About > ICEVI Africa
ICEVI Africa is a dynamic, continent-wide network advancing the right to inclusive education. With over 30 countries in its network, ICEVI Africa collaborates with diverse partners to support children and young people who are blind, have low vision, are deafblind, or have multiple and additional disabilities.
The region brings together families, educators, individuals with lived experience, civil society, and policy actors to ensure learners with visual impairment are fully included in education systems. ICEVI Africa’s work is grounded in Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Africa Disability Protocol.
ICEVI Africa operates as a registered legal entity in Kenya (registered in 2018) and maintains a strong regional board that meets regularly to guide governance, strategic planning, and partnerships. The region benefits from an established secretariat that supports administrative and programmatic work, contributing to effective coordination across countries. Africa has made significant strides in regional governance, fundraising partnerships, and collaborative technical networks.
To promote inclusive education, the region focuses on:
Capacity building for teachers and education stakeholders
Policy advocacy at national and continental levels
Digital literacy, access, and innovation through the ICEVI Visionary Learning Model
Networking and knowledge exchange through forums, webinars, and regional conferences
ICEVI Africa collaborates closely with regional OPDs such as the African Union of the Blind (AFUB) and country-level organisations to mainstream disability in educational planning. The region continues to grow its online presence, making resources, success stories, and learning tools available in both English and French to support a linguistically and culturally diverse membership base.
Regional Highlights (2021–2024 and Current Quadrennium)
Between 2021 and 2024, ICEVI Africa contributed to strengthening inclusive education through regional collaboration, capacity-building, and strategic visibility:
In November 2023, the 1st ICEVI Africa Regional Conference was held in Nairobi, Kenya and attended by 415 participants from 30 countries. Under the theme “The Future of Education for People with Visual Impairment in Africa,” the event showcased regional progress, discussed ongoing challenges, and reinforced a shared commitment to disability-inclusive education systems. The ability to convene regional conferences reflects ICEVI Africa’s growing organizational stability and commitment to knowledge exchange.
The region actively contributed to the ICEVI–WBU Higher Education Project, working alongside national partners to promote access to tertiary education for blind and low vision students. Between 2006 and 2023, the project supported 2,333 students in 17 African countries, with more than 470 graduates transitioning into employment or advanced studies.
ICEVI Africa strengthened partnerships with CBM and other organizations, facilitating regional coordination, technical exchange, and joint fundraising efforts to support disability-inclusive education across the continent. These collaborative efforts have enhanced Africa’s reputation as a trusted regional partner and contributed to long-term sustainability.
ICEVI Africa has established sub-committees to implement regional plans and coordinate specific focus areas, ensuring representation from across its membership and professional networks.
In 2023, ICEVI Africa launched a regional presence on a number of social media platforms, expanding visibility and communication across professional networks. The platform now shares opportunities, news, and calls for collaboration in both English and French.
Collaboration with partners such as CBM, Sightsavers, Benetech, and the DAISY Consortium enabled technical exchange, joint advocacy efforts, and capacity-building activities across the continent.
The region participated in the Global Disability Summit 2025, where the Regional President contributed to advocacy for inclusive financing, and ICEVI Africa’s Treasurer presented South Africa’s national pledge on disability-inclusive education. These engagements reflect ICEVI Africa’s role in contributing technical expertise and lived experience to broader global dialogues.
Looking Ahead (2025–2028)
For the 2025–2028 quadrennium, ICEVI Africa is prioritizing:
Strengthening regional, sub-regional, and national policy advocacy and engagement
Increasing access to braille, assistive technology, and STEM education for visually impaired learners
Enhancing multilingual communication to better engage francophone and lusophone countries
Developing and disseminating impact stories and information on regional progress
Deepening technical collaboration to promote inclusive education across the region
Promoting capacity development through the ICEVI Africa e-learning platform
Expanding ICEVI membership at regional and country levels
Impact
ICEVI Africa contributes to regional collaboration that empowers national actors, strengthens teacher capacity, improves access to learning materials, and informs continental conversations on inclusive education. Through its network-based model and growing organizational capacity, ICEVI Africa works alongside partners and stakeholders to ensure learners with visual impairment are visible in education sector planning and empowered to learn, grow, and lead in their communities.
The Africa Region of the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) includes the following countries:
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Congo
- Cote d’lvoire
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Lithuania
- Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- Russian Federation
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- Sudan
- Swaziland
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- United Republic of Tanzania
- Zambia
Regional Leadership (2025–2028)
Regional President
Mr. Komivi Ayassou
Disability Services Manager, Ministry of Social Services, Togo.
Mr. Ayassou is a prominent advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities in West Africa, leading national initiatives on inclusive education, employment, and social inclusion. He has played a key role in regional networks, including the Fédération Togolaise des Associations de Personnes Handicapées (FETAPH).
Secretary
Mr. Martin Kieti
Africa Program Manager, Benetech, Kenya.
Treasurer
Dr. Benard Mogesa
Director, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Kenya.
Member
Dr. Odette Niyisabwa
Senior Lecturer, Kyambogo University, Uganda.
Member
Mr. Moussa Thiare
Director of Disability Services, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar, Senegal.
Member
Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame
Immediate Past President; Global Advocacy Manager for Social Inclusion, Sightsavers; and Ghanaian Gender and Disability Rights Advocate
Member
Naama Kalole
CBM is recognized as a significant donor supporting ICEVI Africa’s regional initiatives and capacity-building efforts.