Since the launch of the EMPOWERED – Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, Regional Cooperation and Development in the Western Balkans project, partners from six Western Balkan countries have been working together to create societies where persons with disabilities have greater opportunities for participation, employment, and an improved quality of life.
Over the first year and a half of implementation, significant results have been achieved, demonstrating the importance of regional cooperation, dialogue, and joint action in advancing the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
As part of the project, regional and trilateral conferences brought together representatives of institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector from across the region. A Regional Working Group on the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities was also established, connecting experts, organizations, and decision-makers with the aim of improving policies and practices related to disability inclusion.
At the local level, 15 local working groups were established, 10 local inclusion plans were developed, and 27 local inclusion projects were prepared. To ensure that the needs and perspectives of persons with disabilities are reflected in decision-making processes, more than 130 interviews, nearly 40 focus groups, and over 25 public consultations were conducted.
Direct support for persons with disabilities and their families was provided through more than 200 psychosocial workshops and over 620 hours of career counselling. At the same time, vocational training, skills development, and employment support programmes created new opportunities for beneficiaries to strengthen their competencies and improve their access to the labour market.
Advocacy and public awareness-raising activities have also been a key component of the project. Through campaigns, media outreach, and visibility activities, messages promoting inclusion have reached more than 600,000 people across the region.
These achievements demonstrate that sustainable change is possible when institutions, civil society organizations, local communities, and persons with disabilities work together. EMPOWERED continues to build the foundations for a society where equal opportunities, active participation, and inclusion are accessible to all.
The project is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and is implemented by ASB South East Europe, IDC Serbia, LIR CD, Alfa Centar Nikšić, CDI Macedonia, PREDA Plus Foundation, and the Albanian Disability Rights Foundation (ADRF).