How can we increase the level of engagement between the OPDs and UNCTs to…

[Azra Bakovic]

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[Pradeep Bagival]

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We are aware of the significant role that UN has in developing countries as technical partners of the national governments in making development inclusive for persons with disabilities.  The primary objective of the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy(UNDIS) is to build  the foundation for sustainable and transformative progress on disability inclusion through all pillars of the work of the United Nations. The strategy expects UN entities to engage with the OPDs who have a pivotal role to play in disability inclusive development and calls for meaningful engagement between UN entities and  the OPDs at the country level.

The 2020 report of the UN Sec- Gen on the implementation of the UNDIS states that only 20% of UN entities have actually met /exceeded the requirements of inclusion and have reported progress against the indicators identified in the strategy. 80% of the UN entities are yet to consult OPDs as required under the strategy. In this kind of a scenario, it is important for the OPD networks at the national level to actively advocate for the implementation of the UNDIS and also to be consulted by the UN entities on issues that impact them.

[Dr Abhishek Deepak Bhatia]

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Hello Pradeep,

The first step of the engagement is to build the knowledge and capacity of UN Country Teams to understand about OPDs, their importance, rights of Persons with Disability, list of OPDs in the country, the timeline since OPDs exist and type of work they have done in the country since inception, especially understanding their capacity to effectively participate in the policy process. Likewise, building knowledge of OPDs about UN Country Teams, their mandate, work process, ability to assist and how they have successfully included OPDs in the policy process in other countries. This step is crucial to ensure that both stakeholders understand and trust each other on how they can work and build an effective partnership.

The next step will involve UNCTs and OPDs to sit together and discuss mutually agreeable facets and terms of engagement, modality of engagement, framework of the process to be followed to achieve objectives, expectations from each other/roles/responsibilities/duties, deliverables, and accountability mechanisms. There should be clear understanding on the purpose of working together and communication about challenges as well as successes resulting as a result of the partnership.

The facets of partnership which can sustain the relationship is that both UNCTs and OPDs can make use of more capacity and training in building important knowledge and skills. OPDs can help build capacity of UNCTs on making governance processes inclusive. UNCTs can help train OPDs on how to be better advocates for their rights.

Representation of all OPDs in the process is crucial if true inclusion is to be achieved. I think that there is a felt need on both ends to collaborate and these ideas can become part of the channel to bring the sides together effectively.

[Vanhsana]

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Hello Pradeep,

I agreed with Dr Abhishek Deepak Bhatia. Another thought that I would like to convey is that if a number of persons with disability employments at the UN Country Teams increased then this shows disability inclusion within UN at country level, from the perspective of inclusive employment. As a result, these UN employees would be a strong connection in engaging the OPDs and UNCTs. This will give a possibility in getting all activities mentioned in the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy ( UNDIS) implemented.

[bagival]

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Thanks you Dr. Abbhishek for some practical suggestions. Indeed, as I see some of it has been put into action in countries like Lao PDR where the UN Resident Coordinator on behalf of the  Country Team invited OPD network  to conduct accessibility audit of the UN House and also  to raise their awareness about disability inclusion in the form of an inter-agency quiz on disability inclusion. The UNCT has  also consulted OPDs in submitting UNCT Joint Report to the CRPD committee during the review of the national report. There are some good practices but limited to few countries.

[bagival]

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Very true and we need to see more persons with disabilities hired within the UN Systems and some of the recent procurement notifications clearly encourage persons with disabilities to apply for positions. Organizations such as World Food Programme have developed a road map for disability inclusion and now it has become a work plan for inclusion .

[Ruby Holmes]

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Thank you for the great discussion question, and I really appreciate the points already made. Hiring persons with disabilities from OPDs is absolutely one of the most important starting points as they are experts on the situation of persons with disabilities in their communities. Having qualified staff with disabilities helps drive the necessary internal changes, especially around accessibility and accommodations and importantly, from a rights-based perspective.  These staff members will also have existing and strong ties with the local disabilities rights movements and OPDs, so partnerships and awareness raising can begin.

