SAFOD #UnlockTheEveryday
Assistive Technology Campaign!
SAFOD partners with 10+ organisations of persons with disabilities, civil society organisations, academia, and other actors across selected Southern African countries to raise awareness about assistive technology. Funded by ATScale.





SAFOD Assistive Technology Awareness Campaign
Watch the video to learn about our campaign
About this campaign
SAFOD partners with ten organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) in eight countries in Southern Africa for a 3-month campaign to raise awareness about assistive technology. This campaign is funded by UNOPS and AT Scale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology.
Campaign aims
- Create visibility and build momentum towards World Assistive Technology Day.
- Increase meaningful participation and engagement of persons with disabilities to lobby and advocate for high quality and affordable assistive technology in their countries.
Six Key Messages
Transforming Lives
Assistive technology enables people to participate at school, work, sports, and in life by unlocking opportunities that are not possible without it.
Urgent Global Attention
Improving access to assistive products such as eyeglasses, wheelchairs, prosthetics, and hearing aids urgently needs global attention. It has been neglected for too long.
Millions Excluded
Millions of people are excluded from work, school, and social life because they lack the assistive technology they need.
Independence and Dignity
Access to assistive technology allows people to participate in everyday activities and restores independence and dignity.
Accelerating SDGs
Improving access to AT accelerates progress towards all UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those on poverty, health, education, equality and decent work.
Funding Gap
There is a huge global funding gap. Ensuring lifetime access to appropriate AT for all people in LMICs would cost approximately USD 700 billion over 55 years.
CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES & EVENTS​
2026 Pre-Commemoration Activities – Social Media Campaigns
In 2026, the campaign ran nationwide in the lead-up to World AT Day. This included social media activities that helped build excitement before the big day.
Sharing the Campaign on Social Media
Talking About Assistive Technology
Spreading the Word Together
Joining the Conversation Online
Marking World Assistive Technology Day Across the Region
On 4 June 2026, partners across Southern Africa marked World Assistive Technology Day. From stakeholder breakfasts to stadium sport days, each event pushed for better access to assistive technology.
Malawi 4 June Symposium examines legal gaps in AT access
FEDOMA and the University of Malawi's Disability Rights Clinic held a symposium in Lilongwe. The event looked at the legal and policy gaps blocking access to assistive technology in Malawi.
Read the full story
Botswana 4 June Sport and outreach unlock the everyday
BOFOD and the University of Botswana filled a stadium with sport and a mall with outreach. Athletes, students and shoppers learned about assistive technology together.
Read the full story
Zambia 4 June Stakeholders call for stronger AT support
ZAFOD and YADIZ hosted a stakeholder breakfast in Lusaka. Guests called for more funding, better policies and stronger support for assistive technology.
Read the full story
Lesotho 4 June Building local innovation for AT access
LNFOD and government partners held a national dialogue in Maseru. Leaders discussed local manufacturing and stronger access to assistive technology.
Read the full story
South Africa 11 June Breakfast brings AT stories to life
THISABILITY Newspaper and DPSA hosted a stakeholder breakfast in Johannesburg. Clinicians and four speakers shared real stories about access to assistive devices.
Read the full story
Malawi 13 June AT needs more than donations, says expert
Disability policy expert Dr George Kayange told the Weekend Nation that donated devices need ongoing funding. Without repairs, training and local skills, many devices simply stop working.
Read the full story2025 Pre-Commemoration Activities - Social Media Campaigns
In 2025, the campaign was implemented nationally through activities at a pre-commemoration stage, which built momentum towards the commemoration of the World Day for Assistive Technology. These activities included social media campaigns.
Engaging Communities Through Digital Platforms
Creating Awareness and Impact
World Assistive Technology Day - Events for 2025
In 2025, some activities were implemented on and post commemoration of the World AT Day by all partners in the eight (8) countries, including SAFOD.
LNLVIP
Assistive Technology Pop-up
VILOLE
Documentary Launch
BOFOD
Assistive Technology Pop-Up
UPCOMING SAFOD WEBINAR
28 July 2026
Join us at this year’s webinar, which will serve as an inclusive continental platform with a strong Southern African perspective.
The 2026 webinar will bring together Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), Assistive Technology users, governments, academia, manufacturers, innovators, development partners, humanitarian actors, and policymakers to strengthen collaboration, share promising practices, and elevate advocacy for equitable access to Assistive Technology..
Visit atwebinar.org to register and get the latest information.
2025 WEBINAR:
Bridging the Innovation, Investment, and Inclusion Gap to Increase Access to Assistive Technology for Persons with Disabilities.
SAFOD organised a webinar on ‘Bridging Innovation, Investment and Inclusion Gap to Increase Access to Assistive Technology for Persons with Disabilities’. The webinar brought together key people to tackle barriers in assistive technology access. It created a space for sharing ideas and building partnerships.


2021 WEBINAR:
Assistive Technology Business Innovations
SAFOD and Loughborough University organised a webinar on Assistive Technology Business Innovations on 28-29 September 2021.
The webinar explored how business innovations could help reach 85-95% of people with disabilities who need assistive technology in Southern Africa. It built momentum towards the Southern Africa Assistive Technology Expo (SAATE) in November 2022.
Webinar objectives:
- Raise awareness of resources for business innovations.
- Share best practices for sustainable and inclusive businesses.
- Identify steps to provide resources and training for inclusive business.
Visit atwebinar.org for more information.

Youth Ambassadors Driving Change

SAFOD works with 20 young leaders across five Southern African countries. These youth ambassadors use social media to raise awareness about assistive technology. They speak up for children and young people with disabilities in Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, and Malawi.
The #Inclusive Young Voices programme gives young people a platform. They share their stories and push for policy changes. They bring assistive technology issues to the people who make decisions.

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY GUIDE

SAFOD created a practical AT guide through the AT-Info-Map project with help from the University of Washington. This guide shows you what’s out there.
It covers both simple and advanced AT products. Each type is explained clearly. You’ll see how these tools help people with disabilities live better lives.
Use this guide in your #UnlockTheEveryday work.
It’s perfect for talking to government officials and the public. Show them what assistive technology really means. The guide makes your advocacy stronger.
Our Partners Across Southern Africa
We work with ten organisations of persons with disabilities across eight countries:

Malawi
FEDOMA (Federation of Disability Organisations in Malawi).

Zimbabwe
FODPZ (Federation of Organisations of Disabled People in Zimbabwe).

Namibia
NFPDN (National Federation of People with Disabilities in Namibia).

Eswatini
FODSWA (Federation of Organisations of Disabled People in Eswatini).

South Africa
DPSA (Disabled People South Africa).

Botswana
BOFOD (Botswana Federation of the Disabled).

Zambia
ZAFOD (Zambia Federation of Disability Organisations) and VILOLE Images Production.

Lesotho
- LNFOD (Lesotho National Federation of Organisations of Disabled).
- LNLVIP (Lesotho National League of Visually Impaired Persons).