People’s Action for Inclusive Development

Background  

People’s Action for Inclusive Development (PAfID) is a non-governmental organisation working on disability and development. PAfID’s work focuses on inclusive development in Cambodia and internationally.  The vision is “an inclusive society where opportunities to participate in the cultural, social, and economic environment are open for all.” PAfID’s  mission is “to contribute to a world in which all persons live in dignity and fully exercise their rights and reach their potential.” Marginalised and vulnerable people are at the centre of the work, guiding its development and organic growth. PAfID was legally registered as local NGO under the Ministry of Interior in 2022.

The goal of PAfID is to support work and innovation for inclusive development in Cambodia and the region, offering local solutions to local problems. PAfID does this by:

• Empowering marginalised groups such as persons with disabilities to take development into their own hands.
• Striving to overcome all barriers in society and creating a safe and acceptable environment for all.
• Ensuring an emphasis on women and girls, whose exclusion leads to underlying causes of poverty and unequal development.
• Enabling people’s action for their own change.

PAfID is guided by its core values of care, responsiveness, quality, collaboration, and accountability.

Main Activities 

• PAfID recognises that actors in the field of development need to undergo organisational and systematic processes of change within their programs to move towards sustainable disability inclusion. PAfID  support these processes at the community, organisational, and governmental levels by working in participatory ways that promote inclusive dialogues, adherence to national efforts and alignment with international frameworks such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and contributes to the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).PAfID’s expertise lies in disability inclusion and inclusive development. Its work focuses on strengthening and supporting the capacity of relevant actors, such as Organisations of People with Disabilities (OPDs), NGOs, government entities, the private sector, and communities at both the grassroots and national levels. PAfID  also works directly with some of the most vulnerable groups, such as persons with disabilities, to ensure they can access their rights and potential by bridging key communication gaps. PAfID’s key areas of focus include:
  • Supporting women with disabilities in leadership and advocacy networks through capacity building, inclusive dialogue, and community outreach.
  • Supporting inclusive local governance through communication for advocacy.
  • Operating a Social Innovation Labs for disability inclusion, focusing on key areas such as access to employment and rural livelihoods for people with disabilities.
  • Promoting disability mainstreaming across sectors through inclusive dialogue, capacity development, lobbying, and advocacy work.

  Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) and climate action are also key cross cutting areas throughout PAfID’s interventions and organisational practices.

Partnership with Ponlok Chomnes II

Under the Ponlok Chomnes Program Phase II and through this partnership, PAfID works on the “Promoting Inclusive Dialogues for Greater Access to Social Protection focusing on PoorID and Family Package Programs for People with Disabilities” project, which contributes to strengthening evidence-based policymaking and inclusive dialogue in Cambodia, with a particular focus on disability inclusion and social protection. PAfID works closely with civil society, government, and communities to ensure that the perspectives of marginalised groups, especially persons with disabilities, are reflected in policy discussions and decision-making processes. Through workshops, focus group discussions, community forums, and innovative communication platforms and dialogues, PAfID ensures that diverse perspectives are heard and integrated into policy processes. This collaboration contributes to more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable social protection systems in Cambodia.

Project Objectives

The primary objectives of this initiative are:

• To facilitate inclusive dialogues among stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organisations, and community members including people with disabilities.
• To identify and address barriers to accessing the PoorID card and family package.
• To raise awareness through inclusive dialogues about the benefits and eligibility criteria of social protection programs.

To develop actionable recommendations for improving the inclusivity and effectiveness of social

Please click here for more information about PAfID.