United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability
Funding priority for the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability is targeted towards building the capacity of non-governmental organizations to take part in the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Fund is administered by the Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, within the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).
History of the Fund
The Fund was established pursuant to General Assembly resolution 32/133, in connection with preparations for the 1981 International Year of Disabled Persons. The General Assembly decided in its resolution 40/31 that the Fund would be renamed the Voluntary Fund for the United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons (1983-1992), and that its resources would support catalytic and innovative action to implement further the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons. By its resolution 47/88, the General Assembly decided that the Fund would continue in the period beyond the Decade as the United Nations Voluntary Fund on Disability, and that its terms of reference would include support for action to achieve the target of a "Society for all" by the year 2010, as endorsed by the General Assembly in its resolution 45/91.
Who is eligible for assistance from the Fund?
- Non-governmental organizations can submit requests for assistance (a letter of concurrence/non-objection from the relevant government body is required)
- Governments can submit requests for assistance
- Individual assistance to persons with disabilities is not provided
What types of projects are eligible for assistance?
The Fund provides small grants to support catalytic and innovative activities that, among others:
- promote greater awareness of the Convention and disability issues
- support the implementation of the Convention
- permit exchange of knowledge and experience, as well as dissemination of inclusive and accessible policies and practices
- promote mainstreaming of disability in the development agenda
- build capacity of stakeholders to improve livelihood and well-being of persons with disabilities in developing countries and to implement the Convention (stakeholders may include organizations of persons with disabilities, other civil society organizations, governments, private sector organizations, international development donors, etc).
- capacity building of regional and interregional organizations and networks of organizations of persons with disabilities
- Special attention is directed to requests for assistance submitted by least developed and related categories of developing countries.
Activities which are not eligible for funding include individual assistance, purchase of equipment (e.g. computers, cameras, assistive equipment, vehicles), construction of buildings, payment of rent or utilities
How to submit a project proposal:
- Project proposals are accepted throughout the year.
- Non-governmental organizations first need to obtain a letter of concurrence/non-objection from the relevant governmental officials, prior to submitting a request for assistance to the Funds. NGOs may wish to consult with the local office of UNDP about procedures for obtaining such a letter.
- Project proposals should be sent via email, fax, or post (email submissions are preferred). Contact information:
Secretariat for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
United Nations
Two United Nations Plaza, DC2-1372
New York, NY 10017
United States of America
Fax: +1.212.963.0111
Email: enable@un.org
How are project proposals appraised?
Project proposals are appraised by an interdisciplinary team of United Nations specialists with respect to:
- their consistency with the terms of reference of the Voluntary Fund
- their relationship to national development strategies, policies and programmes, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- the logic of the proposal design, its substantive content, work plan and budget
Since resources of the Funds are limited, project appraisals focus on catalytic and innovative aspects, and funding recommendations generally involve seed-money rather than full-funding grants.
How to prepare a project proposal:
A project proposal template is provided (see link below) for use when submitting applications for assistance to the Voluntary Fund on Disability. Project proposals will be accepted in other formats provided that all necessary information is included. Proposals may be submitted in English, French or Spanish.