U4ADP Project Holds End-of-Year Documentation and Dissemination Meeting – Stakeholders Commit to “Leave No One Behind”
Lilongwe, Malawi 9 June 2026 The UNITE-4-ADP (U4ADP) project successfully held its end-of-year documentation and dissemination of best practices and lessons learned stakeholders meeting at Annavilla 7 Hotel in Lilongwe. The meeting brought together key stakeholders including ward councillors, social welfare and community development officers and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) representatives from Lilongwe and Dowa districts.
The gathering provided a platform for stakeholders to reflect on the first year of project implementation, discuss what worked well, identify gaps and develop improvement strategies for the year ahead.
Councillor for Lingadzi East ward in T/A Chiwere, John Limani, Dowa District, expressed profound appreciation for the knowledge gained through the project.”This gathering has opened my eyes. I promise to teach my people in Dowa so that we can work with them efficiently. I personally do not miss these meetings because I learn more each time I attend.”
Madam Harriet Matamula, Senior Assistant Social Welfare Officer for Lilongwe District Council, emphasized the transformative power of knowledge sharing. “Knowledge is power. What this project is doing is empowering people with disabilities through the knowledge being shared. I encourage everyone to work together to bring great successes.”
Responding to group discussion presentations, Miss Stella Nkhonya, Executive Director of WAG Disability Rights, highlighted the collaborative impact of the U4ADP project.
“U4ADP has brought great collaboration. I encourage everyone to share the knowledge that they have learned. Together, we can ensure that no one is left behind.”
In his closing remarks, Mr. Lansen Chikopa, Grants administrator at DAPP Malawi, emphasized the importance of collaboration in protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. “Let us work together so that people with disability should feel that their rights are also being protected.”
About the U4ADP Project.
The UNITE-4-ADP project aims to strengthen civil society regional partnerships in favour of the ratification, domestication and implementation of the African Disability Protocol (ADP) in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In Malawi, the project is being implemented in Lilongwe and Dowa districts by WAG Disability Rights and DAPP Malawi with support from the European Union delegation in Zambia.
Looking Ahead Participants engaged in plenary discussions on lessons learned and what worked well during the first year. The meeting concluded with closing remarks and a prayer. The insights gathered will inform the project’s work plan for the coming year.
