In an interview with We are Able! (WaA!), Jasper Oei, Head of Programmes at SeeYou Foundation, reflects on the achievements, challenges and long-term significance of the We are Able! programme as it concludes in December 2025. Over the past years, the initiative has strengthened the capacity of organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), enhanced inclusive food security systems and fostered meaningful engagement in local governance. Jasper shares personal insights on what stood out most during implementation, how OPDs influenced policy and community structures, and why the programme’s legacy continues to matter for sustainable, disability-inclusive development long after its official close.
Looking back at the WaA! programme and the recent country closure events, what stood out the most to you in terms of impact — particularly how persons with disabilities and OPDs have been able to influence local food security and governance systems?
People with disabilities in the WaA! programme are now seen; they feel engaged and able to participate. This recognition comes not only from OPDs themselves but also from other stakeholders who increasingly acknowledge their role and contributions.
Inclusive food security has been a core theme of the project. Can you share examples of how the project helped OPDs and community groups meaningfully engage in food system decision-making — from production to access — and what this means for long-term resilience?
There are many examples of women who only needed a small push to start a small business. A modest grant or training opportunity enabled them to lift themselves and often their entire household out of poverty. These steps created long-term resilience by proving their capabilities and strengthening their economic independence.
Lobbying and advocacy have been key strategies of the consortium. What have been some of the most powerful advocacy moments or policy shifts resulting from WaA!, and how were OPDs central to those successes?
The signing of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in South Sudan was a major achievement. It gave a significant boost to the development and growth of OPDs in the country and demonstrated their central role in driving policy change and advocating for their rights.
At the country closure events, many partners discussed sustainability. How do you see the partnerships, networks and capacities built under WaA! continuing to drive inclusive governance and food security beyond the project’s end?
What is most important is that OPDs have positioned themselves more strongly within their networks. Their participation in government task forces, committees and working groups has become permanent rather than incidental. They now truly have a seat at the table.
Looking back on the programme from implementation to conclusion, what have been the most significant challenges and the most notable outcomes for you?
As a consortium and group of partners, we each brought our own expertise, whether in disability inclusion, food security or local governance. Over the years, we learned from one another and combined these strengths into a solid programme. It took time to build these relationships, especially during COVID, but we succeeded, and the collaboration grew stronger.
How do you envision the legacy of the WaA! programme continuing across the six project countries, and what lasting impact do you think it will have on ensuring the inclusion of persons with disabilities within food security systems?
Many OPDs and persons with disabilities are now more food secure, which means their families and communities are stronger as well. They have demonstrated that persons with disabilities are able to work, contribute and should not be left out. This creates a lasting impact because it serves as a model for other individuals with disabilities and for their communities.