After a long wait, the U.K. Department for International Development released last week its much-anticipated disability framework, which sets out how the British aid agency will be mainstreaming disability in its humanitarian and development programs.
The framework sets how DfID plans to build in-house capacity, raise staff awareness and capability in ensuring funded programs are disability-sensitive, and push and encourage the agency’s implementing partners to do the same.
Much of the strategy has been welcomed by disability-focused nongovernmental organizations that for years have been calling for DfID to come up with more inclusive aid programming that takes into account the needs of people with disabilities. The department has already appointed a director-level disability “champion,” boosted the numbers of its central disability team, announced the establishment of its own disability expert group, and will soon be issuing technical guidance notes for staff and partners.
About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
