Paper details
| Paper authors | Oliver Wiegers |
| In panel on | Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Humanitarian Action: Anyone Still Interested? (Roundtable) |
| Paper presenter(s) will be presenting |
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Abstract
This 2024 case study highlights efforts in Cameroon to mainstream disability inclusion in humanitarian responses under the ‘Leave No One Behind!’ Phase 3 project, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO). Cameroon has made significant strides in aligning with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Guidelines on the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action, particularly through the integration of disability considerations into the 2023 and 2024 Humanitarian Response Plans (HRPs).
Building on a previous CBM project (2020–2022), the project advanced inclusion through disability audits and capacity building for organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs). A key success factor was the collaboration between CBM and the ‘Pool of Experts’—a network of trained OPD leaders providing technical support for inclusive humanitarian planning. This partnership led to the incorporation of disability-specific targets and accountability measures in the HRPs.
The case study underscores the importance of inclusive planning, sector-specific interventions, and sustained capacity-building for OPDs. Despite challenges such as funding gaps and inconsistent data, the experience in Cameroon demonstrates the potential for systemic change when disability inclusion is prioritized.
While the case study was already developed in 2024, we will also refer to the latest developments in the humanitarian sector, especially on the humanitarian coordination side (“Humanitarian Reset”) and discuss how these new developments might further input the update of disability inclusion in the wider humanitarian system.
