One billion people around the world experience some form of disability, and 80 percent of persons with disabilities live in low-middle-income countries. Disability is an evolving concept and results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.
The obstacles may be further complicated by the intersection of disability with other identities such as gender, race, and ethnicity, and a combination of these factors can lead to systemic disadvantages and disparities. Since 2020, the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has further exacerbated the inequalities experienced by persons with disabilities including widening the digital learning divide, increasing domestic violence, and increasing discrimination.
Recognizing the importance of supporting persons with disabilities, the United Nation (UN) community has developed a robust global disaster risk management (DRM) and humanitarian architecture to promote the engagement and needs of persons with disabilities in the event of disasters, including the Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction 2015-2030 and the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (CRPD).
Building on the findings and recommendations of the 2017 GFDRR report, this note aims to update good practices of inclusive DRM in the five key areas outlined by the report, in the context of rapidly evolving multiple crises, especially punctuated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
By highlighting World Bank-financed projects and stakeholder expertise, this note provides development practitioners with an array of examples to leverage more effective support for disability-inclusive DRM activities.
The findings presented in this note are the result of a desk review, consultations with World Bank staff, and in-depth interviews conducted with a range of stakeholders.