Global Partnership for Disability and Development (GPDD)

The GPDD believe that poverty alleviation in developing countries and genuine progress toward achievement of the Millennium Development Goals requires that disabled people be explicitly taken into account in national and international economic development efforts. The social and environmental obstacles that marginalise and impoverish disabled people cannot be dissolved by any one kind of entity or organisation, but only through the collaborative efforts of diverse stakeholders, including developing countries, bilateral and multilateral donors, United Nations agencies, national and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), foundations, and other stakeholders.

Four priorities have been identified by the Partnership for action:

• training aimed at capacity building of governments about integrating disability into development programmes and training of disability organisations about development practices;
• a global information programme linking disability and development goals with efforts to strengthen civil society;
• increased research into disability-related statistics in developing countries and improved evaluation of disability technical assistance projects; and
• the introduction of regular opportunities for international collaboration and exchange of experience on effective practice in disability and development.

The GPDD consists of four elements:

• Alliance for Disability and Development - a non-exclusive alliance comprising Partner organisations which are committed to harmonising their action to promote the integration of disability issues and the participation of persons with disabilities in mainstream economic and social development strategies, programmes, policies and projects;
• Thematic Working Groups - composed of Partner organisations wishing to work on specific development sectors such as education, health, employment, infrastructure development, among others, or strategies such as poverty reduction strategy papers (PRSPs), to further the GPDD Objective;
• Coordinating Taskforce - composed of 10-12 individuals from Partner organisations who volunteer to represent the various types of Partners, and who are committed to facilitate the work of the Alliance; and
• multi-donor Trust Fund for Disability and Development - to finance the working and activities of the Alliance, to enable Alliance Partners to undertake activities together to further the GPDD Objective which they would not otherwise be able to implement.

The GPDD organise face to face meetings, often organised around the working groups.

• Working Group on Disability and Poverty Reduction - established to facilitate the inclusion of people with disabilities in poverty reduction programmes. The working group aims to identify national initiatives where inclusion of disability issues and people with disabilities would be appropriate and significant. The WG compiles and disseminates information, guidelines, manuals, tools and good practice on the inclusion of disability aspects in poverty reduction and other relevant development programmes.
• Working Group on Education - works to identify and disseminate knowledge sources for education practice that promote equity and quality education for children with a disability, as well as collect data on children with disabilities. The working group aims to support national governments by supporting mainstreaming activities: identifying and designing initiatives to mainstream education initiatives for inclusion, particularly at the national, regional and global levels.
• Working Group on Disasters, Emergencies and Conflict - aims to ensure that disability issues are incorporated into planning in emergency and conflict situations. The group has conducted a survey of what aid organisations and governments were doing to help people with disabilities survive the SE Asian Tsunami and through reconstruction after the Tsunami; and sent a letter to all governments giving assistance after the Tsunami to ask that all new constructions were made accessible.

Online tools are also used for communication and knowledge sharing.

• Disability and Poverty Reduction Toolbox - was initiated by the Disability and Poverty Reduction Working Group to raise awareness of disability and development issues. This website provides a platform for exchanging information, managing knowledge and accumulating experience on how to make people with disabilities beneficiaries and agents of action in poverty reduction strategies. The pages provide introductions to key issues and links for further resource material and partner organisations: basic facts and figures on disability and poverty; guidelines and tools for inclusion; good practice around the world; and links to partner organisations.
• GPDD listserv - originally created to share and circulate information on disability-related Tsunami relief activities, this listserv aims to serve as a communication tool that reaches people worldwide. To join the listserv, email a blank email to join-gpdd@lists.worldbank.org

Disability, Poverty Reduction