What we do
The Atlas Alliance is a Norwegian umbrella organisation for the development work of disabled people’s organisations (DPOs). Our goal is to promote human rights and improve living conditions for people with disabilities and to fight tuberculosis in developing countries.
People with disabilities and people contracting tuberculosis are among the poorest and most marginalized in developing countries. Most of them are not granted their basic human rights and they experience frequent discrimination. Negative attitudes and stigmatization are the main obstacles for inclusion of disabled people and people cintracting tuberculosis.
The Atlas Alliance works with issues such as inclusive education, community based rehabilitation (CBR), organisational development, health and tuberculosis. Women and equality are cross cutting issues in all of our projects.
Education
Education is a basic human right. According to WHO, more than 90 percent of children with disabilities in developing countries do not attend school. Inclusive education is about giviing children with disabilities the same opportunities as everyone else. The Atlas Alliance aims to strengthen school systems to include children and youth with disabilities and guarantee them an education.
Communtiy based rehabilitation (CBR)
Communtiy based rehabilitation (CBR) provides disabled people with the tools they need to attain independence. The Atlas Alliance works with cross-sectoral rehabilitation initiatives at the local level.
Organisational development
Involving disabled people in decision-making processes is crucial for development. Through inclusion and organisational development, people with disabilities are given the opportunity to fight for their own rights. The Atlas Alliance supports and strengthen sister organisations of people with disabilities.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is a curable disease, yet 1.8 million people die from TB every year. 99% of these deaths are in developing countries. The Atlas Alliance works to prevent and treat TB. We cooperate with patient organisations on diagnostics, treatment and research.
Health
Lack of health and rehabilitation services for people with disabilities hinders development. The Atlas Alliance works with health projects for spina bifida, hydrocephalus, diabetes and improvement of eye health.
Funding
The Atlas Alliance receive 90 percentage of its funding from The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad). Additionally the Atlas Alliance provides funding of its own, obtained through the annual fundraising campaign on the Norwegian broadcast channel NRK1, which in 1981, 1991 and 2002 was dedicated to the Atlas Alliance. In 2009 we had the Operational Days work campaign, where Norwegian students worked one day to gather funding for education projects for youth with disabilities in Malawi, Uganda, South-Africa and Mozambique.
The Atlas Alliance have more than 30 years experience of development aimed at DPOs, and is Norads main partner in development for people with disabilities.
