Projects

For many organisations or small businesses of persons with disabilities, Abilis project funding is their first opportunity to plan and implement a project of their own. Annually, we fund approximately 200 projects through which persons with disabilities and their organisations learn new skills and gain information. Project planning, implementation, reporting and monitoring teach the applicant organisations on how to collaborate with foreign donors, which improves the organisations’ possibilities to function in the future.

In-line with the goals of Finnish Development Cooperation Policy, Abilis is committed to improving gender equality, status of persons with disabilities, equity, climate resilience and low-emission development in its development cooperation. We pay special attention to how projects improve rights of persons with disabilities, participation possibilities based on equity, gender equality and the status and rights of women and girls with disabilities. In addition, we screen our projects for possible climate risks or impacts and provide grantees with recommendations and advice on how the risks or negative impacts could be minimized or managed.

Abilis grants financial support to projects of organisations or small businesses run by persons with disabilities. To receive funding for a project, the applicant group must fill in a project application form and send it along with necessary annexes to the Foundation. Our country representatives help groups throughout the process: applying for a project, implementing a project, and reporting to Abilis. They also visit the projects regularly and evaluate how the activities are progressing. Country staff organizes training that supports project management and skills development of the participating persons with disabilities. We monitor projects from start to finish and make sure that the granted funding is used accordingly.