Mainstreaming disability inclusion across DFID’s work is welcome but progress must continue

Committee conclusions

• The Committee supports the Department for International Developments Strategy for Disability Inclusive Development, published last year, as a critical step in boosting disability inclusion.
• While early progress has been good, much work still remains to be done.
• Future strategy must be informed by a stronger evidence base and aim towards more ambitious targets.
• Robust accountability mechanisms, including systems of regular reporting, should be put in place so that delivery can be better assessed.

Chair's comments

Stephen Twigg MP, Chair of the Committee, said: “It is pleasing that the Government has reacted positively to this agenda - and to previous recommendations from us - and developed a strategy for disability inclusion that has the potential to make a real difference. By instilling disability awareness as a central facet of all aid strategy, alongside dedicated programmes, a concerted effort can be made to deliver against the ‘no one left behind’ challenge.
This is far from job done however and it is crucial that DFID see this as the first step in a long-term process. The challenges it seeks to address are complex, and can vary significantly from nation to nation, so it must develop strategies from a solid evidence base that clearly demonstrates how varying approaches perform.
The programmes and solutions that are developed should address every facet of life, not simply removing barriers but supporting people with disabilities to thrive. It should enable every child to go to school, every adult to participate in economic and social life.
The International Development Committee will be watching the progress of this crucial work closely to see if reality matches ambition.”

Key findings

Further information