8. Who are the stakeholders for disability inclusion?
The Project Cycle Management Guidelines (among other development methodologies) promote the participation and ownership of stakeholders in the development process; participation and ownership are keys to success; ensuring relevance, effectiveness and sustainability.
In order to include the perspectives of persons with disabilities throughout the project cycle it is crucial to understand and involve the stakeholders concerned. From national to local government, and from private to public spheres, stakeholders for disability inclusion include the following:
Government: At national and local level
Government Departments and Ministries
Disability issues should concern all government departments and ministries. Till now in many countries the leading ministry is often the Ministry of Health and/or the Ministry of Social Affairs. Technically, the Ministry of Health focuses more generally on staff involved in healthcare and rehabilitation services (physiotherapists, doctors, surgeons), while rehabilitation and social services (like rehabilitation centres and community based rehabilitation services) are under the responsibility of the Ministry of Social Affairs. However, when we consider promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in society it is clear that other Ministries are also concerned, such as education, employment, woman's affairs, transport, finance, planning, etc.
Local governments and municipalities
They may have specific responsibilities for local development initiatives and services.
Key roles and functions of governments (1):
- Set standards for rights and entitlements and monitor implementation (the judiciary is responsible for defining rights and entitlements through legislative and policy framework)
- Provide resources as much as economic development permits
- Ensure that all public services are accessible to persons with disabilities
Examples of varying government division of labour in terms of disability:
In Burkina Faso, the Ministry of Health is responsible for developing and structuring rehabilitation services.
In Mali, this responsibility is under the Ministry of Social Affairs
In South Africa, The Office of the Status of Disabled Persons was established after 1996 and there is one office in each of the nine Premier's office provinces. A process of establishing Disability Desks and Units in local municipality offices is on-going. The responsibility of the office, from national to municipal level, is to coordinate, facilitate and monitor the Mainstreaming/Inclusion of Disability issues into all sectors within the Government.
National Disability Councils (NDCs)
Some countries have councils or committees focusing on disability issues. These mixed commissions are usually composed of NGOs, Disabled People Organisations and governmental bodies.
Key roles and functions of NDCs:
- Coordinating and promoting effective cross sectoral/cross ministerial action on disability in the country
- Developing capacities amongst all disability stakeholders
Examples:
In Cambodia, the 'Disability Action Council' includes members of government, national and international organisations and disabled peoples organisations. http://www.dac.org.kh/
In certain countries in Africa- 'African Decade Steering Committees'
Disabled Peoples Organisations (DPOs)
The main characteristic of DPOs is that the leadership are persons with disabilities who set up an organisation representing the interests and demands of its members. DPOs have a mandate to represent the perspectives of persons with disabilities.
Key roles and functions of DPOs (2):
- Represent the interests of persons with disabilities
- Advocate and lobby for the rights of persons with disabilities
- Ensure that the government and service providers are responsive to rights of persons with disabilities
- Some DPOs also provide information and other services to their members
However, the disability community is also quite diverse; there are different types of disability representatives in most countries:
- DPO representatives: should be involved in their official capacity as representatives of persons with disability.
- Disability activists: generally persons with disabilities who are not representing a group as such, but are involved for their individual perspectives, commitment and involvement in wider disability debates and policy processes
- Persons with disabilities from the target population of any area can give a grassroots perspective and act as any other population sample.
Source: VSO (2006)
There are many different types of DPO, ranging from 'impairment specific' (with members who are concerned by or who have one particular impairment/disability) to cross-disability (with members with all types of impairment/disability), from grass roots to global. There are also DPOs focused on gender, or groups who speak up for others- such as, for example, parents groups. Here are some examples, to demonstrate the diversity of the DPO community:
| Impairment specific- national level | DEAFSA, Deaf Federation of South Africa or Malaysian Spinal Injuries Association. |
| Impairment specific- global level | World Federation of the Deaf or World Blind Union |
| Cross disability- national level | Albanian disability rights foundation |
| Cross-disability, regional level | Southern African Federation of the Disabled |
| Cross disability, global/international | Disabled Peoples International |
| Grass roots/self help groups | Clarendon Group for the Disabled, local group working at community level in Jamaica |
| Parents organisations | RBU, the Swedish Association for Children and Young People with Mobility Impairments |
| Women with disabilities | AWWD Association for Women with Disabilities, India |
To search for specific DPOs see the tool 'How to find a DPO on the web'.
Disability service providers
They are agencies such development NGOs, faith based organisations, DPOs or private companies which provide services for persons with disability. They can provide specialised services (e.g.: rehabilitation services and fitting of prosthetics) or inclusive services (e.g., livelihood or health services which are accessible to people with disabilities).
Key roles and functions of Disability service providers (3):
- Reduce the impact of impairments (through support to provision of healthcare, rehabilitation, habilitation, educational or livelihood services, improving environmental accessibility, research and development, advocacy)
- Enable persons with disabilities to access their rights
Examples:
DeafSA in South Africa or the Blind Persons Association in Gujarat India; both are DPOs and also provide services to their members. Handicap International and cbm are development NGOs focussing on focussing on disability but are not created by and led by persons with disabilities, so are classified as service providers or disability and development organisations.
At International level
International organisations, multilateral and bilateral donors
These bodies often play multiple roles. They often provide data and general guidance (ex: WHO, UNFPA, World Bank, DfID), they may also grant funds and promote disability -inclusive- development (World Bank, DfiD, Finnish Cooperation, etc.)
Certain UN agencies also have very specific mandates in the field of disability. UN DESA and the OHCHR together comprise the UN Convention Secretariat, and are an excellent source of information on the UNCRPD. UNICEF has recently developed its own policy paper on promoting the rights of children with disabilities. The WHO Disability and Rehabilitation Unit is mandated to implement the World Health Assembly Resolution on Disability including prevention, management and rehabilitation.
All principles that apply in terms of stakeholder participation also should be applied to the stakeholders for disability inclusion. Thus, these stakeholders should participate at each phase of the project cycle.
(1) Inspired by Thomas, P: Disability, Poverty and the Millenium Development Goals: Relevance, Challenges and Opportunities for DFID. June 2005 ; http://www.disabilitykar.net/docs/policy_final.doc
(2) Thomas, P: 2005 (op.cit.)
(3) Thomas, P: 2005 (op.cit.)
