DRG Newsletter - October 2021

By IDA

 - October 3, 2021

UN (Blue), Disability Movement (Purple, building on the Wethe15 Campaign colours), NGO/broader Humanitarian Civil society actors (Red), and the principles of Coordination, Integration, Inclusion and Diversity of identities and backgrounds of members. On the right hand side: The acronym "drg" in small letters (less aggressive and more stylish than capital letters) refers to the most commonly used name of the group (Disability Reference Group) with the full official name of the group underneath it: Reference Group on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action.

Monthly Newsletter | Issue 14 - October 2021

A man is saying thank you in sign language

Reference Group on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action

Dear DRG members,

Welcome to the 14th edition of the DRG Newsletter!

As enter the final months of 2021, the world continues to be impacted by a number of major humanitarian emergencies. And we must continue to work together to ensure that persons with disabilities are not forgotten in what is often a complex and difficult response. As you will read in this newsletter, a number of DRG members are working to ensure that opportunities for learning from our experiences of disability inclusion in humanitarian response are not lost and can inform the way that humanitarian action is designed and implemented.
 
In this newsletter we are sharing some interesting new reports and guidance documents and some exciting job vacancies, including one to support the work of the DRG. As always, we hope you find this useful, and encourage you to share with us any updates you would like to see included in our next newsletter!

Elham Youssefian (International Disability Alliance), Christian Modino Hok (CBM Global) and Kirstin Lange (UNICEF)

© International Disability Alliance

Case Study on Disability Inclusion from IOM - Iraq

IOM has released the first issue of the Disability Inclusion (DI) Case Study Series featuring good practices on DI in Iraq. The Case Study analysis how the DI team in the Community Stabilisation Unit worked to map and develop a directory of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs). This practice highlights the importance of ensuring participation of persons with disabilities in humanitarian responses and its benefits for IOM and other actors. The document also discusses the challenges faced by the DI team during the process and the solutions identified to ensure success of the practice. 

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Panel Discussion on Implementation of IASC Guidelines on Disability Inclusion in Syria

On 29 September 2021, Handicap International and the Centre for Humanitarian Action have hosted the following online event: Two Years on – The IASC Guidelines on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action: What Are Promising Practices, Challenges and First Lessons Learned in Syria?
>> Link to the Event Recording and Materials

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First-Ever Review of Disability-Inclusive DRR Policy and Practice in the 55 Countries in Europe and Central Asia

As we approach the European Forum for DRR, which is in November this year, European Disability Forum (EDF) is working on the first-ever review of disability-inclusive DRR policy and practice in the 55 countries in Europe and Central Asia. This review will be released in the coming weeks, and as well as providing a baseline of information for this region, the intention is also to provide a springboard towards the Global Platform for DRR 2022 and to support consistency of reporting on inclusion from other regions of the world. As well as a review, EDF is producing a disability inclusion reference guide to tools for DRR practitioners.
>> The Resources will soon be released on this page

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A Synthesis of Findings from ‘Rapid Assessments’ of Disability and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Implications for Response and Disability-Inclusive Data Collection

People with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by disasters, including health emergencies, and responses are not always inclusive or accessible. A study co-written by CBM Australia Advisory Group and the Nossal Institute reviewed the available results from rapid assessments of impacts of COVID-19 on people with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries in Asia and the Pacific. Rapid assessment methods and questions were examined to describe the current approaches and synthesise results. 
>> Link to the Study

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Disability Inclusion in the United Nations System Report

The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS) report is submitted pursuant to resolution 75/154, in which the General Assembly requested a progress report on steps taken by the United Nations system towards mainstreaming disability inclusion, including implementation of the UNDIS. The report outlines the progress made in 2020 based on an analysis of reports submitted by 66 United Nations entities and 130 country teams reporting under the Strategy’s accountability framework. Given the impact of the COVID-19 on persons with disabilities, it also contains a brief reflection on disability-inclusive COVID-19 response and recovery, following the release of a dedicated policy brief on the topic in May 2020.
>> Link to the Full Report

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A Disability-Inclusive Response to COVID-19 Learning Paper

Inclusive Futures improves access to work, education and healthcare, and tackles stigma and discrimination faced by people with disabilities. This learning paper summarises what they learned from delivering a disability-inclusive programme of responses to COVID-19, and research about the impact of the pandemic on people with disabilities. The learning in this paper can be applied to ensure people with disabilities are included in future programming in contexts at risk of crisis or large-scale shocks.

