Enhancing access to education and training for persons with disabilities in Somalia and Somaliland

Ongoing civil war and extreme poverty has substantially increased the prevalence of disability in Somalia. Estimates suggest that 15-20% of the population have disabilities, with the average family having at least one member with disabilities. However, support for people with disabilities in Somalia remains low. Widespread discrimination leaves people with disabilities excluded from education and employment, and vulnerable to violence and abuse. This impacts on their participation in decision making and advocacy for their rights. In this article, Lucy introduces the work of the Africa Educational Trust (AET) project ‘Enhancing access to education and training for people with disabilities’, funded by the EU between 2012 and 2015.