Mr. Kota represents Liberia in Brazil

Report: World Blind Union (WBU) General Assembly — São Paulo, Brazil

Submitted by: Mr. Beyan G. Kota, National President & CEO, Liberia Christian Association of the Blind (CAB)

 

1. Executive Summary

This report documents my participation representing the Liberia Christian Association of the Blind (CAB) and the West Africa region of the African Union of the Blind (AFUB) at the World Blind Union (WBU) General Assembly in São Paulo, Brazil. The Assembly—one of the most significant global forums for blind and partially sighted persons—served to assess progress, set strategy, and renew our collective commitment to equality and inclusion.

I delivered a presentation titled “Turning Global Commitments into Local Reality,” using CAB’s journey as a case study. I highlighted our long-standing, transformative partnership with the Danish Association of the Blind (DAB)—a relationship that helped move CAB from a landless entity to establishing a national headquarters—demonstrating how targeted international support paired with resilient local leadership yields tangible outcomes.

The report also addresses emerging threats to this progress, particularly the devastating impact of recent USAID global funding reductions, which jeopardize education, rehabilitation, and advocacy programs serving visually impaired Liberians. Against this backdrop, I analyze international frameworks—including the Marrakesh Treaty and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)—and contrast their ambitions with implementation challenges exacerbated by shrinking donor support.

I conclude with strategic recommendations for the Government of Liberia, CAB, and international partners: diversify funding, strengthen government ownership of disability inclusion, and renew grassroots advocacy. The goal is to secure hard-won gains and make global commitments a lived reality for every visually impaired person in Liberia.

2. Introduction

I submit this report with a profound sense of duty following my mission to São Paulo, Brazil, where I represented Liberia’s visually impaired community at the WBU General Assembly. As National President & CEO of CAB and West Africa Regional Representative for AFUB, I carried a dual mandate: to share Liberia’s story of resilience and to contribute to the strategic direction of our global movement.

The WBU General Assembly functions as the parliament of our community: policies are shaped, leaders held accountable, and a unified advocacy agenda forged. This document provides a concise account of the Assembly’s proceedings—key themes, resolutions, and engagements—alongside a deeper dive into my address on CAB’s trajectory. It situates Liberia’s local challenges and successes within the broader discourse on disability rights, contrasting the promise of global instruments with the realities of implementation amid shifting geopolitical priorities and funding cuts. It is both a record of actions and a strategy tool for CAB, our partners, and government stakeholders.

3. Background: The 2025 WBU General Assembly

3.1 Global Confluence for Blindness Advocacy

The World Blind Union (WBU) represents approximately 253 million blind and partially sighted persons worldwide. Its quadrennial General Assembly is the highest decision-making body, convening national and international leaders of organizations of and for the blind, policymakers, innovators, and human rights advocates.

The São Paulo Assembly—the first fully in-person gathering since the pandemic—brought more than a thousand delegates from over 190 member countries to exchange knowledge, debate strategy, and set the global advocacy agenda for the next four years. Brazil’s own complex experience with social inclusion provided a fitting backdrop, highlighting both progress and remaining gaps.

3.2 Theme: “Global Vision, Local Action”

Under the theme “Global Vision, Local Action: Uniting for a Decade of Change,” the Assembly focused on bridging high-level frameworks (CRPD, SDGs) with practical, measurable local outcomes. Core tracks included:

• Implementing the Marrakesh Treaty to end the “book famine.”
• Advancing inclusive education and lifelong learning.
• Promoting decent work and economic empowerment.
• Leveraging assistive technology for independence.
• Ensuring inclusion in climate action, disaster risk reduction, and humanitarian response.

This emphasis strongly aligned with CAB’s approach: grassroots delivery of tangible local results.

4. Representing Liberia and West Africa

4.1 Dual Mandate: CAB and AFUB

I attended primarily as head of CAB, to present Liberia’s challenges and breakthroughs and to seek partnerships and knowledge for national benefit. As AFUB West Africa Regional Representative, I also advocated for sub-regional priorities—post-conflict recovery, cross-border service barriers, and prevalent eye conditions—within continental and global agendas.

4.2 Strategic Objectives

1. Deliver a compelling case study elevating Liberia’s profile and CAB’s partnership model.
2. Advocate stronger support for Marrakesh Treaty implementation in low-income countries.
3. Diversify funding in response to USAID cutbacks by cultivating new partners.
4. Scan and adapt assistive technology and inclusive education innovations for Liberia.
5. Strengthen AFUB alliances to keep West Africa central in Africa’s four-year plan.
6. Keynote Address: Turning Global Commitments into Local Reality — The Liberian Experience

5.1 From Vision to Institution

CAB began with clear vision but few resources—meeting under trees or in borrowed rooms. This mirrors the reality for many disability organizations in the Global South: high potential, scarce means.

