However, many countries lack social protection policies, programmes and initiatives that are accessible and responsive to the needs and demands of all persons with disabilities. Globally, only one third of persons with severe disabilities receive a disability-related benefit, and in low-income countries only 8.6% receive a cash benefit.
Formal social protection policies or programmes – for example, from government – are often overstretched or absent in poorer communities in low and middle-income countries. This means that informal social protection, provided by communities, local associations, NGOs and INGOs (including CBM) is critical in risk management and complements formal social protection.
At CBM, we understand disability-inclusive social protection (DISP) as a comprehensive approach to risk management, composed of policies, programmes and initiatives, both formal and informal, that seek to remove barriers and protect all persons with disabilities from stresses and shocks.
Our approach
CBM invests in dedicated programming aimed specifically at building resilience and managing risk to prevent persons with disabilities and their families from collapsing into deeper poverty and deprivation during times of crisis.
Our work in DISP consolidates various components of our work to help manage risk, including inclusive health, livelihoods, disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction, and inclusive humanitarian action. It also includes:
-
Advocacy: we advocate nationally and internationally for accessible, disability-inclusive social protection measures that address the specific needs of persons with disabilities, such as disability benefits, assistance with extra costs, income protection, healthcare access, and inclusive cash transfers.
-
Awareness and sensitisation: we promote disability awareness among communities, governments, and service providers, positioning social protection as a matter of rights, not charity.
-
Community support: we foster community support networks and promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in their communities through our Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) work.
Disability-inclusive social protection is part of our Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID) initiative. CBID is a way of working that ensures people with disabilities are respected and included in their communities on an equal basis in all areas of life.