Leaving No-one Behind: Building Inclusive Social Protection Systems for Persons with Disabilities

Abstract

This report examines how to make social protection systems and schemes more inclusive of persons with disabilities. Social protection can play a key role in empowering persons with disabilities by addressing the additional costs they face, yet the majority of persons with disabilities are currently excluded from schemes. It identifies a wide range of barriers persons with disabilities experience in accessing social protection to be overcome. It calls for better data on disability, disability-specific and old age pension schemes and expanded coverage; adapting communications about social protection schemes; and improving disability assessment mechanisms. It is the result of a UK Department for International Development project involving a review of the literature, an analysis of household survey datasets, and consultations with key stakeholders and persons with disabilities in 7 low- and middle-income countries: Brazil, India, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, South Africa and Zambia. It concludes: “There is much to be done but, if no-one is to be left behind, it is imperative that a much greater focus is placed on building disability-inclusive social protection systems and schemes.” This research was funded under the Department for International Development’s Policy Research Fund