“Working to Improve Our Own Futures”: Inclusion of Women and Girls with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action

1 2 3

Contents

4

Acronyms & Abbreviations

5

Executive Summary

Key findings

6

Key recommendations

7 8

Introduction

9

Background

10 11 12

Methodology

13

Online survey of disability and humanitarian actors

14 15

Key informant interviews

Participatory self-assessments for women DPO leaders

16

Limitations

17

Findings from the Global Mapping

Inclusion of women and girls with disabilities in humanitarian response

Gaps and barriers to inclusion of women and girls with disabilities

Gaps in policy development and implementation

18

Negative attitudes of family members and communities

Limited staff knowledge, attitudes, and practices

19

Lack of champions and local partners

Strategies that foster inclusion of women and girls with disabilities

An organizational commitment to translate policy into practice

20

Advocacy by and partnerships with organizations of women with disabilities

21

Women with disabilities in leadership roles

22 23

The role of donors

24

Organizations of women with disabilities – Their role in humanitarian action

Strengths of women with disabilities and their organizations

Conducting assessment and monitoring

25 26

Mobilizing women with disabilities in affected populations

27

Bringing expertise to partnerships with humanitarian organizations

28 29

Gaps and barriers that women with disabilities and their organizations face in humanitarian action

Accessing funds and organizational capacity

Exclusion from both the disability and women's rights movements

30

Perceptions (and misperceptions) about capacity

31

Lack of awareness on humanitarian issues, architecture, and processes

Capacity development needs and goals of organizations of women with disabilities

Training on humanitarian action

32 33

Training on specific topics that impact women and girls with disabilities in crisis contexts

Project development and support on soliciting funds

34

Conclusion and Recommendations

Strengthen accountability for inclusion of women and girls with disabilities

35

Increase support to organizations of women with disabilities in crisis-affected countries

Promote the leadership of women and girls with disabilities in humanitarian action

36

Notes