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Poverty Reduction Strategies and Disability

This article discusses the role of Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs) in addressing the needs of disabled individuals. It examines the current state of disability policy in PRSPs and proposes key elements for moving forward, including a national disability strategy, a multi-sectoral approach, and a participatory approach.

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Poverty Reduction Strategies and Disability

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  1. Poverty Reduction Strategies and Disability Global Partnership on Disability and Development (GPDD) May 20-21, 2004 René Bonnel, Africa Region, World Bank

  2. PRSPs: Origins • Initially, linked with debt relief initiative for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries--(HIPC)-- launched in 1996. • Under this initiative Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers are prepared to get access to debt relief. • In 1999 the HIPC initiative was revised to provide faster access to debt relief and increase focus on poverty reduction

  3. PRSPs: Policy Instrument for Poverty Reduction • Two main strategic policies: • Pro-poor growth by: • Increasing the participation of the poor to economic development in order to raise their income • Improving access of the poor to health and education services in order to enhance their human capital • Social protection measures • Objectives are to improve the lives of vulnerable groups and reduce their risks of falling into poverty • Key target groups: women, children, war veterans, elderly, and disabled people.

  4. Increased Importance of PRSPs

  5. PRSPs: Key Achievements • Opening up of the policy dialogue within government and with civil society • Increased country ownership of policy agenda • More prominence given to poverty reduction • Increased focus on monitoring outcomes

  6. Do these Achievements Matter for Disability Policy? • Some 37 PRSPs and Progress Status Reports were reviewed • Objective: assess the disability policy content of PRSPs • Does the poverty diagnostic of PRSPs capture the dimension of disabilities? • Are the critical elements of success included in PRSPs?

  7. Increased Focus of PRSPs on Disabilities

  8. Poverty and Disabled People in PRSPs • Disabled persons are recognized to be: • Vulnerable • Disabled people are generally mentioned as part of the vulnerable group • Poor: 71% of PRSPs • In need of social protection measures

  9. But, Disabled People are Greatly Invisible • 1-3% of population (country surveys) • 7% of population (WHO)

  10. Specific Factors of Poverty are Rarely Described

  11. PRSPs: Incomplete Policy Agenda for Disabled People • Pro-poor growth • Limited access provided for disabled people • Missing policy agenda • Main focus is on social protection policies • Income transfers, insurance, pensions

  12. Policy Focus of PRSPs (Percentage of PRSPs Providing Specific Measures)

  13. Missing Policy Agenda • Substantial group of disabled can work and contribute to the development of their countries • However, specific constraints preventing their access to productive employment and normal lives have to be addressed

  14. Key Constraints • Social Exclusion • Exclusion from Pro-poor growth • Weak access to Human Capital Development • Lack of political Voice

  15. Few PRSPs Address Constraints to Social Participation and Integration

  16. Disabled People Remain Excluded from Pro-Poor Growth

  17. As well as from Human Capital Development

  18. And Participation in Political Life • Associations representing disabled people are consulted in a few cases: • 29% of PRSPs • But are rarely involved in policy discussions of PRSPs

  19. Way Forward: Key Elements for Moving Ahead • National Disability Strategy: • Most PRSPs include proposals for Social Protection Strategies. • Perhaps they should be transformed into National Disability Strategies • Strategies should be informed by: • improved poverty surveys; • analysis of poverty factors; and • sector reports prepared by sectoral ministries

  20. Multi-Sectoral Approach • Disability-related interventions should be mainstreamed in the projects of sectoral ministries • Objective is to address the constraints preventing access of disabled people to employment and regular services of government offices • Budget and targets of programs should be costed • Implementation of Programs should be monitored • Indicators of disability should be part of PRSPs core list

  21. Participatory Approach • Key is to involve associations of persons with disabilities in policy discussions • Main issue is empowerment of such associations (including increased capability to participate in policy discussions) • Entry points: • Preparation of PRSPs • Preparation of Progress Status Reports during the implementation of PRSPs

  22. Importance of Participatory Approach

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