Older Persons and Persons with disabilities are generally considered as being among the most vulnerable groups of the population. The main drivers of vulnerability amongst persons with disabilities are: poverty, additional cost of living with a disability, shocks at on-set of disability and, other natural factors, disability category, food insecurity and limited dietary uptake, social norms and expectations, abuse and violence and ageing with a disability. Recent studies in Uganda have stablished that the additional cost of living with a disability was 39.2% while, the Old Age dependence ratio is 7.4. This situation has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

ICD supports economic and social empowerment of persons with disabilities and older persons to enable them lead a self-reliant and independent life in their communities. This is done through equipping them with Skills that promote their employability both in formal and informal sectors. In this, we:

• Support groups to apply and ably utilise economic empowerment funds such as: the National Special Grant; Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), Youths Livelihoods Programme (YLP), Emyoga and resources under the Parish Development Model (PDM) among others;
• Training in ICTs to promote Inclusive Digital Economies (IDEs) and the use of such ICTs for employability and Business enhancement;
• Working with the relevant labour offices to enhance the working environment of persons with disabilities;
• Support persons to undertake alternative sustainable livelihoods for households hosting Child and youth with disabilities;
• Support job placements, shadowing and skills-based trainings and;
• Support agro-based and rural enterprises based on market rates and analyses among others.

With support from Multi-Community Based Development Initiative (MUCOBADI), ICD implemented a 2-year alternative livelihood project with commercial sex workers and young men who hitherto dealt in fuel syphoning in Naluwerere. The project provided information, counseling, skills training, supported access to employment, and provided Start up kits and grants to community groups in the area. A total of 48 young people directly benefited from the project.