Context
This document outlines the findings from a Baseline Mapping initiative aimed at understanding how disability mainstreaming and inclusion are currently addressed within the shelter and settlements sector, including the barriers, challenges and opportunities to strengthening disability inclusion and mainstreaming in humanitarian programming. The Baseline Mapping includes a review of published literature and project documents, key informant interviews and an online questionnaire. The intended audience is humanitarian organizations, actors, and donors. While focused on shelter and settlements, the findings and recommendations are relevant to the CCCM sector and can be tailored to HLP Programming.
Summary
The document provides a concise explanation of the methodology used for the Baseline Mapping, including the research questions which are categorized under the following themes:
- level of disability inclusion existing in shelter and settlements programming
- The capacity of shelter and settlements staff to mainstream disability inclusion frameworks and accountability mechanisms (p. 12)
The key findings are organized under each theme of questions. Key messages for shelter clusters (p. 9), humanitarian agencies and organizations (p. 9), humanitarian actors (p. 10) and donors (p. 10) are concisely outlined. The cluster recommendations, such as strengthening vulnerability assessment tools and developing context-specific guidance and tools can be applied to the CCCM cluster (p. 9).
An in-depth overview of the key frameworks and accountability mechanisms findings are presented (p. 16-20) with the following findings being especially relevant to CCCM HLP programming:
- Few humanitarian organizations and agencies have dedicated disability inclusion policies and strategies (p. 5)
- Literature on disability inclusion focused on issues of physical mobility rather than a broader understanding of disability (p. 10)
- There is a need for improved inclusion of quantitative disability-disaggregated data into program and activity design (p. 17)
- Risk analysis and monitoring may be a useful entry point for effectively identifying and responding to the needs of persons with disabilities (p. 18)
- It was found that across all types of programming, cash and voucher assistance activities have very low levels of inclusion (p. 6)
Specific findings related to donor frameworks on disability inclusion, and how donor commitments can act as both a barrier and facilitator to disability inclusion are provided (p. 20). Also provided is a useful example of using qualitative methods, in addition, to or in lieu of the Washington Group Questionnaire depending on the context, such as participatory community mapping, to identify persons with disabilities (p. 22-23). Participatory community mapping as a method to mainstream disability inclusion could be particularly useful for HLP programming.