5.2 The Danish Partnership

Our partnership with DAB was pivotal: built on mutual respect, technical support, and belief in local leadership, not merely funding flows. It enabled the shift from a nomadic existence to acquiring land and planning a permanent home.

5.3 A Home on Roberts Field Highway

Securing land and establishing headquarters on the Roberts Field Highway became a tangible symbol of inclusion: a place for learning, rehabilitation, vocational training, and coordinated advocacy.

5.4 The Road as Metaphor

The early “road” to our site was a muddy forest track—later cleared and made accessible. This physical transformation symbolizes our broader work to clear societal and institutional barriers to inclusion.

5.5 Beyond Bricks and Mortar

Our headquarters is more than a building—it is the heart of our community and proof that when global vision meets determined local action, transformative change follows.

6. Global Commitments vs. Local Challenges

6.1 Marrakesh Treaty: Implementation Gap

Liberia has ratified Marrakesh, but the “book famine” persists without the equipment, personnel, and an Authorized Entity to operationalize cross-border accessible formats. Targeted investments are required.

6.2 CRPD: From Ratification to Resourcing

Despite CRPD ratification and a National Commission on Disabilities, implementation remains under-resourced. Persistent barriers exist in school access, transportation, and employment. Ratification must be matched by legislation, budget lines, and political will.

6.3 USAID Global Cuts: A Systemic Shock

Recent USAID reductions threaten education, health, and governance programs that have supported DPO capacity and systemic reform in Liberia.

6.4 Specific Impacts in Liberia

• Education at risk: scholarships, braille materials, and learning aids jeopardized.
• Rehabilitation halted: orientation & mobility and vocational training face termination.
• Advocacy weakened: monitoring CRPD implementation and public awareness suffer without operational support.

7. Outcomes, Resolutions, and Implications for Liberia

7.1 Key Resolutions

• Inclusion of persons with disabilities in humanitarian action (full implementation of IASC Guidelines).
• Accelerated domestic implementation of Marrakesh, backed by funding and technical support.
• Commitment to universal design so digital products are “born accessible.”

7.2 Assistive Technology

The tech fair showcased affordable screen readers, new braille displays, and AI navigation aids. CAB will explore pilots for low-cost, high-impact solutions to leapfrog infrastructure constraints.

7.3 South–South Cooperation

Leaders from Kenya, Ghana, India, and others shared scalable, low-cost models. We agreed to pursue exchanges and joint learning, complementing traditional North–South partnerships.

8. Strategic Engagements and Networking

8.1 Bilateral Meetings

• DAB (Denmark): Reaffirmed partnership and explored adaptation to new funding realities.
• American Printing House for the Blind (APH) & National Federation of the Blind (NFB): Discussed support for inclusive education and teacher training.
• Tech companies: Urged affordability and functionality in low-bandwidth contexts.

8.2 AFUB Caucus: West Africa Priorities

We successfully advanced post-conflict recovery and the needs of forcibly displaced disabled persons within AFUB’s forthcoming strategy and aligned Africa’s positions on key Assembly resolutions.

9. Challenges

The principal obstacle is financial: a tighter global funding landscape and the vacuum left by major donor withdrawals. Internally, CAB must continue to build and retain technical capacity to sustain gains.

10. Recommendations

10.1 Government of Liberia

• Increase domestic funding for disability inclusion and create a CRPD implementation fund for credible national DPOs.
• Operationalize Marrakesh: designate and resource an Authorized Entity.
• Accessible procurement: require universal-design standards for all government technology and public-facing systems.

10.2 CAB

• Diversify funding: local philanthropy, social enterprise, and broader foundation outreach.
• Embrace technology: establish a committee to pilot low-cost assistive tech for independence and education.
• South–South partnerships: formalize exchanges and best-practice sharing initiated at the Assembly.

10.3 International Partners

• Provide flexible, multi-year support that strengthens institutional resilience.
• Invest in capacity building of DPOs—not only projects.
• Advocate with major donors to reconsider cuts and recognize disability rights as foundational to development and democracy.

11. Conclusion

This mission reaffirmed that Liberia’s struggles are shared globally—and so are the solutions. Despite the shock of funding cuts, CAB’s story is one of endurance and problem-solving. We cleared a road through a forest; we can carve a future through today’s headwinds.

The Assembly’s call to “unite for a decade of change” is clear. For Liberia, it means redoubling advocacy, innovating service delivery, and diversifying partnerships. Global commitments exist; our task is to keep turning them into local reality.

 

Respectfully submitted,
Mr. Beyan G. Kota
National President & CEO, Liberia Christian Association of the Blind (CAB)