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Tigray Refugees with Disabilities in Eastern Sudan Camps Report

This report was commissioned by Islamic Relief Worldwide in coordination with International Disability Alliance (IDA). The report showcases the persistent exclusion of persons with disabilities from the humanitarian response, which further exacerbates the situation of refugees with disabilities, contributing to the violation of their rights. It is based upon field research in two refugee camps in Eastern Sudan, fleeing from the Tigray conflict.
>> Link to the Full Report

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IDA Hosted Launch of the UN Special Rapporteur Thematic Report on Disability and Armed Conflict for the Civil Society and OPDs

On Monday, 25 October the International Disability Alliance, CBM-Global/Ireland, Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Human Rights Watch (HRW), along with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Professor Gerard Quinn organized a webinar to present the thematic report on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Armed Conflict to civil society.

Launched at the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, the report assesses the protection of persons with disabilities in the context of armed conflict and examines the current application of the specific obligations enumerated in Article 11 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and in Security Council Resolution 2475 (2019).
>> Link to the Full Blog Post and Recording of the Webinar

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Invitation to Shape the 2022-2025 Strategy of the CHS Alliance

The CHS Alliance is nearing completion of its 2018-2021 strategy, and is now developing its next strategy for 2022-2025. The CHS Alliance Board has called for a strategy development process that is transparent and clearly communicated, inclusive of diverse voices, open to different views and a driver of real change, if needed. A survey has provided space for stakeholders to provide anonymous input and consultations have been held with Board members and Secretariat staff.   

The next step is for key stakeholder groups to provide guidance on some particular issues that have surfaced that require further reflection - particularly around membership support and the verification journey. An active and engaged membership is vital to their success. Therefore Members are invited to a two-hour interactive online dialogue on Monday, November 1st from 10 AM to 12 PM CET.
>> Link to Register to the Event

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Launch of UNICEF Global Report on Children with Disabilities

Data are essential to drive informed programming and advocacy, as well as to hold governments accountable. The Global Report presents internationally comparable data on the situation of children with disabilities in over 40 countries. The Centre of Excellence on Data for Children with Disabilities is a UNICEF-led initiative to help fill data gaps, promote data analysis and use, and meet the growing need for coordination, quality oversight and technical expertise in the field. The launch event will feature keynote statements, presentations of the report’s key findings and the Centre’s activities and goals, along with a dialogue among stakeholders on promoting the rights of children with disabilities through inclusive data. The event will take place on Wednesday, November 10th from 8 to 9:30 AM EST
>> Link to the Flyer
>> Link to the Registration Form

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Webinar Series on Accountability to Affected Populations by PHAP

The IASC Results Group 2 co-chairs are pleased to invite you to a webinar series on accountability to affected populations, more information below:

Making collective accountability to affected populations a reality [8 Sept.]

  -> Watch the Recording
Practitioner insights: Applying guidance on Accountability & Inclusion [5 Oct.]
  -> Watch the Recording
2 November 2021, 14:00-16:00 CET
  -> Accountability and Inclusion in the Covid-19 response: lessons for the future
7 December 2021, 14:00-16:00 CET
  -> Complaints and feedback mechanisms: Making much-needed changes

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Vacancies

UNICEF Project Officer - Deadline for application: November 10th 2021

  • This assignment is to support effective implementation of the Reference Group on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action (DRG) project titled ‘Capacity building of OPDs - strengthening disability inclusive humanitarian action'.

IOM Iraq Consultant - Deadline for application: November 10th 2021

  • IOM Iraq is seeking an experienced remote consultant to lead on developing a short Brief for IOM Iraq that will include:
  1. Overarching principles that should guide funding and resourcing mechanisms for OPDs,
  2. Outline a number of possible ways to resource and fund OPDs who do not meet financial and administrate requirements.  (for example substitute capacity, seconding staff, and grant opportunities through a third party).
  3. Scope key considerations for a four year organisational/governance capacity strengthening plan for OPDs in Iraq.  

    There is no travel required for this role. Please email Rafid Shkwana at rshkwana [at] iom.int for a copy of the TOR.

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Please share any feedback you may have on the content and format of this Newsletter with us. You can send any material you want to be included in the next issues of the Newsletter by the last Monday of the month via email rg.disabilityinclusion [at] gmail.com ()

 

 

 

 

 

 

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