It should also be the responsibility of the UNCTs to conduct thorough OPD mapping, or partner with entities that have done this, so they have a comprehensive understanding of the OPDs existing in each country. It is important that equal representation and opportunities are created so underrepresented OPD groups (such as women-led OPDs) are not left behind in conversations. Finally, any communications, activities, events, funding opportunities, etc. released by UNCTs absolutely need to be in accessible formats so OPDs can meaningfully participate.

[bagival]

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Thank you Ruby for mentioning underrepresented groups who often are not well represented within the OPD network. The suggestion on mapping of OPDs by UNCTs is brilliant and this could perhaps enable UNCTs to implement the UNDIS effectively.

[Daniel Mont]

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I think it needs to be made clear that engagement with OPDs has to occur at every stage of the process of developing, implementing, and evaluating policies and programs.  Too often, OPDs are brought in near the end of the process of developing programs — sometimes as a “check-the-box” thing — or sometimes honestly to get feedback, but at a point in the process where it can be difficult to change course, or incorporate the priorities of the OPD.

[bagival]

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Thanks Dan for your valuable point and yes, engagement with OPDs should be from the inception of developing policies /programs that impact them. For instance, there are clear guidelines for UNCTs on how OPDs should be engaged while developing the  UN Development Assistance Framework / UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and often  OPDs are not involved and the cooperation frameworks fall short of disability-inclusive development.

[Mansi Dhingra]

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I agree with Daniel And Dr. Abhishek Bhatia on establishing the clear purpose of the engagement between OPDs and UNCTs. Here are some of the ways through which can increase the level of engagement between OPDs and UNCTs:

1. Joint capacity building: OPDs and UNCTs can collaborate to provide joint capacity building and training opportunities to increase knowledge and skills on disability inclusion, as well as the UNDIS.
2. Joint planning and programming: OPDs and UNCTs can work together to develop joint plans and programs that promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities, with a focus on the UNDIS. This can help ensure that the needs and perspectives of persons with disabilities are integrated into the work of the UNCTs.
3. Joint monitoring and evaluation: OPDs and UNCTs can collaborate to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the UNDIS and to ensure that disability inclusion is mainstreamed into all programs and activities.
4. Partnership building: OPDs and UNCTs can work together to build partnerships with other stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, and the private sector, to promote disability inclusion and the implementation of the UNDIS.
5. Joint advocacy: OPDs and UNCTs can collaborate on advocacy efforts to raise awareness and mobilize support for disability inclusion and the UNDIS, both nationally and internationally.
6. Regular consultation and communication: OPDs and UNCTs should establish regular consultation and communication mechanisms to ensure that they are working together effectively to promote disability inclusion and the implementation of the UNDIS. This can include regular meetings, workshops, and the exchange of information.

 

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[bagival]

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Many thanks Mansi for your comments and especially suggestions regarding joint advocacy, partnership-building and regular communication with OPD network at the country level could go a long way in strengthening coalition between UNCTs and OPDs.

[Kiran Dattani Pitt]

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Dear Pradeep,

This is a very important question and not just for the UN entities but also all the development actors to start asking themselves the same question including the governments of the countries that receive aid from developed nations.

Supporting Organisations of Persons with Disabilities to hold all development actors accountable is also a key.

Kiran

[bagival]

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Thank you Kiran and the UNDIS also has a accountability framework for the UN entities with 15 common-system indicators and a UN Country Team Accountability Score Card  on disability inclusion. It is interesting to read the report of the UN Sec Gen on how the UNCTs and UN entities are promoting disability inclusion.

[Magda]

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Dear Pradeep,

Thank you for the important discussion question, and I appreciate the points already made. I would add to the discussion the point on how to strengthen the role and capacities of CSOs to engage actively/proactively with UN Country Teams. Whenever it is not the case of course.

