Closing the Gap: Building Inclusive Humanitarian Response for People with Disabilities and Older Age

Why this matters 

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), a moment that emphasises the importance of participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes that affect their lives, is always a poignant time to reflect on our work to ensure a humanitarian system that leaves no one behind. The fundamental humanitarian principles of humanity and impartiality require that humanitarian actors include all people affected by crisis in their response activities – yet we know too well that some people are systematically excluded including people with disabilities and older people. Through our Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF) programme’s work on disability and older age inclusion we are working to ensure that the needs, rights, and experiences of persons with disabilities and older people are integrated into humanitarian action. 

We are pleased to announce the upcoming release of significant insight and analysis, developed through a comprehensive literature review and in-depth community engagement across Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, and the Philippines. The report will shed light on the systemic barriers to inclusion and explore how innovation can contribute to a more inclusive future. 

In 2020, we published our first Gap Analysis  to lay the foundation for innovation in our work on disability and older age inclusion. The report highlighted seven potential areas for innovation, and since then, a lot has changed – humanitarian contexts have evolved, and new tools and guidelines—like the 2019 Inter-Agency Standing Committee IASC Guidelines on the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities—have emerged to help humanitarian actors operationalise inclusion. However, the original analysis focussed more on addressing organisational needs, and less on the lived experiences of those directly affected, in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the limitations and challenges this brought. 

That’s why, in 2023, we partnered with Policy Impact Lab (PIL) to update this work. The resulting report assesses progress and identifies opportunities to drive further innovation, particularly in the humanitarian response phase. 

How the research came together 

Conducted by local researchers, Mehiret Habte (Ethiopia), Ninoy Balgos (Philippines), Peninnah Vulimu (Kenya), and Shah Jalal (Bangladesh), and PIL associates Lara Bezzina and Melissa Miller, the study involved a review of over 300 academic articles and reports published since 2020, interviews, focus groups and workshops with 217 participants – including people with disabilities, older individuals, caregivers and humanitarian stakeholders, and an accessibility-first approach, with accommodations made to ensure diverse voices were heard.  

The report identifies eight interlinked gaps and four sub-gaps, including inadequate access to essential services, limited operationalisation of technical guidance, and a pressing need for inclusive data collection and use. These gaps do not exist in isolation but form a complex web of barriers that perpetuate exclusion and discrimination in diverse humanitarian contexts, from protracted refugee crises to natural disaster responses. 

But the report goes beyond identifying challenges. It highlights opportunities for transformative innovation, offering actionable insights for humanitarian actors to meaningfully engage affected populations, integrate intersectional approaches, and ensure equitable access to assistive technologies. It also calls for systemic change by embedding inclusion into organisational practices, coordination mechanisms, and resource allocation. 

Here is a brief summary of each of the country-specific community engagements below:  

​​Bangladesh: Cox’s Bazar District – Refugee Crisis  

Cox’s Bazar, home to over 920,000 Rohingya refugees, represents the world’s largest refugee camp. Decades of persecution in Myanmar forced this mass displacement, with refugees facing limited prospects of returning home.
Research: Twelve consultations with 51 stakeholders, including affected individuals, NGOs, and government representatives, identified service access barriers and inconsistent disability inclusion efforts.
Focus: Strengthening coordination mechanisms and ensuring consistent inclusive practices. 

Ethiopia: Tigray Region – Conflict-based Crisis 

Northern Ethiopia’s two-year civil war displaced millions and created a severe humanitarian crisis, leaving 40% of the population in affected regions without adequate food or services.
Research: Nineteen consultations with 62 stakeholders, including affected individuals, local actors, and humanitarian organisations, highlighted the need for systemic inclusion in response efforts.
Focus: Integrating inclusive approaches across humanitarian interventions. 

Kenya: Kakuma Refugee Camp – Protracted and Refugee Crisis 

Kakuma hosts nearly 290,000 refugees in an arid region prone to droughts and floods, exacerbating access challenges for people with disabilities and older people.
Research: Twelve consultations with 48 participants identified infrastructure barriers, limited inclusion practices, and weak coordination mechanisms.
Focus: Scaling inclusive initiatives like cash-based interventions and strengthening coordination through Disability Working Groups. 

The Philippines: Siargao Island – Natural Hazard Crisis  

Siargao Island, devastated by Super typhoon Odette in 2021, faced widespread destruction. Frequent natural disasters in the Philippines amplify vulnerabilities for people with disabilities and older people.
Research: Workshops and consultations with 46 participants revealed gaps in early warning systems and long-term recovery support.
Focus: Improving disaster preparedness and ensuring post-crisis recovery meets the needs of affected populations.