Persons with disabilities continue to face barriers to meaningful work and economic participation. These barriers are not simply a question of individual skills or willingness to work. They can include discrimination, inaccessible workplaces, limited reasonable accommodation, lack of information and networks, and difficulty accessing the resources needed to enter employment or build a business.

Evidence from the International Labour Organization shows that persons with disabilities are less likely to participate in the labor market, experience higher unemployment, and tend to earn less than persons without disabilities. The evidence also shows that persons with disabilities are more likely to be self-employed, partly because self-employment can provide greater flexibility where formal workplaces remain inaccessible.

Our Employment and Livelihoods work recognizes that there is no single pathway to economic independence. For some people, the opportunity may be a job. For others, it may be starting a small business, developing an existing enterprise, learning a marketable skill, or gaining access to finance, mentorship, markets and business networks.

We therefore work with persons with disabilities to identify opportunities that match their strengths, interests and circumstances. Through entrepreneurship and skills training, mentorship, accessible information and connections to relevant institutions, we aim to strengthen people's ability to earn an income and build sustainable livelihoods.

Goal: Support Persons with Disabilities to access the skills, opportunities, resources and support theyneed to pursue meaningful employment, entreprenuership and sustainable livelihoods.

Strategies

• Provide customized training in entrepreneurship, employability, business management and other livelihood skills based on the needs and interests of persons with disabilities.
• Support entrepreneurs with disabilities to develop, start and strengthen enterprises through mentorship, business development support and connections to markets and relevant resources.
• Work with employers and other partners to expand access to employment opportunities and promote disability-inclusive recruitment, reasonable accommodation and accessible workplaces.
• Connect persons with disabilities with entrepreneurs, professionals, employers and business leaders who can provide mentorship, practical guidance and professional networks.
• Develop accessible toolkits, guides and other resources that help persons with disabilities find employment, understand entrepreneurship and make informed livelihood decisions.
• Build partnerships with financial institutions, businesses and development organizations to improve access to appropriate financial services, markets and economic opportunities.
• Collaborate with organizations of persons with disabilities, government institutions, employers, financial institutions and civil society to advocate for policies and practices that remove barriers to employment and entrepreneurship.