 

[SanderSchot]

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A lot of important insights have been shared already on this month’s discussion question (e.g. the need to make UN staff aware of their own commitments to disability rights and inclusion). A have a few practical suggestions for OPDs and disability rights allies:

• <u>Find allies within the UN country teams</u>: Organizational commitments are important and define the push from senior management on what’s the agenda for the future. At the same time there is another important ‘asset’ within UN country team, staff who have siblings, children, relatives or friends with disabilities and have a personal experience. They may be more (intrinsically) motivated than others and more inclined to help push for a change to make disability inclusion a reality.
• <u>Celebrate the wins: </u>Fighting for disability rights is often a long-term process and with sometimes small steps forward and setbacks at times. Celebrate the small wins, focus on the fight as a joint mission to undertake with the allies within the UN country teams. Keep motivating eachother and keep pushing.
• <u>Facilitate visibility on disability rights within UN country team</u>: Invite UN staff to events where OPD representatives speak, or invite UN staff as speakers on events like the IDPD. Deploy a strong communication strategy around it with professional good quality pictures and strong quotes that can go on social media during or after the event, tagging UN country teams and other influential persons who are present. Make sure that you tailor the messaging and channels to the ones that UN staff use most often.

Good luck with the rest of the discussion this month!

[bagival]

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Thank you Sander Schot for your comments and appreciate the point on proactive role of the UN staff who have persons with disabilities in their families/ friends circles.  On the point made regarding invitation to UN to participate in key events,  here in  Lao PDR, OPDs actively engage with the UNCT and organize annual disability policy dialogues in which key UN entities participate and discuss how best the national socio-economic development plans could become disability-inclusive .

[Pushpak NEWAR]

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Promotion of disability inclusion at nation level is only possible through engagement with OPDs with developmental actors including UNCT and governments. Traditionally OPDs have played the role of advocates for  policies to ensure equal rights and equal opportunities for people with  disabilities. Its time that OPDs are engaged at every level including development, implementing and/or evaluating of programs for people with disabilities.

Engagements with OPDs representing all kinds of disabilities, their capacity strengthening and meaningful engagements with OPDs will help UNCTs in promotion of disability inclusion.

As rightly mentioned in the comments above, more engagement/employment of persons with disability in UN programme will help UNCTs who would ensure internal advocacy, improve accessibility and be drivers for change to ensure disability inclusive policy and programme are lead by UNCTs.

[Priya Bajpai]

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Sabaidee Pradeep,

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute, and I do agree with the opinions shared by all the contributors.
<p style=”text-align: left;”>In my opinion, a critical step to increasing the level of engagement is to organise/conduct periodic opportunities (in the form of forums, meetings, discussions etc) where UNCTs and OPDs can directly interface with each other. It is observed that most of the time, OPDs and external partners often engage with each other only on a ‘project activity’ basis therefore, the sharing of information and support is also specific and limited. Therefore, creating opportunities for regular interactions between UN and OPD’s will enhance stakeholder/partner analysis ( improve understanding of each of the organisation’s areas of focus, strengths, organisational processes, and capacity level), which in turn can positively impact the level of engagement (local, regional or national) and probable areas of bilateral or multilateral cooperation, etc, to initiate effective partnerships and engagements. This has to be a step-by-step process. Here, worth recognising are the facts that OPDs (being the local organisations) are aware of the ‘real’ picture, whereas the UN agencies being the specialised agencies, have the technical expertise (along with other advantages) and can provide these to the OPD’s who very much need them, and successes, failures and challenges must be shared transparently so that they are ‘stepping stones’  while they are replicated by other organisations.</p>
As for the implementation of the UNDIS, its purpose is to create a disability-inclusive culture in each UN agency, and thus the UN system is streamlined to provide a basis for disability inclusion from operations to programmes. Here, in my opinion, each UN agency will require the support of disability inclusion experts/organisations who can recommend and guide them to what/how to implement the changes (in each area) so that they can gradually and successfully implement the UNDIS and thus create a foundation for a disability inclusive work culture.

[Pradeep Bagival]

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Thank you Pushpak and  you are right , meaningful participation of the UNCTs can enhance disability inclusion within UN systems .

[Pradeep Bagival]

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Thank you Priya for making a very valid point about sustained interaction between UNCTs and OPDs. Here in Lao PDR, OPD network along with the government focal ministry organize Annual Disability Policy Dialogue each year and invite donors, UN entities and INGOs to discuss how best the national socio-economic plans could result in disability inclusive development. This initiative is led by OPDs and key UN entities participate and explore opportunities to partner with OPDs. We are witnessing disability inclusion within the UN programming , organization culture and leadership .

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