CDS Africa Concludes Scaling Care Innovations Project Policy Engagements with Validation of the ARISE Framework

On January 8, 2026, CDS Africa and its consortium partners held the Closing Project Workshop for the Scaling Care Innovations in Africa (SCIA) project at The Palms Hotel, Accra, marking the conclusion of nearly two years of research, policy engagement, and advocacy on unpaid care work for carers of children with developmental disabilities (CWDDs).

The event brought together government institutions, CSOs, NGOs, carer groups, and parents of CWDDs to disseminate final project findings and reflect on pathways for translating evidence into policy action.

A major highlight of the workshop was the presentation and validation of the ARISE Framework (which is an acronym for; Advocacy, Reform, Inclusion, Support, and Empowerment). Developed through participatory action research and national policy dialogues in Accra and Tamale, the ARISE Framework provides a practical roadmap for implementing Ghana’s Inclusive Education Policy in ways that reduce unpaid care burden and strengthen support for carers.

Stakeholders at the workshop endorsed the framework as a useful guide for aligning advocacy, financing, institutional reform, and community-level action to promote inclusive education. The framework is expected to inform future engagements with key institutions, including the Ghana Education Service, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and financing mechanisms such as the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund).

The 24-month study examined unpaid care work by carers of children with developmental disabilities in Ghana, a burden that disproportionately affected women and girls. It assessed the scale and impact of this work, the role of inclusive education and related support policies, and the associated economic, social, and psychological costs. Using mixed quantitative and participatory qualitative methods, the research engaged carers, policymakers, and civil society to develop evidence-based policy implementation solutions aimed at reducing care burdens, improving family wellbeing, and advancing social justice.

The closing workshop marked a transition from evidence generation to sustained policy engagement, reinforcing CDS Africa’s commitment to advancing inclusive education and the recognition of unpaid care work in Ghana.