A visually impaired consultant on a terminated, U.S.-funded primary literacy project said: “As a professional who is blind, my chances feel even more limited. Every month without work could affect my career momentum, making it even harder to regain stability.”
Date: 3/25
Region: Africa
Country: Malawi
Topic: Economy & Livelihoods, Gender Equality & Inclusion
Policy Lens: Moral Leadership
Entry Type: Field Observation
Additional Context: This quote is attributed to Stuart Chauluka, who worked as a disability and accessible education consultant for Inclusive Development Partners on the Next Generation Early Grade Reading, or NextGen, USAID project in Malawi. Chauluka mentions significant concerns in his ability to reenter the job market and provide for his family in the future.
Devex Researcher Note: The program was planned to run until 2027 with a budget of $75 million. When the project was terminated, $39.6 million had been spent. The Malawian labor market is largely informal, with most workers engaged in low-added value activities and only 10.3% holding permanent jobs. For persons with disabilities, the situation often is even more difficult — according to the 2018 census, only 13.1% of people with disabilities had any form of formal or informal employment.
Source: Inclusive Development Partners