Including persons with disabilities in disaster risk reduction in Africa

This issue brief presents the key findings of a study UNDRR conducted on disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction (DiDRR) policies and practices in Africa. This study aimed to provide an account of the progress, existing gaps and promising practices in including persons with disabilities in disaster risk reduction (DRR) in the region. It drew on data from the 2023 Global Survey on Persons with Disabilities and Disasters report (UNDRR, 2023), and included insights from stakeholder consultations conducted in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya and Togo.

The brief proposes a series of recommendations for Member States and other stakeholders aimed at strengthening the resilience of persons with disabilities across Africa. These recommendations are derived from both the extensive desk review and the insights shared by the study participants:

1. Adopt a multidimensional approach to addressing underlying risk factors and key drivers of vulnerability among persons with disabilities.
2. Take into account the complex sociocultural and humanitarian contexts when mainstreaming disability inclusion in DRR.
3. Establish mechanisms for formalizing commitments to DiDRR through close collaboration between governments, organisations of people with disabilities (OPDs), national and international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), United Nations agencies, donors and other key DRR stakeholders.
4. Develop clear guidelines for Member States to adopt disability-inclusive DRR at the national level.
5. Ensure systematic resource allocation to build capacities, institutions and mechanisms for mainstreaming disability inclusion in DRR, while addressing barriers that hinder effective inclusion.
6. Ensure the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in DRR by establishing accessible communication channels, consultation platforms and tailored support to enable their active engagement.
7. Address issues related to disability data collection and utilization in DRR, focusing on reducing cultural stigma, securing adequate resources, building capacity, fostering the active involvement of OPDs and improving coordination among key stakeholders for reliable data collection and exchange.
8. Make meaningful investments in OPDs at all levels to enhance their capacities.
9. Mainstream disability inclusion into all pillars of the Early Warnings For All (EW4All) initiative while working closely with persons with disabilities and their representative organizations at the national, regional and global levels.