By Abbas Nazil
A new programme aimed at expanding the participation of people with disabilities in agriculture has been launched in Mozambique as part of a wider effort to promote inclusive rural development across Southern Africa.
The three-year initiative, known as SPARK II Scaling Up Disability Inclusive Rural Transformation in East and Southern Africa, will operate in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, with activities in Mozambique focused on Inhambane, Sofala and Niassa provinces.
The programme seeks to remove barriers that limit the participation of people with disabilities in agriculture and agricultural value chains while supporting more resilient food systems, economic empowerment and inclusive rural communities.
SPARK II-ESA builds on the earlier SPARK programme, which supported people with disabilities to design and develop practical tools and approaches for inclusive agriculture through AgriLabs.
The earlier programme also trained Disability Inclusion Facilitators to strengthen disability inclusion within agricultural and rural development activities.
In Mozambique, the new programme is expected to ensure that people with disabilities are actively involved in agricultural activities and value chains rather than being excluded from opportunities linked to rural economic development.
The initiative is funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development and led by Light for the World and Mozambique’s Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Fishery.
It is being implemented in partnership with the International Labour Organization, Procasur and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Among the innovations developed through the first SPARK programme were wheelchair-accessible storage barns, demonstrating how agricultural infrastructure can be adapted to meet the needs of people with disabilities.
The programme reflects a broader push to ensure that agricultural development is designed with the participation of people who are often excluded from decision-making and economic opportunities in rural communities.
Meanwhile, disability inclusion has also featured in developments in sport and global health during September.
The men’s South Sudan Blind Football team received the 2026 Eli Wolff Football Without Limits Award at the World Football Summit.
The award, presented by Integrated Dreams, recognises organisations working to advance the inclusion and visibility of people with disabilities in football.
The recognition follows the team’s success at the Blind Football African Championship Division 2 in Uganda last year, when South Sudan won the competition during its international debut.
The team is supported by Light for the World and the adidas Foundation and is scheduled to compete in the Division 1 competition in November, with an opportunity to pursue qualification for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
South Sudan Blind Football Head Coach Simon Madol Akol said the team had grown from just two players training under a tree with a locally modified ball to more than 50 participants in the South Sudan Blind Football League.
The inclusive sports programme has also expanded beyond Juba to Bor, Pibor and Yambio and has reached more than 120 women and men with visual impairments.
In the eye health sector, Biruktayit Kefyalew, an eye health expert with Light for the World, was elected to the board of the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.
Kefyalew, a trained optometrist with a master’s degree, has experience in academia, clinical practice, research and multi-country programme leadership.
Her election came after she represented Light for the World at the World Health Organisation’s SPECS 2030 meeting, which focuses on translating commitments on uncorrected refractive error into action.
In Ethiopia, Light for the World also hosted a media roundtable aimed at strengthening journalists’ understanding of eye health and improving public awareness and advocacy.
The meeting brought together media professionals, eye health experts, government representatives and development partners to discuss the state of eye health and child eye health in the country.
Participants highlighted progress in expanding eye care services, improving infrastructure, developing the eye health workforce and increasing access to equipment and supplies.
However, avoidable blindness and visual impairment remain challenges, with trachoma, limited resources, shortages and uneven distribution of skilled professionals, inadequate rural access and gaps in childhood eye health coverage continuing to affect outcomes.
Light for the World Ethiopia Country Director Suadik Hassen stressed the importance of stronger community engagement to ensure children receive timely medical evaluations.
Participants also highlighted the role of the media in providing accurate eye health information, promoting early screening and treatment, amplifying community voices and advocating for accessible and inclusive eye care services.
