Advisory Capacity Development and Exchange (ACE) Fellowship

Advisory Capacity Development and Exchange (ACE) Fellowship

News-iag | March 18, 2025

ACE South East Asia Fellowship Pilot Project

CBM Globals Inclusion Advisory Group (IAG) and the International Disability Alliance (IDA) are working together to deliver a new fellowship focusing on inclusion advisory skills . Our initial pilot supports six individuals from the disability movement in Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, Philippines and Indonesia to stretch their skills in providing inclusion advice to international development stakeholders, such as UN agencies, Development Banks, International NGOs, and bilateral donors.

The fellowship draws on the collective networks, on-the-job learning opportunities and expertise of IAG and IDA.

IAG and IDA are co-delivering the learning program with the fellows. The learning program features:

An introductory webinar series focused on the development ecosystem, understanding key issues and trends, and getting to know key international development stakeholders who may seek out advice. Online meetings and topical discussions will continue throughout the fellowship. Fellows also access webinars/learning sessions available throughout IAG and IDA networks.

Reflection and goal setting: the fellows use a common learning framework to reflect on their current skills and knowledge and where they want to go within the fellowship. Fellows draw on the support of their individual mentors to set practical learning goals covering essential knowledge and skills required for inclusion advice.

Mentoring: each fellow has access to a mentor to support them with their learning process, discuss technical topics, and provide access to critical learning opportunities and resources over the course of a year. Fellows and mentors have common sectoral/topical interest areas.

On-the-job learning opportunities: fellows engage in real advisory projects alongside IAG and IDA and use these learning opportunities to progress their individual learning goals. For example, fellows might work alongside other advisors to analyse and provide recommendations on a social protection program, which provides opportunities to learn about technical topics, as well as learn and get feedback on practical skills such as formulation of recommendations, writing, and contributing within online consultation meetings. Fellows also conduct tasks and assignments linked to the learning framework and their individual learning goals (e.g., developing a briefing paper on a technical topic of interest).

Rights-based advice workshop: fellows and facilitators gather in person for five days in August to delve into the topic of a rights-based approach to providing inclusion advice. Well look at how to use the CRPD to analyse development programs, and practice developing actionable recommendations for different stakeholders.

Peer exchange: fellows have opportunities to exchange and share with one another, as well as IAG country advisors, who are also involved in the learning program.

The fellowship runs from May 2023 to 2024.

Meet the Fellows

Aikeo Koomanivong, Lao PDR

Aikeo works for Disability Service Center (DSC) and has a Bachelor of Arts (English business).

He is interested in disability inclusive development, disability data collection, inclusive DRR, community development and disability inclusion advisory. He has experience with assistive device technology and has worked as a disability inclusive development consultant in Lao PDR. Hes a trainer in DID and CBID and has led OPDs team for disability inclusion advisory groups in Lao PDR.