The International Day of Persons with Disabilities, celebrated annually on December 3rd, is an opportunity to recognize the valuable contribution of partnerships and advocacy to strengthen collaboration, learning and effective action in advancing disability inclusion. On this day, we are honored to highlight our strong partnership with organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), such as DP Hanoi – a leading OPD in Vietnam – and a key partner in the Australian-funded GREAT Program.

GREAT and DP Hanoi are engaged in mutual learning through a program of formal technical training and on-the-job project collaboration. For example, in 2023, DP Hanoi participated in a week-long GREAT-led training on Market Systems Development (MSD). In October 2024, GREAT project staff, implementing partners and local government stakeholders working with GREAT benefited from an in-person and online training on Disability Inclusion. The training enabled all GREAT implementers to understand the importance of disability inclusion, the policy landscape and the immense potential of persons with disabilities to contribute to economic development.

In November 2024, Cowater International – GREAT’s managing contractor – provided a suite of face-to-face and online training sessions to bolster DP Hanoi’s ability to deliver fit-for-purpose disability advice for development programs. The training covered topics such as the Program Development Cycle, Market System Development (MSD), and the interaction of disability with broader Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) issues. DP Hanoi was introduced to gender equality concepts and explored practical approaches to integrate gender principles into its organizational development and project delivery. The training will enable DP Hanoi to provide better advice across Vietnam’s development programming and support the delivery of GREAT.

The strong collaboration between GREAT and DP Hanoi aligns with the Program’s GEDSI Strategy, which prioritizes disability inclusion in market systems development. By working together, GREAT and DP Hanoi are committed to creating a more inclusive and sustainable Vietnam.

Going forward, GREAT and DP Hanoi will build on their mutual learning activities. In December 2024, DP Hanoi will participate in a GREAT-led training on monitoring for systemic changes in MSD, further enhancing DP Hanoi’s MSD capabilities and enabling them to play a greater role in integrating GEDSI into GREAT delivery.

The effective delivery of international development programs is predicated on continued learning, and investments in knowledge and skills to maximize results for project beneficiaries. Through their collaboration efforts, GREAT and DP Hanoi are strengthening their institutional capacities and fostering a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities related to disability inclusion. This approach is essential to ensuring that persons with disabilities are fully integrated into all aspects of Vietnamese society.