In 2024, Cittadinanza Onlus, in collaboration with Koinonia Community and the Nairobi City County, conducted its first research on developmental disabilities as part of the NICE Project (AID 012590/06/3) co-funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).
The study, titled “From Data to Action: Prioritizing Children with Developmental Disabilities in Kibra and Dagoretti South Sub-Counties, Nairobi (Kenya)”, had the following objectives:
- To define the prevalence, key determinants, and types of developmental difficulties in the Kibra and Dagoretti South Sub-Counties;
- To identify existing support services for children with developmental difficulties in the target areas;
- To propose actionable recommendations and strategies to improve the quality of life of children with developmental difficulties in the two areas.
The research was conducted in collaboration with Koinonia Community and Nairobi City County, with additional guidance and support from the Italian Scientific Committee of Cittadinanza.
The research team, consisting of one lead researcher and four data enumerators, conducted 1,000 door-to-door interviews in the two target areas, 23 key informant interviews (KIIs), and focus groups involving institutional stakeholders, civil society organizations, and organizations of persons with disabilities.
In November, the research results were presented, first through a validation workshop with the involvement of the interviewed stakeholders, and later at an event organized to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
The study generated significant interest, especially among local authorities and stakeholders, as it was the first research in Kenya to use UNICEF’s Child Functioning Module as a data collection tool to assess children’s functional difficulties. The document was edited by the Department of Translation and Interpretation at the University of Bologna (Intra Studio), with which Cittadinanza Onlus has been collaborating since 2023.
Now that the document has been finalized, it is being prepared for publication in both local and international journals, as well as for dissemination of the results to key stakeholders working in the field of disability in Kenya and Italy.
