Policy on Standards for Accessibility for the Disabled in USAID-Financed Construction (http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/Pdacg01 1. pdf).