USAID-Inclusive Development and Disability

UN Commission for Social DevelopmentFebruary 6, 2009

USAID and Disability

“The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is committed to the inclusion of people with physical and mental disabilities…extending from the design and implementation of USAID programming to the advocacy for and outreach to people with disabilities.”

Twin Track Approach to Disability

• Promoting full inclusion in programs and operations

• Building capacity of DPOs

USAID Progress on Inclusion

A. Agency Policy1. USAID/General Notice Policy Paper 9/12/97

• “pursue advocacy for, and inclusion of people with physical and mental disabilities to maximum extent feasible in the design and implementation of USAID programming.”

• Described the importance of considering concerns of the disabled within ongoing and future programs.

USAID Progress on Inclusion - PolicyA. Agency Policy Continued 2. Standards for Accessibility in USAID-Financed Construction

• Promotes principals of universal design

• Use host-country or regional standards…ADA/ABA guidelines

• Waiver process…with public notice

3. Supporting USAID’s Disability Policy in Contracts, Grants,

and Cooperative Agreements• “requires that contractor/recipient not discriminate against PWDs

in the implementation of USAID programs and make every effort to comply with the objectives of USAID Disability Policy…actions must demonstrate a comprehensive and consistent approach for including men, women, and children with disabilities.

USAID Progress on Inclusion B. Institutional and Human Resource Development

1. USAID – Staff Development• E-Learning Course

• Strengthen efforts to hire and promote people with disabilities in Washington and in field offices

• Staff Training

– HQ technical assistance

– Resource materials/tools

2. USAID Partners (contractors, grantees, host governments, local organizations, etc.)

• Capacity building and awareness raising

• Training and technical assistance

• Resource materials/tools

USAID Progress on Inclusion

C. Agency Commitment1. Appointment of a Disability Coordinator and established a

USAID Agency Disability Team

2. Establishment of a Federal Advisory Committee on People with Disabilities

3. Establishment of a Working Group including international disability leaders to develop Guidance for USAID Missions and Offices on how to develop a Disability Action Plan, etc

4. Requirement for all Missions and Offices to report on their inclusive practices in the field which goes into biannual Disability Reports

Fifth Report on Implementing the USAID Disability Policy

• Increase in reporting

• Increase in Disability plans

• Increase in programs in the field for people with disabilities

• New set of recommendations

Successful Approaches: 3 Examples

• Vietnam: disability leading the way

• Ecuador: inclusive development

• Uganda: DPO strengthening initiative

Other Pertinent Programs related to disability

• Disability Funds

• Leahy War Victim Fund

• Displaced Children and Orphans Fund

• Wheelchair Fund

Disability Funds

• Competitive process for programs for capacity building of DPOs and inclusion of people with disabilities into development programs– Programs currently funding 28 programs in 25 countries– Working in variety of sectors: democracy, HIV/AIDs,

Employment, education, disaster response, etc.

• Disability Capacity Building– MIUSA and AIR to build capacity of DPOs, NGOs and

USAID Field Missions on inclusion of people with disabilities

Leahy War Victims Fund

• In 1989, congressional legislation established the Leahy War Victims Fund to provide physical rehabilitation to civilian victims of war and civilian strife

• The parameters of the fund’s assistance have since expanded to include social and economic rehabilitative efforts as well as address broader sector of people with disabilities

• Current funding supports 27 countries

Displaced Children and Orphans Fund

• Provides technical support to prevent child abandonment, address the needs of orphans, displaced and abandoned children and provide permanent homes through family reunification

• Children with disabilities are at increased risk for abandonment

• Eastern Europe- awareness raising and prevention for abandonment

Wheelchair Fund

• Provides wheelchairs but also provides training and looks at broader rights issues such as access and employment

Continued Challenges

• Realizing nothing about us, without us• Integration is not institutionalized• Recognizing our own barriers• Policy must be coupled with practice

For more information on USAID’s policies, programs and the Fifth Report on

the Implementation of USAID Disability Policy please visit:

www.usaid.gov/about_usaid/disability